Alex Writes

4 Indoor Activities to Relieve Stress

Stress refers to the physical or emotional pressure that is being felt a person. It also pertains to the response of one’s body to a request or a task. This type of tension is unpredictable for it can turn up anytime, which can lead to people to become angry, tense, upset, and irate. There are many factors that may indicate that an individual is already stressed for they will showcase or feel some headaches, body aches, insomnia, stomach issues, low energy, and chest pain.

There are many factors that lead to a person to feel stressed, like overworked, death of a loved one, emotional issues, financial responsibilities, and more. Moreover, people have different stress coping mechanisms. These ways will lessen and, eventually, get rid of the tension that they are currently experiencing. They will also help everyone to adjust to the stressful happenings and avoid triggers so that they can have a healthy emotional state. However, some of these methods can be effective to you while ineffective for others.

Furthermore, people who have been feeling the emotional pressure due to lots of reasons may need some convenient activities do to in order to relieve their stress. Since the world is currently battling a pandemic, it is expected that most recreational centers and food shops are closed so there is no possible way to do some relaxation outdoors. That is why we have gathered some activities to relieve stress and clear your head that would not require going outside of your vicinity, so check out the list below!

Exercising

Exercise refers to the physical activity that improves the well-being and fitness of every person. These activities can be divided into four types, such as endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility, depending on the aspect in your body that you want to enhance. There are no gyms, race tracks, or sports centers that are regularly operating today; therefore, to make your days productive and reduce your stress, you may start looking up online for some exercises that you can do at home. You may start doing rounds of push-ups, planks, squats, and hip-hinges daily to have become physically and mentally fit. Also, you may enroll for some online yoga, belly dancing, or any exercise classes that will make you produce more endorphins and feel relaxed.

Reading

Reading is a leisure activity that only requires your time and attention. It is also one of the best stress relieving activities for it can ease off your body through releasing tension and decreasing your heart rate. According to Taking Charge of your Health & Wellbeing of University of Minnesota, reading can lower one’s stress level up to 68 percent. That said, there is no doubt that literature can definitely help people stay calm and entertained at the same time. There is a category in literature that promotes wellness, which is the called the self-help genre. One prominent example of a self-help book is The Pursuit of Personal Renaissance Experience written by Peter Justus in achieving happiness in life or to let his readers obtain a happier and more tranquil life. Aside from self-development book, there are also other literary genres that showcases amazing stories, such as young adult fiction, fantasy, thriller, true-crime, horror, science-fiction, and more.

Watching Movies

When you are experiencing stress, your brain becomes tightened for it is also dealing with the tension that you are feeling. You have to look for a way to block this pressure in order for you to function normally and productively. Watching movies of your favorite genre or other categories can help relieve the stress that you are dealing. Romantic comedy, suspense, psychological thriller, comedy, science fiction, mystery, and romance are some of the film genres that will help your loosen up and calm your mind. Binge-watching your favorite TV series can also help block the stressful thoughts, making it easier for you to go on with your day and sleep soundly at night. Therefore, viewing films of your choice is indeed a good way to earn a sense of relief and achieve a peace of mind.

Listening to Music

There is just something wonderful in music that it calms people. The relationship of stress and music is inversely proportional. It means that when a person will listen to a bunch of songs, the amount of stress will decrease. Listening to music has been one of the all-time favorite stress relievers of people for it extremely relaxes both mind and body. There are many kinds of music that you can choose from, such as classical, rock, pop, kpop, country, rap, and more. Since people have different music tastes. Some may feel relieved listening to soft-rock while others may feel calm listening to classical music. Regardless of these musical genres, the only thing that matters is that you can remove the stress from your body, slow your heartbeat and calm your mind.

Getting to Know the 2nd Book of Your Favorite Thriller Trilogy

Trilogy pertains to a set of three masterpieces that are related to each other and can be perceived as a singular output or as three separate pieces. This idea originated from the olden times, where people celebrated the Dionysia festivals by performing trilogies of dramas, in honor to the Greek god Dionysus, in Greece. This term or set do not only exist in literature but also in film and entertainment. On the realm of art and music, on the other hand, this concept is less likely used.

