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The first five pages of a novel are critical.

Editors make quick judgments. They don’t like to admit it, but they do. Somewhere an editor is sitting in an airless room staring at a pile of manuscripts hoping to strike gold, but doubtful. She wants to get through the toppling pile as quickly as possible. Therefore she is going to look at your manuscript and search for one thing: A reason to say ‘no’.

Your goal is not to give her that reason. There are many factors you can’t control (whether an editor has had a bad day, or has already accepted a manuscript similar to yours) but there are a few things that may get an editor or agent to stop and read your work. Please understand that these are merely guidelines, don’t substitute my judgment for your own. Writing is an art after all.

1. Get the action started. Start your story on the day when something is different. The beginning of your manuscript is not the place for back story. You don’t need to explain how the protagonist came to be where he is. You can pepper that information in later on. You only have a few seconds to capture the reader’s interest. Routines are boring; change is exciting.

Think about it. If your next-door neighbor always picked up the paper at 7:30 AM, wouldn’t you be curious if you still found the paper lying there at 10:30 AM? Or if your boss was always grumpy in the morning then one day came in whistling, wouldn’t you want to know why? Your goal is to put a story question in the reader’s mind. Intrigue them. How do you do this? Consider these beginnings from different genres:

(Fantasy) “What in the name of cold hells is this?” Sun Wolf held the scrap of unfolded paper between stubby fingers that were still slightly stained with blood. -The Ladies of Mandrigyn by Barbara Hambly

(Young Adult) The paperweight should have been clear, but it was not. -Gallows Hill by Lois Duncan

(Women’s Fiction) Jaine Bright woke up in a bad mood. -Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

(General Fiction) Something was wrong with Paul and Elizabeth’s cat, Charlotte. -Publish and Perish by James Hynes

Check your bookshelves for more examples. Get into the habit of seeing what other successful writers do. Learn the tricks of how they draw you into a story.

2. Have tension. If you succeed with number one, you’ll probably have tension. Tension doesn’t have to be heart-pounding suspense. It could simply be a missed phone call, a strange voice message, a lunch date that should have arrived but didn’t. Tension draws a reader deeper into a story. Try to have plenty of it in your first few pages (literary agent Donald Maass suggests you have it on every page, but I’m only focusing on the first five here). Make the reader wonder what will happen next.

3. Grab the reader with your characters. When a reader is sucked into a new world they want to have an idea of whom they will be traveling with. They want someone to root for or somebody to hate. Give the reader a quick sketch of who these people are.

4. Show what is at stake. In your first five pages you have to answer a vital question properly or your manuscript will be shipped back to you. The question is: ‘Who cares?’ The reader needs to reply ‘I do’ or your story has failed. Make the stakes high for your protagonist. You get bonus points if you make the stakes high on both a private and public level. For example, if a man wants to get a promotion to make more money, that’s nice. We all want to make more money, but I don’t really care. If that same man needs the promotion so that he can pay off a rogue hit man he’d hired to kill his wife who he’s come to love again…well now that’s interesting. Make the reader care by making the stakes count specifically for your protagonist.

5. Describe setting. It doesn’t have to be a long, lush description. Many readers don’t have the patience for that; however, try to immerse your reader into the world you’ve created for them. Give them clues as to where the story is set. Whether it is in a London tube station, a marketplace in Kansas or an office in a city you’ve invented.

6. Foreshadow what is to come. Most stories are circular, they have a beginning, middle and end that all tie together. Hint at how the character will change or won’t change. It helps to give your story resonance.

7. Be conscious of pace. This depends on the genre. Lead the reader on the journey at the pace they’re used to. A slow moving thriller will be a let down; a fast moving cozy mystery may be confusing. Stories are like music, a reader expects a certain beat depending on the style. Country music has a different rhythm than jazz.

You can mix genres (sci-fi detective or horror romance) but understand the rhythms of both genres so that when readers pick up your book they won’t be disappointed. It’s likely that one genre will be more prominent than the other. Meet their expectations or better yet exceed them.

