Different Platforms that Raise Bullying Awareness

Bullying refers to the act of intentionally hurting someone emotionally, physically, or both through painful words or actions over and over again. People who do this activity are called bullies and tend to display manipulative and impulsive behaviors — as well as anger management issues, hot-tempered, great physical strength, and dominant. On the other hand, individuals who are victims of bullying are referred to as the bullied. They are the ones who receive the fury of the bullies and are commonly mistreated even if they didn’t do wrong.

The usual acts of bullying include but are not limited to pushing, hitting, name-calling, creating rumors, fighting, posting mean things on social media, making rude actions, etc. What makes bullying a severe case is its ability to create a long-lasting effect on the bullied person. The impacts of it include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, isolation, and more.

There is really a need to help people avoid becoming either the bully or the bullied. Because of this emerging issue, there are many platforms that used their influence and power to raise bullying awareness.

School

Bullying usually takes place in school. There are many kids who are being victimized by those students who feel superior and physically stronger than the others. Thus, schools from all around the world are doing their best to educate their students about bullying and prevent the act from happening. Some academic institutions conduct orientation about the subject while others inject the subject in their daily lessons. Among the other activities that raise bullying awareness in schools are using materials, like stickers, banners, and flyers, to catch the attention of students and encourage them to be a buddy instead of a bully. The mission, vision, policies, and manuals of academes are also being modified to strictly impose the non-tolerance of any kind of bullying.

Literature

Literature is one of the avenues of entertainment and learning. However, how could this platform raise bullying awareness? Through its touching stories and poems, readers can be taught that there is no way that bullying is considered good. Many authors raise bullying awareness in their writings, such as Trudy Ludwig, Peggy Moss, Laurie Halse Anderson, Alex Finn, and Jennifer Brown.  There are also several writings that tackle the topic, such as the bullying awareness book by Konieczka, Alana — which is a children’s book titled A Kid’s Life: Loving, Learning, Growing. What makes literature a great field to promote the anti-bullying campaign is its wide array of readers. Thus, it really the perfect place to teach people how bullying can affect the overall health and lifestyle of both the bully and victims and perhaps put a stop to this act.

Film

Movies like Mean Girls, Easy A, Wonder, Diary of A Wimpy Kid, Carrie, and Odd Girl Out are some of the many films that showcase bullying. The typical movies that tackle the subject are those about protagonists who are entering middle school, have physical flaws, and basically those who don’t seem to confirm the society that they live in. Moreover, attention is an essential learning aspect. Numerous students react more to watching films on a basic level than it is to reading, which helps keep them entertained and prevents them from being easily distracted. That said, viewers — especially the younger ones, can absorb the meaningful aspects of the movies while being entertained.

Social Media

Although cyberbullying is rampant until this day, social media is also one of the most effective channels to raise awareness. With just one post, it can reach all of your networks and perhaps the whole world. All you need is to make use of your social media accounts and compose a post about bullying and how it affects the lives of others. From Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to Youtube, Pinterest, and even Tumblr, you never know how much difference one post can make. These platforms also help everyone to speak up and educate others to stop becoming either a bully or a victim. Now that there is a pandemic, utilizing social media for anti-bullying and awareness advocacies is the best option. It is because it will not only help you reach millions of people but also keep you safe from the pandemic.

Exceptional Authors of Books that Uplift your Spirit to Check Out

During these try times, there is really a need to uplift one’s spirituality.  The ongoing pandemic has made everybody be in distress because of the many alterations and the invisible enemy. In the first months of the pandemic, there was a high volume of worries, panic attacks, and anxieties. The lifestyles of people from different parts of the world were greatly affected. Some have lost their jobs, while some have lost their beloveds.

What could be the best things to turn to in the middle of this rough moment? Books! They have so much comfort and lessons that they offer, making everyone more enthusiastic in facing the day. But, without the brilliant individuals who used their passion and talent in writing — these uplifting books wouldn’t exist. Hence, listed below are the best authors of books that help improve one’s spirituality that you should know!