In literature, trilogies have become more and more popular as time goes by. These set of books have been patronized by readers of different ages. Examples of trilogies in the literary world are The Millennium Trilogy, The Hunger Games Trilogy, The Infernal Devices, The Bourne Trilogy, and more. There are a lot of readers who prefer a series of three novels for they have interlinked stories rather than singular books. It is because trilogies, and even series, are more engaging and convenient to read for the readers already knew the characters and every basic aspects of the books.

One of the most patronized genre in the literary world today is thriller. This is the category where unpredictable plots, deceiving characters, and other jaw-dropping components are found. Thus, making book lovers get hooked up to this genre. Trilogies are also rampant in thriller. These series of books range from mystery thriller to action thriller. Popular trilogy authors in this genre includes Stieg Larsson, J.K Rowling, Stephen King, and more.

Since a trilogy is composed of three novels with chained storylines or aspects, the first book is commonly the one that sets up the bars for they are the first ones to be consumed by readers. Thus, first books are considered as expectation-setters but can also be the fall guys. However, a trilogy will not be called a trilogy if it do not have its book two and three. Hence, if you are one of those thriller trilogy fanatics, listed below are the sequels of your favorite trilogy or the second books of trilogies that you have not discovered yet!

A More Perfect Union

A More Perfect Union by Paul Shemella is the second book of his The Jungle Rules Trilogy. It was published by Page Publishing Incorporated this year, 2020. This books is categorized as fiction, thriller, and terrorism. The story revolved around the awesome couple, Carl Malinowski and Gabriele Barnes, and the peril that are coming their way. The protagonist have introduced himself as Carl Barnes instead of Cark Malinowski. The couple was heading to Washington D.C. and along the way, Carl reminisced the time when he met his wife, Gaby. As the story progresses, the former mercenary found a pipe bomb while they were visiting the Air and Space Museum; thus, the action began and enemies appeared.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second book of Millennium Trilogy, which was preceded by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. It was originally written by Larson in Swedish with the title Flickan som lekte med elden and was translated in English by Reg Keeland, also known as Steven T. Murray. This sequel was published by Norstedst Förlag in 2006 and by Quercus in 2009. The story is properly divided into an introduction and pursued by four parts. The preface of the novel begins with a woman who was captured and constrained in a room that is full of darkness by an unknown guy. To manage the terror of being held captive, the woman replayed the past happenings in her mind from the moment she tossed a milk carton that was full of gasoline to another guy in a car and throw a lit match onto him. The story gradually escalated after the prologue and lots of actions and discoveries happened.

Out of Time

Out of Time is the sequel of The Ripple Effect in Paul MacCusker’s Time Thriller Trilogy. It was published in March 03, 2014 by Zondervan. The story begins when Jeff and Elizabeth witnessed a vehicle going towards the mist on a foggy evening. Moreover, there was also a guy riding a horse in the middle of the road; thus, a collision was hardly preventable. The victim of the collision was discovered to be a giant person and is currently on the hospital bed encircled by the hospital employees and a couple of questions. In their place called the Fawlt Line, there have been a long record of weird vanishing and strange happenings. These events drop clues and pieces in which draw a conclusion that the town may be standing on a time fault — a gateway to alternate eras and unanticipated time travels.

Three Promising Authors with Writings that Depict Rampant Societal Issues

The world of literature is rich and diverse. It do not only houses works of imagination but also masterpieces that want to help people open there eyes and see the ugliness of the society. Thus, the literary portal is not just a means of entertainment, time travelling, or expression for its function and capability are far greater than everyone can imagine.

Words are powerful. That is why every literary enthusiasts, and even people who are starting to dig into this world of stories, are engaged into this world and have crave for more substantial and moving tales. There are just too much ugly truths that books of both fiction and non-fiction uncover. Reading is not a past time anymore and books are no longer made up of paper and ink. The former is now considered as the act of being aware or waking up to the terrible things in that are happening in the world while the latter now serves as the means of communication and realization.

There are already many novels that contains the cry of people who experienced the horrifying things in life. Racism, domestic abuse, sexual assault, poverty, bullying, and violence are some of the gruesome things that happened and are still happening in the world. That is why authors with brilliant minds put these unfortunate aspects in their works so that, in their own little way, they can help others who experienced these things at first hand or share to people that there are still people who are suffering from these issues. That said, here are some of the best authors who showcased these social issues in their writings that you should check out.