8. Write with passion. If you don’t care about the story or your characters, no one else will. Put you spirit into it. Make your language come alive on the page. Many editors and agents talk about ‘voice’. Basically that means the way a writer tells a story. Stephen King’s voice is different than Dean Koontz’s; Jennifer Crusie doesn’t sound like Jane Heller. Put your own unique spin on the story. That will make it stand out.

I know these guidelines seem like a lot to remember for the first five pages, but it is a competitive market and most successful authors include these elements. You don’t have to get it right the first time, rewriting will help you polish your work. But if you want to be on someone’s ‘to-be-read’ pile these guidelines could put you on the top of their list. Good luck!

Dara Girard is the author of How to Bounce When You Want to Shatter: Steps to Resilience in the Writing Life (http://www.howtobounce.com) and three novels. You can find more articles and links for writers on her website http://www.daragirard.com

What’s the worst reaction you’ve ever gotten when you made
an important presentation? Probably, it would come in
second to the one I just heard about. A womanironically
she was interviewing me for an article about “Knockout
Presentations”told me the story of her disaster. It was
early in her career as a policy analyst. She was just out of
school, proud of her MBA and working in her first real job.
When her supervisor praised a report she’d done, she was
thrilled. She was less thrilled when her “reward” turned out
to be presenting the same report to their executive team.

She spent a tense week getting ready, making sure she
knew exactly what to say. She spent hours writing out her
presentation and prepared every conceivable statistic to
back up her points. It never occurred to her however, that
how she presented was as important as what she
presented.

When her turn came to deliver her report, things quickly went
downhill. Naturally, she was nervous. A lot depended on the
next few minutes. She stumbled through 200 slides, forgot
her lines, and got more and more flustered. Bored
executives weren’t sure what her point was and started
glancing at their watches, which made it even worse.
Desperate, she wanted to fleeand her audience probably
did too! When she concluded, they didn’t ask a single
question. That would have extended the already painful
event.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? If not, great! And let’s
make sure it never does. Especially if a lot depends on how
well you do. You probably know that the higher up the
corporate ladder you go, the more important your
communication skills become. And the faster you develop
and hone your skills, the faster you’ll advance your career.

Perhaps you’re already speaking up in team meetings and
getting your ideas across effectively. If so, how do you feel
about facing a room full of senior management, or at least 5
around a board room table, all staring at you? What is
different? Well, for one thing the stakes are higher. All
business communications are important, but, with senior
management as your audience, you are in the hot seat.
They are going to accept or reject the recommendations that
you, your department, or your team have worked so hard on.
Weeks, months, maybe even years of work depend on your
few minutes. Who wouldn’t be nervous?

Don’t worry. You are human. This is a perfectly natural way
to feel. Remember, they can’t see how you feel, only how
you look and act. You want them to focus on and consider
your proposals, not your anxiety. And you’ll look cool and
collected when you follow these Frippicisms for dealing with
senior management.

Seven Fripp Do’s

1. Practice. A report to senior managers is not a
conversation; however, it must sound conversational. Once
you have your notes, practice by speaking out loud to an
associate, or when you are driving to work, or on the
treadmill. Make sure you are familiar with what you intend to
say. It is not about being perfect. It is about being
personable. (Remember, rehearsal is the work;
performance is the relaxation.)

2. Open with your conclusions. Don’t make your senior level
audience wait to find out why you are there.

3. Describe the benefits if your recommendation is adopted.
Make these benefits seem vivid and obtainable.

4. Describe the costs, but frame them in a positive manner.
If possible, show how not following your recommendation
will cost even more…

5. List your specific recommendations, and keep it on target.
Wandering generalities will lose their interest. You must
focus on the bottom line. Report on the deals, not the
details.

6. Look everyone in the eye when you talk. You will be more
persuasive and believable. (You can’t do this if you are
reading!)

7. Be brief. The fewer words you can use to get your
message across, the better. Jerry Seinfeld says, “I spend an
hour taking an eight-word sentence and making it five.”
That’s because he knew it would be funnier. In your case,
shorter is more memorable and repeatable.