Joyce Meyer

Battlefield of the Mind, Healing the Soul of a Woman, Beauty for Ashes, and  Living Beyond Your Feelings are some of the best books authored by American author, speaker, and Bible teacher Joyce Meyer. She is also the head of the Joyce Meyer Ministries.

Her maiden name is Pauline Joyce Hutchinson, and she was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after she was born, her dad joined the military to serve in Second World War. In interviews, she also said after his return, he started sexually assaulting her and mentioned this incident in her discussions. Moreover, what urged her to strengthen her faith was her unhappiness. Joyce started to serve as an associate pastor in a Charismatic church but resigned in 1985 to start her own ministry called Life in the Word. After 8 years, she and her husband star in Enjoying Everyday Life, a television ministry still airing until now. When 2002 came, Meyer was paid by the Hachette Book Group for her backlist catalog of self-published books’ right approximately more than $10 million.

Eric Chifunda

Eric Chifunda is the amazing author of spectacular books, which are An Endless Quest for Spiritual Truth: A Practical Guide to Everyday Spirituality, Selected Inspirational Quotes, and Potent Quotes for Soul: Uplifting Quotes for Soul.

Chifunda finished attending Philadelphia’s Drexel University in 2008 with several years of relevant experience, particularly in occupational therapy. He also studied fine art in New York City’s National Academy School of Gine Art. Eric, as a student of truth, believes that not every truth is offered to one individual. Hence, nobody has the privilege to the facts. He assumes that others were bestowed the honor to know particular truths that others may not have known about. Therefore, it is up to everyone to listen to each other because everyone can benefit from each other regardless of their religion or social status. As of now, Eric works in the heart of the Empire State as an occupational therapy specialist.

Priscilla Shirer

The Armor of God, Awaken, Fervent, God is Able, The Prince Warriors, Life Interrupted, and Discerning the Voice of God are among the books of notable Priscilla Shirer.

Priscilla was born in Dallas, Texas, on December 31, 1974. She is the daughter of a mega-church pastor in Dallas named Tony Evans. She was raised well connected to the Bible. She had an internship in a Christian radio station when she was one of the University of Houston’s freshmen. The radio was soon called by listeners, asking Priscilla to talk at their Bible group sessions and other activities. She was later invited to facilitate a weekly review of the Bible at the Zig Ziglar Company and complete its group of speakers. Shirer, along with Beth Moo and Kay Arthur, talks at churches and other international events, such as the Moving Beyond event funded by LifeWay Christian Resources and Deeper Still The Festival. She has authored many books as well.

Richard L. Haight

Richard L. Haight authored the exceptional books titled Inspirience: Meditatio Unbound, and more.

Haight is not just an award-winning author. He is also known as the developer of the TEM or Total Embodiment Method and a master teacher of samurai art. Richard has written a total of 5 wonderful books that center on spiritual awakening and meditation, such as The Warrior’s Meditation, Unshakable Awareness, and the Gold Winner of the Reader’s Favorite Awards of 2019, The Unbound Soul.

Covid-19 Situation in Ethiopia: What You Need to Know

Ethiopia is one of the oldest places on earth. It is popular because it is where coffee comes from. It is also recognized for its top athletes as well as its churches that are rock-hewn. Ethiopia is Africa’s leading supplier of honey and coffee and also has the continent’s highest livestock population. The country is also known to have links with three major Abrahamic religions.

It is so rich in culture that can be seen from the people’s way of life and clothing. Moreover, Ethiopia is recognized as one of the poorest countries on the planet that deals with a lot of social issues, such as poverty, lack of education, scarce drinking water, insufficient infrastructure, and more. One of the social problems of the country, which is famine, has been featured in Dr. Byron Conner’s book The Face of Hunger — it documented Dr. Conner’s experiences in Ethiopia.

You are probably thinking about how Ethiopia is thriving in the middle of this pandemic and what its status is. According to World Health Organization, there are a total of 115, 360 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country from the 3rd of January until the 12th of December at 6:46 PM, CET. It wasn’t until March 13 when the pandemic broke out in Ethiopia. There was 1 confirmed case on the said date based on the article released on World Health Organization Africa. The day with the highest recorded cases is August 21 with 1,829 confirmed ones.