Angie Thomas

Angela Thomas is amongst the many popular young adult fiction author of today. She was born on the 20^th of September 1988 in Jackson, Mississippi. Angela studied in Belhaven University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts. Growing up, she was exposed to a couple of gun violence circumstances. She was also raised in a place close to the house of Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist who was assassinated, where she said that her mother heard the shot that put an end to the life of Evers. Moreover, when Angie was 6 years, she personally saw a shootout. Her mother helped her overcome the trauma of what she had seen, according to her, by bringing her to the library to show her that there are better things in the world than what she witnessed that day. As of the moment, Angela is known as author Angie Thomas with books that have touched the lives of the readers for their beautiful and inspiring content. Her books are titled The Hate You Give and On the Come Up. The former has garnered a lot of praise for it exhibited the brutality of the cops and the Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, her first book was even adapted into film and was released in 2018.

Earl Robert Key

E.R Key, also known as Earl Robert Key, was born in Enid, Mississippi in January of 1950. He earned his high school diploma from Patton Lane High School in Batesville, Mississippi in the year 1969. In May 1977, Key entered the married life; but, he got divorced in July of 1988. Even though his marriage end up in an unfortunate way, he still received his lucky charm! He is a father of one and a grandfather of two. In the present times, Earl is serving as a master barber in Memphis, Tennessee. Aside from that, he is also a successful author of the book titled Strong Boy, Weak Man. It earned a handful of wonderful reviews from various critics and book review platforms, including US Review of books, IndieReaders Reviewer, Pacific Book Review, San Francisco Book Review, Tulsa Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, and more. It is undeniable that Earl Robert Key has written one of the best books that tackles racisms, poverty, and other social issues that have not yet given enough solution until today.

Harper Lee

Nelle Harper Lee, popularly known as Harper Lee, is a prominent American author who have won various literary awards for his book To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee was the youngest daughter of Frances Cunningham and Amasa Coleman Lee who was born in Monroeville, Alabama in April 28, 1929. Her middle name was taken from the doctor who saved her sister’s life back in the day who was Dr. William W. Harper. Her first name, on the other hand, was derived from her grandmother’s name Ellen but spelled backwards. Harper Lee acquired her high school diploma from Monroe County High School, where she started to get interested in English literature. Moreover, she attended college in different schools. First, she studied in Huntingdon College in Montgomery but transferred to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Harper also went to Oxford University in the summer of 1948 to study European civilization. Her novel To Kill a Mockingbird was widely patronized and have touched the lives of many people even until the present for it depicts the irrational ability of grown-ups pertaining to class and race in the Deep South.

Making the Most of Quarantine: Different Kinds of Thriller Movies You May Binge Watch

People have been ordered to stay in their respective houses to enjoy the comfort of their homes and to avoid the spreading of the novel coronavirus. There have been different takes on this order, some are okay with it while others are struggling. It is because not everyone is the same. In a family of four, one can be an extrovert, ambivert, or introvert. That said, quarantine can be a challenge or comfort. Since people cannot go out to shop, hang with their friends, visit to coffee shops, or go on dates, there are various activities that they can do to make their time worth their while.

For sure, people have been spending their day reading books, listening to music, cleaning the house, and any other things that will may their days productive. In addition to, a movie marathon can also be a great thing to do during quarantine period! Savoring spine-chilling and heart-racing movies at any time of the day may help beat the quarantine boredom. However, there are various movie genre that are present in numerous movie streaming platforms. The said genres include but are not limited to romance, comedy, horror, science fiction, adventure, action, and thriller.

The mentioned film genres are also available in the platform of literature. Thriller, for example, is a popular genre that are being patronized by readers of all-ages. Examples of wonderfully written thriller books are The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, The Jungle Rules Trilogy by Paul Shemella, and more. However, since we are talking about movies to be watched during this period, listed below are some thriller films you might want to check out and make your quarantine days exciting!