Three Fripp Don’ts

1. Don’t try to memorize the whole presentation. Memorize
your opening, key points and conclusion. Practice enough
so you can “forget it.” This helps retain your spontaneity.

2. Never, never read your linesnot from a script and not
from PowerPoint slides. Your audience will go to sleep.

3. Don’t wave or hop. Don’t let nervousness (or enthusiasm)
make you too animatedbut don’t freeze. Don’t distract from
your own message with unnecessary movement.

Where to Start

1. What is the topic or subject you are reporting on? Be clear
with yourself so you can be clear with your audience.

2. Why is your topic important enough to be on the busy
agenda of senior level managers?

3. What questions will your audience be asking? Can you
answer them early in your presentation?

Here’s an Example

Present your conclusion: What is your central theme,
objective, or the big idea of your report? How can you
introduce it in one sentence? Suppose that you’ve been in
charge of a high-level, cross-functional team to study
whether there is a need for diversity training in your
company. You might start by saying, “Our committee has
spent three months studying diversity training programs and
whether one could benefit our company. Our conclusion is
that diversity training would be an exceptionally good
investment. We would save money, increase employee
retention, and improve company morale.”

Present your recommendations: “We recommend that the
company initiate a pilot program, starting next quarter, using
the ABC Training Company at an investment of $…. The ABC
Company has successfully implemented this program with
one of our subsidiaries, as well as many Fortune 100
companies. All 27 members of the cross-functional team
agreed with this conclusion. Our team was made up of a
real cross-section of the companytwo Vice Presidents, the
Facilities Secretary, eighteen associates, some with PhDs,
and six entry-level personnel. The group includes both
long-term employees and some new hires. And all 27
members of the team are willing to be part of the evaluation
committee to study the results before a decision is made
about a complete company rollout.”

Describe what’s in it for them; Address the needs of senior
management, as well as the company. Answer the
questions they will be asking, and show them how your
recommendation can make them look good. For example,
senior management is usually charged with increasing
sales and reducing costs. What if this program means
saving money by lowering employee turnover, yet has a
relatively modest cost?

“Why is this a good idea, just when we are cutting
unnecessary spending? One of our company’s key
initiatives is to recruit and retain 20% more of the best
available talent than we did in the last fiscal year. If this
training had been in place last year, not only would morale
have been higher, but our 23% minority associates would
have rated their employee satisfaction survey higher. As you
remember, for the last three years our minority associates
traditionally rate their satisfaction 3% lower than the other
population. This training could have helped increase
satisfaction and retention. We would lower the cost of
recruiting and training new associates.

“How does this investment compare to other investments
we have already made? As a comparison, the initial cost of
the pilot for all three offices is 2% of what we spend on
maintenance agreements for our copier machines in our
headquarters building.”

Conclusion:”On behalf of the 27-member committee, thank
you for this opportunity. The friendships we have formed and
our increased company knowledge is invaluable to us all.
The entire team is committed to this project. We are asking
for your okay to start the pilot program.”

You’ll make a strong impression and increase your chances
of acceptance when you can be short, clear, and concise.
Be prepared and practiced. It’s okay to be nervous, but
nobody sees how you feel, just how you look and act.

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE is a San Francisco-based
executive speech coach, award-winning keynote speaker,
and sales presentation trainer. She is also the
Past-President of the National Speakers Association. You
may contact Fripp for more info on her Speaking Schools;
executive coaching; and CDs, DVDs, and books on public
speaking and presentation skills: PFripp@fripp.com, (415)
753-6556, http://www.fripp.com

Patricia Fripp offers this article on a nonexclusive basis. You
may reprint or repost this material as long as Patricia
Fripp’s name and contact information is included.
PFripp@Fripp.com, 1-800 634-3035, http://www.fripp.com

What is this annoying, insidious angst that permeates my psyche? In all other regards, I’m a moderately confident guy. I’m secure in my abilities to be a good father, husband, employee, friend, gardener, etc. And, heck! Lots of folks tell me I’m a good writer. I’m passionate about my writing. I consumed by my stories. I can’t stop, can’t envision life without it.