As of 10:40 PM of December 12, the total confirmed cases rose to 116, 297 and the death toll is 1,803. Despite the thousands of cases and deaths, there is still a silver lining left in this old country. 92,449 people have already recovered making the active cases down to 23, 848.

The African Union has released a summary of travel restrictions on August 2020. Most state members have enforced a mandatory quarantine for every traveler, especially those who came from high-risk locations. There were 25 borders and 4 international air traffic that was on total closures. There were also 3 travel restrictions imposed on going in and out of particular nations and a total of 23 entry and exit cutbacks. For Ethiopia, it enforced mandatory facility quarantine for every traveler that enters the country on April 24, as well as an entry or exit restriction.

Moreover, there are many sectors that have been impacted by this pandemic — mainly the educational, political, and economic.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, over 26 million students are impacted by education cuts. As a result, school-based feeding activities have ceased for about 1 million children in several places of the country. The national elections, furthermore, which is due to take place last August 29 was postponed according to the announcement made by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. They also confirmed that all election-related events are being momentarily stopped.

When it comes to Ethiopia’s economy, it was already predicted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa that the pandemic will cut off at least 2.9% of the country’s economic development for the 2020 fiscal year. Covid-19 has greatly impacted the state’s flower export industry. The demand for flowers has plunged and the price has fallen by over 80% since Europe has been struck with the pandemic. Throughout this sector, a record of 150,000 workers is in danger of losing their jobs.

The tourism sector of the country is also thriving. The nation’s flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, announced that due to Covid-19, it is operating with just 10 percent of its normal capacity. Throughout the period from January to April of this year, the CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, announced a shortfall of $550 million.

Therefore, the country is still facing the pandemic for 9 months now. There are still more than 20 thousand active cases, which makes both locals and travelers at risk of catching the disease that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 or the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Hence, always stay alert, follow the health protocols, and observe social distancing to be safe from the invisible enemy. If any symptoms occur, please do a voluntary quarantine to help stop the spread.

Exciting Things to Do with Your Kids this Season

Autumn has passed, and winter has arrived. The streets are covered with thick white snow, people are wearing jackets under their jackets, fireplaces are being lit, and winter boots are being worn. With the cold air blowing and snow falling, there are limited things to do. You cannot go swimming on beaches or go camping in the woods anymore because of the season. Although there are many things that you cannot do, there are also thrilling activities that you can do to maximize the fun during winter.

What could be the best things to do in this freezing weather, especially with your kids? You can stop the questioning now because listed below are some of the most exciting activities to do with your children this winter!

Shop for Winter Clothes

You may have a lot of winter clothing in your closet or in the attic. But, are you sure that they could still fit you and your little ones? One of the most suitable things to do is to go shopping for winter clothes! You need to check the clothing pieces that you all need and list them on your shopping list. Decide whether you want to do the purchasing online or in physical stores. The former is safer considering that the pandemic is still left unsolved, while the latter is advantageous when it comes to getting the sizes right and choosing the best material. If you want to shop in malls, make sure to follow the health protocols. It is best to buy coats, boots, and other stuff in December because you can get great prices due to the holiday sale. Many stores still have several stocks since it isn’t until February that they’ll open the spring collection.

Drink an eggnog or hot chocolate

There is really no mandate when it comes to drinking eggnog or hot chocolate in winter. However, it is a tradition that has been followed until this generation. Eggnog is easy to make. All you need is milk, whipped egg whites, vanilla or nutmeg, and a choice of alcoholic drink — and mix them all together. On the other hand, hot chocolate is also easy to make and has been the comfortable drink of many. You need hot milk and shredded chocolate; you can top it with marshmallows or whipped cream. You can make yourself a good winter drink with either of the two, but don’t give your kids eggnog because it has alcohol content. These beverages will surely make your day better and keep you warm even for a short while. It is perfect for consuming them at any time of the day.