Psychological Thriller

The Gift

Directed and written by Joel Edgerton, this psychological thriller movie has set the bar higher for this category. It was nominated as Best Thriller in Empire Awards and as Best Thriller Film in Saturn Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Overlooked Film runner-up in Central Ohio Film Critics Association. The Gift centered on the story of Simon and Robyn Callem, a married couple that lived in Chicago but transferred to a suburban area in Los Angeles. The couple encountered a man named Gordon Moseley, also known as Gordo and was Simon’s former classmate in high school. The atmosphere began to shift when Gordo started handing out gifts to the couple, such as a koi, without prior notice. It made the husband uneasy but the wife was fine with it. As the story progress, Simon told Gordo to stay away from them while Robyn got a feeling that she is not alone in their home when Simon leaves for work. A lot of history about Simon and Gordo were revealed and later on, Simon received another gift. The present was a tape of Gordo getting ready to sexually assault his wife. The story ends with Gordo visiting Robyn from the hospital in an arm sling and telling her that it was her husband who injured her. Then, Gordo called Simon to mock him by neither confirming nor denying that he did rape Robyn to make Simon think if the child is his. Thus, Gordo completely destroyed Simon.

Action Thriller

John Wick Series

John Wick is currently composed of three movies, which are John Wick: Chapter 1, John Wick: Chapter 2, and John Wick: Chapter 3. This movie series is starred by Keanu Reeves and was launched in 2014. The first movie was directed by Chad Stahelski. The film centers on the protagonist, John Wick, who is currently looking for the people who broke into his house, took his vintage car, and killed his beagle named Daisy. The dog, moreover, is very dear to him since it was the last present he received from his wife who died because of an illness. John Wick did not stop until he gets the men who broke in his house; thus, he went began looking for those guys and that is when the plot unfolds and the true action started. The first chapter acquired $14.4 million from more than 2,000 locations during its opening weekend. By the end of the film’s run, it had gotten into $45.7 million in various places all across the globe while it rose into $43 million in North America. It also earned a handful of positive reviews from reputable movie critics.

Science Fiction Thriller

Arrival

This sci-fi thriller movie was released in 2016 and starred by Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Tzi Ma. It directed by Denis Villeneuve and was based on the novel “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang. The film successfully earned a total of $203 million from all over the world and have gotten a praise for the wonderful performance of Adam, excellent direction by Villeneuve, and for the other good aspects of the film. It was even picked by the American Film Institute to be amongst the ten Movies of the Year. Arrival was also a nominee for the 89^th Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, and it also won the Best for Sound Editing award in the said event. There were also a lot of other awards and nomination that were received by the film and its casts. Moreover, the plot revolves around a linguist named Louise Banks who lost her child due to an incurable sickness. As the story moves forward, there were twelve ET spacecraft that silently hang around different places all over Earth. Those affected countries sent their armed forces and scientists to evaluate them. Banks was recruited in the US by US Army Colonel G.T Weber along with the physicist Ian Donnelly to contact both seven-limbed aliens. As the movie goes along, there were various twists, turns, and actions that happened that made the film one of the greatest sci-fi thriller of all time.

Five Delightful Children’s Books with Marine Animal Characters

Children’s literature is a good avenue for learning. This section of literature is composed of the same literary works, such as books, poems, dramas, as the other genres but the only thing that differs is that these works are intended for children. These books take many form, such as picture books, pop-up books, and more. They are meant to get the attention of kids and let them discover the lessons and wonders of these works.

There are various subcategories present in this genre, such as fables, fiction, nonfiction, and more. Fable refer to stories that utilizes animals as the characters. These tales date back from the longest of time, some were spread through writings while others were disseminated with the use of mouth. The typical animals that are being used in children’s literature vary from each other — there are several stories that uses four legged animals and there are also tales that utilizes the marine animals. If you, or the baby in your family, is a fan of the latter, then this is article is suitable for you! Written below are six wonderful children fables with marine animal characters that you should check out.

Sammie the Shark and the Return of the Lost Gift

Sammie the Shark and the Return of the Lost Gift is written by Janet Councilman. It was published by Covenant Books, Inc. in October of 2019. The story centers on the journey of Sammie the shark who found a treasure at the bottom of the sea. Sammie is living in a colorful Coral Bay along with his friends. One day, he saw a precious thing on the seabed. He was doubtful at first because he does not know what the object is. As the story goes, Sammie the shark went on an adventure and discovered what the reflective thing is — which is a pretty special present to someone whom he loves dearly.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is a classic book for children authored by the remarkable Dr. Seuss. It was published in the 1960’s but was also published again in the year 1988. This book has been translated into various languages, such as Spanish, French, Dutch, Hebrew, and more. It is intended for children who have just started to learn to read; thus, it contains rhyming lines for easy reading. The story revolves around Jay and Kay and their various pets whom they considered as friends, like their fishes that showcase different characteristics. The tale aims to let the readers know that every person is different but that does not mean that they should be treated differently. It is a tale that focuses on acceptance and love.