Yet, I have this persistent fear that I will be “outed” as a fraud by the next highbrow literary critic that comes upon my work. Even though complete strangers have given surprisingly glowing reviews to my first (and worst) book, even though my readers tell me otherwise, I can’t get over the fear that a “real” writer will some day come along and renounce me, sending banishing me into the netherworld of faux writer fools who tumble around with ridiculous stories and are woefully inadequate when put to the task.

I know it’s absurd. I’ve told friends, many friends, who write beautifully, that they are writers simply due to the process. If it’s in your blood, if you can’t stop, if your day is filled with the details of the next chapter, if you write for therapy, then you are a writer! You don’t need a degree in English Lit or Composition to qualify. Heck, my degree is in Engineering. You don’t need a degree, period! And yet, I have trouble applying that philosophy to myself.

I guess I have been slowly improving. Having taken part in an author’s fair, having been called a “local author” by newspapers and radio hosts, having been dubbed “Genesee Valley Writer,” has helped. As I receive more and more reviews from strangers (those who don’t “have” to tell me I’m good), the anxiety has lessened a tad. But still, each time I know someone is reading the book, this annoying worry niggles around in brain. Will they like it? Will they see through me and spotlight the flaws? Will my still-fragile author ego be smashed?

It’s so silly. I really hate it. I have to stop caring that when I’ve bared my soul to the world, it might get trounced on, smashed, and spattered with criticism. I guess it’s time to admit… I am a “real” writer. And that’s a step in the “write” direction.

Aaron Paul Lazar

www.legardemysteries.com

Aaron Paul Lazar resides in Upstate New York with his wife, three daughters, two grandsons, mother-in- law, two dogs, and three cats. After writing in the early morning hours, he works as an electrophotographic engineer at NexPress Solutions Inc., part of Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, in Rochester, New York. Additional passions include vegetable, fruit, and flower gardening; preparing large family feasts; photographing his family, gardens, and the breathtakingly beautiful Genesee Valley; cross-country skiing across the rolling hills; playing a distinctly amateur level of piano, and spending “time” with the French Impressionists whenever possible.

Although he adored raising his three delightful daughters, Mr. Lazar finds grandfathering his “two little buddies” to be one of the finest experiences of his life. Double Forte’, the first in the series, was published in January 2005. Upstaged, number two, is in production. With eight books under his belt, Mr. Lazar is currently working on the ninth, which features Gus LeGarde and his family. http://www.legardemysteries.com

Microsoft windows opened up a new world for me.
From a Computer Layman to an expert in most things www.
took me about 10 years.
Not bad for someone who works
long hours in an offline business with little time on the computer.
I have tried most things such as marketing affiliate programs,
mlm,list management and have had some success selling on e-bay.
One thing that has always eluded me was to be able to create a
Great website using the right tools and knowledge.

I created a website about 5 years ago and had problems with hyperlinks,banners and website file association..
There were many things i wanted to do with this site but lacked the right knowldge and guidance to do it.

I eventually gave up and went back to the hard slog of working my
offline business.
Recently i found the right information on a site which i consider to be
good value for money(it costs nothing at all for this knoweldge)
When you learn this knowledge you will know how to create an idea,and market it.

They also show you how to create a mean website!
Most of the information i have accessed over the years seemed to
take a lot for granted that you have a working knowledge of web files,know how to upload your your files using a ftp client to a host webserver.

This was always very confusing to me.
I have finally found the place that helps you to create a website step by step without confusion.
The teachings on this website are massive and show you the basic structure of building a website
.
It is like finding all the pieces of a jigsaw and putting them all together with ease.
All the concepts of this course while individually dont mean much by themself, once you put them all together they pack a punch so powerfull that you cant wait for the next lesson.