Build a snowman

A snowman is really popular not just on Christmas, but on days that there is snow. This thing always comes to people’s minds together with snowball fights and skiing. Even though the temperature is below 0 degrees Celsius, making a snowman with your family is really enjoyable. But, what is really a snowman? It is a figure made of snow that ought to resemble people. You can be creative in creating yours and go beyond the classic design of it — which is the one with a carrot nose. Instead of the classic nose, you may use pebbles. You can also give it some arms using twigs and a scarf using the one you have outgrown. This is a great opportunity to bond with your kids because they will surely enjoy playing with the snow and building a cute snowman.

Read books

Reading is an activity that isn’t seasonal. It can be done in winter, spring, summer, and fall. But, you cannot do this if you don’t have books to read. Make sure that your shelf is ready so you and your kids will have a great reading experience. There are many wonderful children’s books to read. Some good examples are Matilda by Roald Dahl, which is about a gifted little girl, and Sammie the Shark and the Return of the Lost Gift by Janet Councilman, a heartwarming story about a shark. You can read the same or different books together while enjoying the cozy atmosphere in your home with a lit fireplace, hot drink, and delicious snack.

Brilliant Books about Psychoanalysis that You Should Check-out

Psychoanalysis is a group of theories and therapeutic methods that originated from Sigmund Freud’s works and theories. The belief that all individuals have unconscious ideas, emotions, desires, and memories is the first assertion of psychoanalysis.

There is a wide array of the world’s greatest psychoanalyst, such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Erik Erikson, Stephen Grosz, Dr. Len Bergantino, Ed.D., Ph.D., and more. Additionally, one of the goals of psychoanalytic therapy is to free the suppressed memories and feelings. The only time that the person will be helped and healed is when he undergoes a cathartic.  

Although psychology and literature are two different fields, there are still many books in the market and libraries that tackle and connect to psychoanalysis. Literature became the instrument for authors who want to educate and touch the lives of many through writing. With that being said, listed below are the best books about psychoanalysis to add to your shelves.

Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud

Civilization and Its Discontents by the founding father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud was originally published in 1930. The original title of the book is Das Unbehagen in der Kutur. It serves as a remarkable summary of the perceptions on heritage using the psychoanalytic view that he had been working on. Moreover, the book stands as a witness and accolade to the theory of mind with emphasis on aggression as the merciless opponent of eros. It is among the final books of Freud, because it was written 10 years before he died. He wrote in book his thoughts and perceptions on the vague question of the place of man in the planet, the location that he described in terms of unending conflict between one’s search for freedom and the society’s request for conformance. The theme is about the thing that works for the society might not work on people. It is because humans are innately aggressive and egotistic that will search for things that will satisfy themselves. Hence, the result is a guilt that is extensive and familiar.

Eros and Civilization: A Philosophical Inquiry into Freud by Herbert Marcuse

In 1955, Beacon Press published the impressive book about Sigmund Freud titled Eros and Civilization: A Philosophical Inquiry into Freud by Herbert Marcuse. It contains the proposal of the author about a society that is not repressive. It tries to blend Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud’s theories; and, attempts to discover the possibility of collective experience to be an origin of rebellion and disobedience. The book also makes an attempt to show the path to an alternate future. This became the popular and most significant work of the author. Others viewed the work as a development from the past attempt psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich on combining the elements of psychoanalytic and Marxist theories.

The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves by Stephen Grosz

The first edition of The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourseleves by Stephen Groszwas published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2014. It is an amazing book that is intended for any person who desires to comprehend the underlying motives that molds everyobody’s lives. The book is an anthology of personal and brief encounters of a psychoanalyst and his patients. It uncovers the way that art of perceptiveness can shed a light to the most complex, confusing, and human of memories and experiences. These tales exhibits not only the method of loving oneself but also the way of finding oneself.

Looking Awry: An Introduction to Jacques Lacan through Popular Culture by Slavoj Žižek

This book is intended for readers that are 17 years old and above. The MIT Press published the revised edition in September of 1992. The author provides a genius reading of Jacques Lacan. He transposes today’s pedagogical plans of action to elaborate the complex philosophical foundations of the French theoretician and practician who transformed people’s perceptions of psychoanalysis. Žižek approaches Jacques Lacan by the motifs and writings of contemporary pop culture a technique of appearing awry that looks back on the significant and exciting experiences of Jacques Lacan. This encompasses Vertigo by Hitchcock, Pet Sematary by Stephen King, An Incident Obsession by McCullough, and more.