The Rainbow Fish

The Rainbow Fish is a picture book written by Marcus Pfister. The illustrations in the book are also created by the author himself. It was first published by NordSüd Verlag in the year 1992 at Switzerland with the title Regenbogenfisch. However, it was translated in the English language by J. Alison James and was published by North-South Books, Inc. in the same year of its original publication date. The story focuses on the Rainbow Fish who has a shiny and rainbow colored fish. The Rainbow Fish has a very rude and unlikeable attitude which upsets his fellow creatures. He was selfish and unkind to others. He was advised by the starfish to visit the octopus for some words of wisdom. The octopus told him to share the wonderful aspect that he has and that is the only thing that will make him truly happy. He followed the advice of the wise octopus and found happiness from letting go of his selfishness.

The Pout-Pout Fish

The Pout-Pout Fish is the first book of the A Pout-Pout Fish Adventure Book series by Deborah Diesen. It was illustrated by Dan Hanna and was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). The date of publication of this book was March 18, 2008. It has already been in the New York Times bestseller list and was recognized as the 2009 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year. The story centers on the adventures of the pout-pout fish who have yet to discover his true fate. The book showcases the theme of friendship, teamwork, and shaping up confidence. Later on in the story, the pout-pout fish discovered that he is not destined to be melancholic, gloomy, and weary, as well as to spread his weariness everywhere.

Mister Seahorse

Mister Seahorse is a light and charming read. It is written and illustrated by Eric Ca r le. It is composed of 32 pages and was one of the books of the World of Eric Cale series. This book was published Puffin in 2004. However, it was republished in March 3, 2011 as a board book consists of 64 pages. Mister Seahorse also made it to the New York Times bestseller list. The tale revolves around Mrs. and Mr. Seahorse and how Mrs. Seahorse laid her eggs into the tummy of her husband. The wife put her trust to her husband on taking care of their eggs. As Mr. Seahorse swims while carrying the eggs in his belly, he encounters other fathers in the ocean that are also taking care of their offspring.

Tracing the Roots of an Individual’s Criminal Behavior

Criminal behavior is not easy to define. This type of demeanor is not something that is learned at school, it is innate in every person and can be developed by the right factors that are found in an individual’s surroundings. Some defines criminal behavior as a criminal action that takes place when a motive, means, and opportunity is present, while others identify it as an action — concealed or not, that violates the law of a place that is punishable once proven guilty.

There are two main types of offending outcomes, such as the property crimes and violent crimes. These crimes differ on the means, motives, and impact. Examples of property crimes are theft, arson, shoplifting, vandalism, and larceny, while violent crimes includes homicide, assault, battery, rape, and robbery. There are also other categories of crimes aside from the major ones that were mentioned. These are the public order crime and white-collar crime, the former are the offenses that intervene with the activities of society and the general public while the latter are the illegal but nonviolent acts that are committed by businessmen and government officials.

Criminals do not exist if there are no crimes committed. However, when people’s lights turn dim and particular situations push their buttons, their minds begin to shift and become twisted. Understanding the nature of killers, or criminals in general is not easy; but, to get a better grasp into why a human turns into someone hideous here are the existing factors that contribute to shaping up a person’s criminal behavior:

Peer Influence

There is nothing as powerful as the power of friendship, especially peer pressure. In this world where fitting in is a difficult thing to achieve, having friends mean a lot, especially for those who have not developed their interpersonal skills. These people that a person establishing criminal behaviors call friends can be one of the leading factors that influences him to nurture his twisted thoughts. The peers of the subject are commonly with the same nature as him; thus, they may already have stains on their criminal records.

Dysfunctional or Broken Family

Growth starts at home. An individual’s principles, beliefs, and characteristics are mostly made up at home. The thing is not all families are the same. There are some that are merry while others are messy. An unhealthy household environment, such as abusive, unsupportive, and insensitive, definitely creates a massive impact on this particular individual to develop a twisted mind and a criminal behavior.