I could never work out why my images would not upload to my site,
so easy now yet then could not see what i did wrong.
So to summarize the information provided here is absolutely free
and the wealth of information covers every thing from marketing, finding a niche market, to creating your own website.

chris merrill

Free for everyone and hours of video tuition
http://www.internetprofitmentor.com

chris merrill

Have you ever started a creative writing project with great excitement, only to have your interest dwindle as the process, itself, interfere with your creativity? How do you keep the momentum going and continue to enjoy the creative process? Follow these tips for high creativity, fun and success!

1.Create a writing environment that inspires you. Create a place in your home or outdoors that calls you to write. Consider light, color, sound, scent, taste, writing materials.

2.Follow The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. I highly recommend this book. It keeps you focused, observant, playful, and creative – and it keeps you believing in yourself as a writer!

3.Choose your writing project in a joyful way. When choosing a writing project, come from your heart – not your head. Be playful. Be creative about how you choose your project.

4.Make a creative representation of the project’s ideal end. Draw, paint – use a creative medium other than writing to represent the completed project. Consider, especially, how you will feel when it’s done. Put your model in a prominent place. Use this to trigger the desired feeling, before the completion – every day!

5.Make a timeline with celebration points. Make it visually appealing. Have a step-by-step outline and celebrate creatively as you complete each step.

6.Create an R&D Team for your project. Contact a number of your friends, colleagues, and readers. Invite them to join your R&D Team. Send them snippets of what you write, questions you have about the process, or anything else you want input on – on a regular basis. Their input will keep you going.

7.Keep Creating & Editing times separate. If you edit while you write, the process can become boring. Clearly block a specific amount of time for editing into your schedule. Don’t let it interfere with your creative writing time!

8.If blocked, shake things up! Do something fun, unusual, active! Get your mind somewhere else and move your body. Your creative side will work in your subconscious while you’re at play. Read the tips in The Artist’s Way. There are also many resources on the internet for handling writers’ block. Check some of these links: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_block.html http://www.sff.net/people/LisaRC/ http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/block.html

9.Have a Fan Club. Critics and editors are fine, but have a few friends or family members who you can ask to cheer you on or cheer you up, no matter what you write. Hire a Creativity Coach to keep you focused and to be an unbiased supporter of your creative success!

10.Celebrate in a big way! When you reach the big finish, give it a big finish! Do something you’ve always wanted to do, but have never done before. Make the finish so memorable that you’ll be eager to begin your next creative writing project!

To pass the BSCI exam, earn your CCNP certification, and become an outstanding networker, you’ve got to master the many details of BGP – and trust me, there are a lot of details to master! Before you get into the more advanced features of BGP, you should have the fundamentals down cold, and one of those fundamentals is knowing the BGP adjacency states. This will allow you to successfully analyze and troubleshoot BGP peer relationships.

In the following example, a BGP peering is being created between R1 and R3.
R1(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.3 remote-as 200

BGP speakers do not have to be in the same AS to become peers. To verify that the remote BGP speaker has become a peer, run show ip bgp neighbor.

R1#show ip bgp neighbor

BGP neighbor is 172.12.123.3, remote AS 200, external link

BGP version 4, remote router ID 0.0.0.0

BGP state = Active

Last read 00:01:39, hold time is 180, keepalive interval is 60 seconds

Received 0 messages, 0 notifications, 0 in queue

Sent 0 messages, 0 notifications, 0 in queue

Route refresh request: received 0, sent 0

Default minimum time between advertisement runs is 30 seconds

The output here can be a little misleading the first time you read it. The first highlighted line shows 172.12.123.3 is a BGP neighbor, is located in AS 200, and is an external link, indicating that the neighbor is in another AS entirely. The second highlighted line shows the BGP state as Active. This sounds great, but it actually means that a BGP peer connection does not yet exist with the prospective neighbor. Before we continue with this example, let’s look at the different BGP states:

Idle is the initial state of a BGP connection. The BGP speaker is waiting for a start event, generally either the establishment of a TCP connection or the re-establishment of a previous connection. Once the connection is established, BGP moves to the next state.