Fiction Books That Take Inspiration from Different Aspects of Real Life

Fiction is known to be one of the best genres of all time. Readers of different ages are drawn into this genre. Book shelves from all over the world never ran out of books in this category. There are just so much beauty that fiction has to offer that makes readers enthusiastic when they hear the newly released titles under this genre.

Although fiction books are completely products of imagination, there are many aspects of it that are based on real life. They are not directly stated in the books. However, readers can definitely examine these factors and compare them to those that are in the real world. Also, authors often reveal the basis of their works in interviews, blogs, posts, and such. The elements that are commonly inspired by the aspects in the real life are characters, plot, theme, and more.

With that being said, here are the best fiction books that are inspired by true stories and people that you should check out.

Grandpa Nick’s Bump by Lynda Daniele

This heartwarming Christian book for children was written by Lynda Daniele to preserve some Grandpa Nick memories. Hence, the main character is based on her late husband, Nick. As a way to overcome the death of the love of her life, the author started to attend the local YMCA and started to take a writing class. She started to write tales for kids about Nick’s fight with meningioma and the kids in their neighborhood that Nick was babysitting. The four kids had no grandpa, so they persuaded Nick to be their grandfather. Grandpa Nick agreed to the request of the wonderful kids with a huge wide smile. Hence, Grandpa Nick’s Bump is a beautiful story of a playful and silly grandpa and the essence of being a grandfather.

Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlni Gray

The illustrated edition of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlini Gray was published by HMH Books for Young Readers in 2016. It focuses on the story of a spirited and courageous little kid named Nadia Comaneci. She went from tree climbing in Romania’s woods to history-making at the Olympic Games in 1976. She won an incredible 7 perfect scores during the competition. The readers will truly examine and learn about the protagonist’s perfectly imperfect journey to winning the gold medal in the 1976 Olympics. Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still shows how the little girl who lived in a small town became a world-renowned athlete.

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

Like a Love Story is a remarkable book by Abdi Nazemian. It is set in 1989 New York City and centers on the tale of three teenagers. The first character is an Iranian kid named Reza who recently moved to the area together with his mother to reside with his new father and brother. The second is Riza who dreams of becoming a fashion designer and is praising her gay uncle who is diagnosed with AIDS and a part of ACT UP. The third is Art who is the best friend of Judy and a proud part of the LGBTQ community. The three will be caught up in a love triangle that will complicate their relationships with one another. It shows some aspects of the queer life in the same city as the setting of the story during the 1980s, which made it more promising.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

This stand-alone novel is written by Tahereh Mafi and is published by HarperCollins. The tale is set after the historical 9/11 attack and is revolving around a teenage girl named Shirin. Politically, it is an incredibly volatile moment for everyone — especially for the protagonist who is already exhausted from being objectified. She has never been shocked at how bad individuals can become. She is also tired of the unpleasant gazes, the disrespectful remarks, and the physical abuses that Shirin bears as a consequence of her ethnicity, faith, and the religious clothing that she wears daily. Hence, she created defensive walls and declines to allow anybody to come close enough to harm her. Alternatively, she hides her worries in music and makes use of the afternoon by doing some break-dances with her brother. But, would the walls that she created to be destroyed by a new person that enters her life?

Newton’s Laws of Motion: Definition and Examples

You might already be familiar with the laws of motion by Sir Isaac Newton. It has always been part of your science lesson from elementary to college. You are probably wondering why Newton’s laws of motion are being given a lot of importance and attention over the years. The underlying reason is that these laws are the basis of one classical mechanics, one of the major fields of physics. Mechanics pertains to the study of the way that the things move or not as forces intervene on them.