Impulsiveness

Impulsiveness is a result of low self-restraint that can lead to various vile actions. An impulsive person has a big tendency to create decisions that are not well-thought of and commit actions due to uncontrolled temper or anger. The weaker a person’s self-control the more prone he or she is to making unplanned horrible things.

Criminal Thinking

Criminal thinking is consisting of different patterns that is somehow linked to addictive thinking patterns. It is also called as anti-social values comprising of the conviction that an individual’s criminal traits and demeanor is justifiable. Examples of the pattern of criminal thinking are victim stance, fear of exposure, selective effort, good person stance, use of power to control, etc.

Antisocial Behavior

This demeanor is developed before a person turn fifteen years old. Running away from home, cutting classes, getting into fights, having dangerous weapons, etc. are some actions of fifteen year olds that lead to the development of this behavior. This trait can be normal but also has a big tendency to go out of hand and contribute to the formation of criminal behavior. It is because this characteristic is a type of malfunction on a healthy person’s thinking methods, situational views, and other things.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse refers to the usage of drugs and other addictive substances beyond the normal dosage. This do not only centers on drug intake, both legal and illegal, but also on alcohol and nicotine consumption. It can definitely harm the people taking these stuff by developing a substance-related illness or, worse, putting them into life-threatening situations. Thus, for people that misuse these stuff most likely to experience side effects that affect their lifestyle, tolerance, and self-control.

Every person is rational, which means that everyone has the ability to distinguish the rights from wrongs. These predators, on the other hand, perhaps lose their remorse and humanity that they were able to do such things. Conducting crimes or any offensive acts is a choice. Although some may say that they were caught up with the moment, under the influence of a substance, or pressed by the situations, these are not strong reasons to do such horrifying offenses. Moreover, the aspects mentioned above are some of the solid grounds that shapes a person to commit crimes of any sort.

Prominent African-American Poets in Different Periods of Literature

Poetry is powerful. It gives a voice to those who feels voiceless. Among the many genre and branches of literature, poetry is one of the most complex genre. It is not just about scribbling your thoughts on a clean sheet of paper, but it is about expressing your heart out using the least number of words possible. There are different types of poetry — which means the level of intricacy also vary depending on the kind of poetry one desires to create, such as narrative, epic, haiku, free verse, blank verse, rhymed, sonnet, and more.

There are people who opt to write poetry because there is just so much you can do and express in the smallest amount of words. Also, criticisms and discrimination is less in poetry. In fact, there are a lot of poets which belong to different races that found poetry — and literature, as their safe haven. One of the best races that has been reigning in literature is the African-American race. There are several novels and poetry books written by remarkable African-American authors and poets. Thus, listed below are the notable African-American poets that have given pride and appreciation to literature:

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri as Marguerite Annie Johnson. She was an outstanding poet, writer, and civil rights activist. Having experienced terrible things growing up, Angelou turned these ugly experiences into beautiful pieces of literature. Earlier in her life Maya Angelou already suffered horrible matters, such as witnessing their parents’ marriage come to an end, living in different households, being raped and sexually abused by her mother’s lover, and feeling the guilt for the death of her abuser for how many years. Her career as an author and poet was not until her experience of being a nightclub dancer, performer, fry cook, and sex worker. Some of her notable works of poetry includes Still I Rise, Phenomenal Woman, A Brave Startling Truth, and more.

Langston Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes, also known as Langston Hughes, is a remarkable figure in literature. Hughes is a poet who delve into another face of poetry, which is jazz poetry. He is also an activist, columnist, author, and playwright. Langston was born on February 01, 1901 in Joplin, Missouri and was raised by his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas. Amidst the heat of racial discrimination, his grandmother has implanted a strong sense of racial dignity. For that reason, Hughes has given glory and pride to people of his race through his wonderful works — examples are Dreams, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, The Weary Blues, Life is Fine, Night Funeral in Harlem, etc. He also had put some hints of his true sexuality in his poems, based on the beliefs of numerous biographers that the poet was homosexual.