Connect is the next state. If the TCP connection completes, BGP will move to the OpenSent stage if the connection does not complete, BGP goes to Active.

Active indicates that the BGP speaker is continuing to create a peer relationship with the remote router. If this is successful, the BGP state goes to OpenSent. You’ll occasionally see a BGP connection flap between Active and Connect. This indicates an issue with the physical cable itself, or with the configuration.

OpenSent indicates that the BGP speaker has received an Open message from the peer. BGP will determine whether the peer is in the same AS (iBGP) or a different AS (eBGP) in this state.

In OpenConfirm state, the BGP speaker is waiting for a keepalive message. If one is received, the state moves to Established, and the neighbor relationship is complete. It is in the Established state that update packets are actually exchanged.

So even though the show ip bgp neighbor output indicated that this is an Active neighbor relationship, that’s not as good as it sounds. Of course, the reason the peer relationship hasn’t been established is that we haven’t configured R3 yet!

R3(config)#router bgp 200

R3(config-router)#neighbor 172.12.123.1 remote-as 100

Verify the peer establishment with show ip bgp neighbor:

R3#show ip bgp neighbor

BGP neighbor is 172.12.123.1, remote AS 100, external link

BGP version 4, remote router ID 172.12.123.1

BGP state = Established, up for 00:01:18

Last read 00:00:17, hold time is 180, keepalive interval is 60 seconds

Neighbor capabilities:

Route refresh: advertised and received(old & new)

Address family IPv4 Unicast: advertised and received

Received 5 messages, 0 notifications, 0 in queue

Sent 5 messages, 0 notifications, 0 in queue

Route refresh request: received 0, sent 0

Default minimum time between advertisement runs is 30 seconds

Local host: 172.12.123.3, Local port: 179 (BGP uses TCP Port 179)

Foreign host: 172.12.123.1, Foreign port: 11007

The peer relationship between R1 and R3 has been established!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNP and CCNA tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, just visit the website! You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNP exam with The Bryant Advantage!

Making telephone calls over the Internet using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) is an efficient and cost saving technology that is in a position to forever change telephone communications. VOIP is not a new phenomenon, having been in use in the business world for quite a few years. In the last couple of years, though, it has begun to catch on with consumers as a way to efficiently combine all their modes communication in their homes, for either their work lives or personal lives, and avoid paying high charges as they have with long distance companies. With the many products and services available to customers, it seems like a lucrative business to be a part of. VOIP resellers have the opportunity to pass reasonably priced products and services on to consumers while at the same time making a great profit and being a part of a communications revolution.

VOIP technology provides the customer with an exciting opportunity to experience low priced telephone service. Subscribers to VOIP services have a bevy of options from which they can choose. The ability to subscribe to VOIP is dependent on the customer having a reliable broadband Internet connection, and will require the customer to either purchase a few new pieces of equipment or software that will enable VOIP to work from the home computer. Customers can choose to use a specially equipped microphone hooked up to the computer, making the experience like that of a speakerphone. The customer can use his or her home telephone with the service, if he or she purchases an analog telephone adapter that converts the analog audio into digital data. They can also buy an IP phone that is plugs directly into the computer and is ready for immediate use. There is also a wireless option, and VOIP cell phones are beginning to make an appearance on the market. It’s important for the customer to be aware that VOIP phone service isn’t that dissimilar to traditional telephone service, except that the cabling has changed. Once the customer has the necessary equipment for VOIP, he or she then needs to search for a reliable, affordable, and dependable service provider. This is where the VOIP reseller can step in. A VOIP reseller has an opportunity to provide affordable phone service to customers beyond the startup costs, while at the same time getting in on a potential technology and business boom.