Additionally, there are many books that tackle the subject. Some of the books really center on the topic while others are mention slightly mention it, for example, the fundamental laws of motion by Griffen, Neil’s book From Science to Spirituality: Finding Spirituality in Science has made quite an impact in showing how science and religion can agree with one another.

What could be the exact definition and the laws of the famous Laws of Motion?

The laws of motion by Newton describe the behavior of massive objects as well as the way that they engage with one another. Though Newton’s laws seem rather clear to all of us already, they were considered groundbreaking over three thousand years ago. These laws refer to the movement through an inertial frame of reference of massive objects, often referred to as a Newtonian reference frame, but Newton actually never defined this very reference frame. A 3D coordinate system that is either static or in constant linear movement can be defined as an inertial reference frame, it is not moving or spinning. Newton discovered that three simple rules could characterize motion within such an inertial reference frame.

The first law of motion states that any subject will stay in a straight line at rest or just in uniform movement until coerced by the intervention of an external force to change its status. Usually, this is regarded as the concept of inertia. The primary idea here is that when there is no net force acting on an object, if all the outside forces cancel each other out, therefore the object will retain a fixed velocity. In events that velocity is zero, and then the object will remain at rest. The velocity will only alter if there is an external force used to the object.

The second law of motion describes the way that when exposed to an external force, the velocity of an object is altered. The law describes a force to be equivalent to momentum shift per time adjustment. Sir Isaac Newton also flourished mathematics’ calculus, and the “changes” presented in this law are most correctly described in the differential forms. Moreover, this particular law presents that the force (F) is the product of the constant mass of the object and the acceleration of it; hence, the creation of the formula F=m*a.

The third law of motion claims there’s an equal and opposite reaction to any movement (force). Otherwise stated, if object A applies force on object B, object B also applies force on object A with the same amount of force exerted. Note that the forces are applied on various surfaces. To describe the formation of lift by a wing and the development of thrust by a jet engine, this particular law can be utilized.

Example of the First Law of Motion

Ben’s cup of tea is resting on the kitchen counter while he is checking the fridge. Gravity’s force that is pulling down is balance by the kitchen counter’s force pushing up on the cup of tea. If Ben will move his tea, he should exert an external force to disturb the balance. But, thank God that Ben is strong enough to exert the same force so that he can enjoy drinking his morning tea!

Example of the Second Law of Motion

What could be the accelerations of the two objects that weighs 3kg and 6kg if there is a net force of 12 N exerted on them? The resulting acceleration of the 3kg object is 4 m/s² while the acceleration experienced by the 6kg object is 2 m/s².

Example of the Third Law of Motion

Anna is walking at the park. While she is walking, she is also pushing the ground backward. As a result, the ground also pushes Anna forward in return; hence, making her walk.

Newton’s laws of motion are truly significant not just in science but in real life!

How to Become a Meaningful Author

Getting your books published is already a great achievement; but, what tops this success is becoming an impactful author in the eyes of the reader. It is not only the books that will gain popularity because of its exceptional elements and styles of writing but also the authors who poured their hearts out to produce the best novels. Hence, if you are still contemplating on jumpstarting your writing journey or you want to make your author career more meaningful; then, here are the best tips for you!

Read a couple of books

Being a reader is always part of becoming an author. Reading books, whether classic or contemporary, doesn’t only bring your entertainment but also learning. Every writer was once a reader. Perhaps that is the moment where books started to grow on you and you start to gain inspiration from the impressive writings of your favorite author. Hence, always start from the bottom and browse some new books online or in a physical book store. You can also pick some from your shelves. Read as much as you want and could. This is the best way to widen your vocabulary, find your voice, develop your writing style, and enjoy the same success as these authors do.

Be well-versed on what you want to write

Writing is not a piece of cake or a walk in the park. All there is are the talent, patience, and hard work. There are too many details and effort that are necessary to produce a good book. Also, among the most important aspect in authoring a book is to make sure that you are well-versed in your topic. You should do some research, fact-check, and other essential things to strengthen the foundation of your work, especially if it is nonfiction. Take, for example, author Neil C. Griffen professional career where he has a master’s degree in Physics, went to The Ohio State University to acquire his Ph.D. in physics, became a part of the US Navy, elected as Ohio State Spiritualist Church’s president, elected on the National Spiritualist Association of Churches’ National Board, served for Mettler-Toledo, and became a part of Lakeshore Cryotronics. He used his knowledge and expertise in two different fields of his career, science, and spirituality, to produce a wonderful and insightful book.