Gwendolyn B. Bennett

Gwendolyn Bennett Bennett is the daughter of Joshua Robbin Bennett and Mayme F. Bennett. She was born in Giddings Texas on the 8^th of July in 1902. She is one of the most notable African-American poet, journalist, artist, and writer during the Harlem Renaissance period. Bennett also became a strong and good influencer that fights for the rights of African-American women on the said era. Moreover, she has written a wide array of poems, nonfiction, and short stories — Nocturne, Heritage, The Ebony Flute, Poets Evening, Wedding Day, and more, that was published in different publications and anthologies in her era.

Raymond Quattlebaum

Raymond Quattlebaum is one of the many promising poets in the contemporary period of literature. He is an African-American poet that is currently residing in upper Westside of Manhattan, New York City. The strong passion for writing is the reason for the creation of Quattlebaum’s poetry book titled The Color of Love. Aside from poetry, he also loves going to the gym to workout, listening to music, as well as partying in clubs. He opted to write about love because for him, love is one of the reasons why the world constantly turns around. What inspired Raymond Quattlebaum to pursue poetry is because of the Earth Wind & Fire singing group.

R.H. Sin

Reuben Holmes, also known as r.h. Sin, is a popular poet of the contemporary period. He is born on March 22, 1989 in New Brunswick, New Jersey and presently lives in New York. “r.h.” in Holme’s pen name is the initials of his name while the “Sin” is a reference for the Mesopotamian moon god because he likes writing during the peak hours of the night. He has been into so much pain growing up. In 2014, Sin began writing brief poems of satire and posted them on social media, like Twitter. The character limit that Twitter offers has taught Sin to make the most of the least, thus harnessed his poetry skills. Whiskey Words & a Shovel, Rest in the Morning, Planting Gardens in Graves, and Algedonic are amongst his prominent works.

5 Solid Tips in Writing a Reader’s Magnet Sci-fi Novel

Science fiction is an offspring of speculative fiction and an all-time favorite genre. Literary enthusiasts already had their fair share of thrill and heart-pounding emotions while reading sci-fi novels. What more can readers ask for other than a rollercoaster plot? A brand-new imaginative concept! Sci-fi offers a fresh and futuristic approach that book lovers definitely crave for; thus, making books of this genre climb to the best-selling list every now and then.

SF is frequently referred to as the “literature of ideas.” Its popularity already has reached the avenue of film; hence its influence to its audience and reader bases has become greater through the course of time. 1984 by George Orwell, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, and The Brotherhood of the Wone by Len Stage are some best examples of well-written Sci-Fi novels in different eras of literature. If you have ever came across or dug out one of these books, you probably have thought about how these page turners were written or perhaps have considered writing one. Cease the thinking now and put it into action because this article will give you excellent tips on how to write a savory science fiction novel!

Think Out of the Box

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Sci-fi, again, is amongst the many genres that produce record breaking books. For readers to delve into your story, there should be a factor that will make it different from others. Always put to mind that there is already a bunch of books about alternate universes, space reconnaissance, technological advancements, and aliens. So do not remain enclosed in the box of traditional science fiction writing, look or create an opening where you can make a new and outside the box touch for your story for it to stand out. Conduct a research so that your story will have a stronger ground and factual basis. Also, study the current science fiction book on the rise to evaluate and learn from them.

Outline the Plot

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A clean draft means a clear story. Creating an outline of your on-progress sci-fi story is not easy but it is also not that daunting at it seems. You may wonder why an outline is essential, well the purpose of an outline is to list the important points in a hierarchical manner. It is advantageous to sketch the overall plot of a novel-length story so that it will follow a straight path and avoid going astray. Begin outlining from the exposition to the ending. If there are any subtopics, you may embed them under the parent category. That said, the overall story will be systematic and you, as a writer, will know what part to emphasize and to add more details.

Let the Characters Move the Story Forward

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Allow the characters to run the story. Give them life but do not control all their actions. As much as you want to have all the power in your book, enable the characters to give you aid by letting them do what they ought to. Whether it is a person, inanimate object, animal, supernatural being, or extraterrestrial creature, they all have the same purpose: prolong the plot. In every bestselling book, the title and author are not the only things that will leave a mark to a reader’s mind but also the characters. Take The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games Trilogy book 1) by Suzanne Collins for example, the main character and her love interest — Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, have been living in every reader’s hearts since the outburst of the book. Thus, grant the characters the chance to contribute to the story’s greatness by moving it forward and making great things happen.