A VOIP reseller does just that, he or she resells minutes to VOIP customers that have been purchased from a VOIP provider. These resold minutes are marked up to allow the VOIP reseller a reasonable profit. The reseller becomes the liaison between the service provider and the customer, providing customer service and resolving issues. It is important to note that for anyone interested in becoming a VOIP reseller, there is often a considerable investment in the beginning. A new reseller will have to purchase software and equipment that will enable his or her to provide service to his or her customers. However, there are services available for the potential reseller that provide their own gateways and servers while giving him or her the opportunity to be their own business owner without the expensive startup costs. These firms provide software that make it possible for a VOIP reseller to establish and maintain a set customer base. Customers can access their accounts, contact the reseller with issues or questions, and view their bills. These firms also help to alleviate the big startup cost by offering not only their servers and gateways, but also billing systems that would normally cost a hefty sum to purchase. All of this is offered in a secured interface.

VOIP is primed to take the place of the traditional telephone system. There are tremendous moneymaking opportunities to be sought for someone that is good at marketing and selling a product. There are opportunities to provide service and support to customers while being self-employed. For a VOIP reseller, the opportunities are tremendous.

So, what’s up with the word crepuscule, and why do I use it so frequently? Well, as you may know, it’s a fancy term for twilight: that wonderful little period where your tiny earth corner slips between day and night. I’ve always found it to be something…. I don’t know the word. I’m tempted to say “magical,” but it would seem that term has been ruined by overuse (abuse). And, that’s, indeed, part of why I like the word crepuscule so much. It has not been ruined….yet! And, it seems to intimate the intangibles implicit in this particular period of the day. When I think of the term crepuscule, I also invariably am reminded of Thelonious Monk’s tune Crepuscule With Nellie. What a rich, deep way to name a song!

So, with this particular time of the day, you know, always so brief, there’s something about it… something emotional. I get the feeling that all things are still possible. Driving home from Jersey last night, see, I always like driving through this color that can’t be classified, and, it just so happens we were passing our favorite rest stop at this momentIced Tea Painting: the one with Starbucks, and, I don’t need ya’ll to tell me about Starbucks, because, I am already a guy totally in favor of Mom and Pop endeavors and etc.; but, part of the dominion is that sometimes you’re forced to take what’s available. Believe me, I love the distinct, unique little coffee shops, with their own personality etc. Anyway, Starcrooks, I mean bucks! is all that was available, so, you know, we go there. Okay, so, into Starbucks we go, and I order an iced tea-lemonade combo. This, would have been great, but, of course, even though I ordered it with no sugar etc, there’s still a type of de facto syrup apparently used in the lemonade, and, I just don’t get it. The insane insistence that sugar goes in damn everything! And, the ubiquitous tendency for businesses to ruin tea! Some day I need somebody to explain it to me.

So, leaving Starbucks, getting into the car with the tea that’s ruined with the unnecessary, mysterious syrup. The crepuscule is gone. I’m left with a lousy drink. And, see, somewhere there’s a lesson in there, but, I’m just not sure what it is….

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Writing is a form of preserved talk, talk that has been pinned down on paper so the words can be heard again. The basic principles of good writing, apart, from grammatical correctness, might be presented as follows:

1) written sentences should sound like natural speech, 2) the words we use must be exact, fresh, full of strength and vitality. Picture making words are better than vague, general words, 3) fresh point of view will give flavor to the style, 4) humor will lighten it.

Though, it is true that written sentences should sound like natural speech, they fully present an image of the natural speech. The reasons for this are fairly obvious: natural speech is a great deal more than words; it is also tone of voice, facial expression, gestures, and even the speaker’s appearance.

The whole point of writing is to create something better than we really talk – something more interesting, more thoughtful, and more effective in every way, for “effectiveness is what matters, and if an expression is confusing, ambiguous or unintentionally vague, it can hardly be an effective use of the language.” (C.R.E.Parker).

The only thing we must borrow from the natural speech to achieve an air of naturalness is the rhythm of speech. Now before we speak of sentence rhythm at more length, we shall consider one of the major qualities of writing – sentence length.