List your ideas and plans for your upcoming project

Ideas don’t come on schedule, they appear randomly. It is beneficial if you bring your phone or a tiny notebook with a pen so that you can write down the ideas that come up. Also, do not forget to list all your plans for your upcoming or in progress writings. These thoughts and outlines are important to create a more substantial, well-structured, and effective output. They will guide you on the process without forgetting a thing or two. In that way, you can see the progress of your story. You can also write some fragments of the conversations that you’ve had or heard in your home or in different places, lyrics of a song that greatly moved you, titles of poems that inspired you to do more, and any other random things that you think will contribute to your book.

Start writing little by little

Writing is not a competition. There may be authors who finish their books in a span of one year while there are others who complete their novels in 2 years and above. Each author has a different writing pace; therefore, do not compete and worry. Little by little, you’ll get the breakthrough that you deserve. Moreover, begin writing your first draft. Write freely and do not be so hard on yourself. There are still a lot of times for editing, all you need is to loosen yourself and let the creative juices flow. You can start by writing a chapter a day and continue the pace until you finish it all. What is important not how fast you finished but how you started. Also, if you feel slightly unhappy, stressed, and uncomfortable while writing — do not restrain yourself to take a breather. You will have time to relax, release the stress, and reflect, as well as avoid having writer’s block.  

Best Fantasy Books for Children

Children’s books, especially those that contain illustrations; really have their own unique way of capturing readers’ hearts. There is just something about the combination of words and images that makes the reading experience better. One of the best subgenre of children’s literature is fantasy. The defining characteristic of fantasy novels under children’s literature is the use of elements that do not exist in the real world.

The illustrated fantasy books for children or fantasy books in general have played a vital role in the growth of kids. They helped in developing their creativity, imagination, and perception towards the world. The illustrations also made kids understand the story easily. Hence, provided below are the best illustrated fantasy novels that you should check out!

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ by L. Frank Baum

Written by L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of OZ was published on May 17, 1900 by George M. Hill Company. It is the first of the 13 books that completes the fantasy series. It follows the journey of Dorothy in the magical place called Land of Oz. The young farm lady, along with her dong named Toto, was brought to the land after a cyclone hit her home. The Wonderful Wizard of OZ has become one of the most prized books of American literature. What make the book more entertaining apart from the magical fairy tale are the illustrations of W.W. Denslow. It also has some elements that are connected to the life of the author and the real world, such as the character Dorothy, the setting Oz, and more. Furthermore, the book was adapted into different types of media, like film and Broadway play. Even until today, kids and children at heart are hooked to the story and are reading the books.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Although it is known as a young adult fantasy novel, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke has been recognized and listed as one of the Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children of the 2007 online survey by the National Education Association. It was originally written in German with the title Tintenherz. The book also contains wonderful illustrations made by the author. The story centers on a young girl named Meggie who witnessed a stranger who is gazing at her outside her window. She told her father about the strange man, and he invited him in their home. The stranger named Dustfinger and her father seemed to be acquainted after the man called her father as “Silvertongue.” Meggie followed them and heard about the conversations of the grown up. After that, she was suddenly brought to her aunt’s house. Afterward, her father who is bringing a book called Inkheart was held captive by strange people; and, that’s when Meggie’s adventures begin.

Lizzie and Leopold by Patricia Gummeson

Christian Faith Publishing published the children’s book Lizzie and Leopold by Patricia Gummeson. Every kid has dreams about magical creatures, such as fairies, dragons, and such. They also got some imaginary friends that help in igniting their imaginative minds. The two main characters, Lizzie and Leopold are friends of a child who hang out in the secret garden of the anonymous kid’s grandmother. They tell the kid with tales about the neighborhood. They also let their friends in the garden to the child and they had a lot of fun talking about the things that happened in the garden and their lives. Moreover, the author personally loves sharing amazing tales to her “little ones” and the story about Lizzie and Leopold came to her imagination.  

The Adventurers Guild by Nick Eliopulos

Published in 2017 by the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, The Adventurers Guild truly brings the best adventures to the readers. Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel are best friends who possess high hopes for the upcoming future. They are currently in one of the final areas left standing after the planet has been destroyed by monstrous creatures. Zed strongly yearns to be part of the Mages Guild’s ranks while Brock is confident that he will make it to Marchants Guild’s ranks for he is a handsome offspring of merchants. Everything seems like going well and their wishes are coming true; however, they find themselves as part of the Adventurers Guild which is really not the guild that they were dreaming to join. Would they prove that they are worthy to be members of the guild? Read to discover.

Wonderful Activities to Do This Fall

Fall is the season that is in between summer and winter. Hence, it is serves as the “transition” from the sunny days to snowy days. This season is characterized by shorter length of daylight and cooler temperature than experienced on the summer. The falling of leaves from deciduous trees and shrubs is one of the things to look forward during autumn.

Before the snowfall, you still have time to enjoy and make the most of snow-free and winter jacketless days. We have listed below the exciting things to do during this season that will surely add to your beautiful memories.

Pick some apples

Halloween is already done, but that doesn’t mean that you can no longer go apple-picking. The rural areas of different states may have their apple orchards ready for tourists or locals that want to pick some beautiful fruits. Since the pandemic is still ongoing, there might be a little adjustment made on this activity. Social distancing and health protocols are being implemented to protect people from the lurking virus. Arkansas, Georgia, California, Nebraska, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and Maine are some of the states that celebrate apple picking festivals.

Hike in the woods

With everything that is going on these past few months, you really deserve a breather. Hiking is one of the activities that can help you clear your mind and exercise your body. It includes a vigorous walk on mountains, valleys, or any land formation that has a trail and is safe. Hiking is usually conducted on the countryside where there are tall trees and mountains instead of skyscrapers. This autumn, you can go on hikes in the woods or mountains for relaxation or recreational purposes. There are many locations that you can go to that don’t only offer you the breather that you need but also the best sceneries that capture the beauty of fall. Some best examples are the Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park, Oregon, and Bullhead Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Go on a camping

Winter is coming, which means that you can no longer go camping because everything will be covered in snow. This season is the last chance for you to enjoy the healing and comfort that the nature brings. So, start packing your camping clothes, tent, chair, food, and other essentials. You might also want to bring a fishing rod so you can catch some fish, but this is only applicable if the campsite is near the lake. This is really a nice activity to give you a time to relax and pamper. How magnificent it would be to spend the night on the woods, lake, or such and cook a one-pot meal, drink a cup of coffee, fill your eyes with the spectacular scenery, and release all the negativities in your mind.

Create a bonfire

Since the wind is getting cold because the country is in transition for winter, lighting a bonfire would be good. This activity will not really require you to go in the mountains, beaches, or lakes because you can create a little bonfire at your backyard. You can do this during your barbecue nights with the family or during a simple bonding night with your loved ones. Do you know the best thing to do when the fire is already lit? Make smores! Hence, prepare a lot of marshmallows with graham crackers and chocolate chunks. You can also prepare other snacks, like chips, pizza, baked mac, and burgers. This is also a great time to get your guitar and sing some songs with the people you love. A total bonding moment truly awaits you!

Read couple of books

Reading books never really goes out of style! This activity is suitable for different seasons. Make the most of this time to add new titles to your to-be-read list, purchase another set of books, and read those novels that you haven’t finished reading yet. Reading will not only make you increase your vocabulary, but it will also help you realize and discover things that you have overlooked or took for granted due to your hectic schedule. With that being said, among the best titles to keep an eye on and read this season are Liz Refuse to Fall by Jacquelyn Hester Colleton-Akins, A Kids Life: Loving, Learning, Growing by Alana Konieczka, William and Tibby Forever by Lynda Hamblen, and Remembrance of Meals Past by Anita Legsdin.

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