To begin with, fashions in sentence length constantly change. Past generation were more hospitable to the long sentences than we are, and prose writers sometimes created sentences 200-300 words long. They are often well-arranged sentences too; after all, the thought they convey is complex and can be hardly skimmed through. Indeed, some of them present the works of art.

In the twentieth century, the tendency in writing has been toward shorter, easier-to-grasp-at-one glance sentences.

- This tendency can be easily explained by the spread of the literacy among masses of people.

- Consequently, the style of writing should be clear and comprehensive for everybody, and aimed at satisfying the demand in easy and interesting reading.

- The increase in the tempo of living and absence of leisure-reading matter must be fitted to the needs of those who read only in the odd moments of their lives, between household chores and television programs, business meetings and social duties.

Hence, what can be inferred from the length of the sentences the writer uses?

Indeed, sentence length and grammatical complexity vary from writer to writer, from idea to idea, from sentence to sentence. There can’t be any general rules, which every person, who starts writing should strictly stick to. However, there are a handful of good ideas that can be applied by the writers.

Sentence length depends greatly on the complexity of the idea to be expressed. In our time, the average length of sentences is somewhere between 20-30 words. Now the simplicity and naturalness of the written and spoken language is deemphasized. So, the usage of short sentences became the custom of the day.

Short sentences can infuse a fresh spirit into the way you write and speak. Get to know why?

* The writer, who wants to persuade the audience, should remember that he will succeed best when the argument is couched in brief, even staccato sentences.

* In most readers’ mind, the short sentence carries an unmistakable sense of wisdom, because down through the ages it has acted as the setting for all the familiar gems of “truth”.

* Since there is no room in a very short sentence for anything but one elaborated thought, it follows that an idea to set forth in such a sentence will receive a large degree of emphasis.

* The short sentences can be used to express the feeling of suspense, excitement, or even horror. What would be a crime thriller be like without the terse, clipped sentences that portend a tense episode? The concentration upon a few bare facts adds a peculiar sense of horror or vice verse excitement to the narrative.

* The very absence of elaboration gives a writer a great opportunity to deliver the message to the reader in a simple and comprehensive way.

* The short sentences give unity to the expressed ideas, relieve monotony of too many clauses, and in general, make the expression more exact and accurate.

Undoubtedly, every writer should pay special attention to the length of the sentences he uses. Thus, the primary concern in writing and speaking must always be that our sentences fit the thoughts they are communicating.

The benefits of journal writing are fairly well established due to the long history of journal writing. From Anne Frank to Di Vinci, journal writing has proven itself.

Benefits of Journal Writing

When considering the benefits of journal writing, it is important to set a few parameters. First, there is no age limit to using journals. There are distinct benefits for children of all ages, but journal writing is equally valuable to adults. The reason for this is journal writing is an act of personal reflection. Whether it is a teenager reflecting on the social nightmare of high school or an overworked parent taking twenty minutes a night to write is irrelevant. The point is, all age groups benefit from stepping back from their life for a few moments and reflecting on things.

Whether you recognize it or not, journal writing provides you with an anchor in your daily life. In the journal, you are free to write what you want without restrictions, to truly address the issues in your life without fear of criticism. Put another way, one of the benefits of journal writing is it acts as a self-help psychiatrist, but for MUCH cheaper!

As you write in your journal over time, you’ll also start to ascertain a second benefit to doing so. This benefit is one of self-criticism. Inevitably, you’ll read through past entries and review your life. Doing so will lead you to self-reflection as well as thoughts on how you might act differently should certain situations rise again.

Of equal importance, journal writing has health benefits. Before you click away from this article, consider a time in your life when you were extremely frustrated. Hopefully, you spoke to a friend to “get things off your chest.” Didn’t you feel a lot better afterwards? Getting things off your chest helps relieve stress, one of the biggest killers in our modern society. Journal writing acts in much the same way since you are able to write your thoughts without fear of criticism.

There are other benefits to journal writing, but all boil down to one simple fact. Writing in a journal allows you to express yourself without being judged. With the lack of privacy in our modern, digital world, that is hardly a small benefit.