Add an Element of Surprise

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In literature, every great story is always mixed with an element of surprise. This aspect is crucial in every work because it is one of the pole of the magnet that attracts the readers. It is the ingredient that creates the twists and turns of every tale; hence, arousing various emotions from the readers — such as thrill, excitement, fear, and more. The element can be added in the plot in the form of foreshadowing or cliffhanger. It can also be done by the characters through betrayal, identity discovery, mishaps, death, or other things that the reader should not see coming. Thus, as a writer, take some time to put your feet on the readers’ shoes so that you can examine and identify the best twist to blend in your sci-fi story.

Tie All Loose Ends

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Conduct a run through on your story so that you can assure that there are no plot holes that may dismay the readers. Check if the outline and the draft fit each other like how jigsaw puzzle pieces do. Stories with plenty of plot holes or with a messy story line are most likely being shoved aside by the readers, and it is a big impact not just on the book but also on the image of the author. That is why it is extremely important to tie every loose ends there is in a story before it is published or shared to the world.

5 Reasons Why Suspense Thriller Books Never Go Out of the Trend

In literature, suspense is amongst the various literary devices that is defined as an extreme emotion in which a reader feels while looking forward for the results of particular events. The tension, pressure, and agitation that it arouses from the readers is the primary reason why readers are hooked to books of this type. It is one of the best ingredient an author can mix to a story to make the minds of the audience blown away.

As books of different genres and authors with new writing styles are on the rise, novels containing the element of suspense are still living their glory days. These books keep reigning on the market and remain hooking readers of all ages. Examples of best-selling suspense thriller novels are James Patterson’s Blindside, John Grisham’s The Guardians, Stephen King’s The Outsider, and J.D. Robb’s Golden in Death. If you are a fan of suspense book authors and want to know why their novels are still a hit, this article is perfect for you! Written below are the reasons why suspense thriller novels never go out of style.

They build strong emotions

The main function of suspense is to create tension to readers. In every suspense book, the elements always strive to form extreme emotions with only the use of words. Examples of these strong and unfamiliar emotions are fear, rage, thrill, and agitation. The pressure is shaped up by the characters because they are the ones who move the story forward. Suspense is typically inserted in some parts of the plot, such as the conflict, rising action, and climax.

They create a new type of excitement

Most books are injected with the element of surprise to stimulate excitement from the readers. For book lovers, this emotion is not new because they always encounter it in every novel of different genre. Suspense books, however, delivers a new kind of excitement. The one that readers will be left on the edge of their seats and blow their minds. The thrill, twists, and turns that it gives is different. It is not the same as meeting a significant other, falling in love, or moving from one place to another, which numerous stories contain. It is more about hanging on the verge of death, fighting to survive, and discovering a murder. It is a new and intense form of excitement.

They contain unpredictable plots

The beauty of suspense is not only found in its characters but also in its plot. The plot structure of some stories are unique and untraditional, they do not go with the normal structure that are composed of the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. There are just too much wonderful components it contains that make this genre prominent, such as foreshadowing, flashback, and cliffhanger. Thus, the author has the freedom to modify the plot. The story can begin in medias res and end with a cliffhanger or in the conventional way. What is important is that the story must be successfully told in the most suspenseful way possible in order to not break the connection with the book and the readers.

They give readers something new to look forward

Suspense makes the readers thirsty — thirsty for information and answers. The foreshadowing and hints scattered all around the story are the primary agent that drives suspense thriller book fans anticipate. Suspense thriller books are rich with circumstances where characters are in jeopardy, someone is being killed, mystery is present, and answers are being hunted. Thus, making the readers more curious and intrigue with the story. As a result, the audience will strive to look for answers and solve the mystery. It gives them a brand new reason to continue picking up and reading a book.

They show versatility

Not all stories are versatile. Some follows a straight line and a direct path. But for suspense thriller tales, it can take as much path as possible. The importance of going multiple ways is that the author can create more mysteries and hide all hints in different places. Stories in this genre are not only found on books but also on short stories and flash fiction. Hence, it is multifaceted and can take any form. In contrast to novels of other genre, stories with the element of suspense gives readers a fresher view on literature.

Suspense is truly a great element a story could ever contain. It is the sole reason why literary enthusiast continue to delve into this genre and read suspense thriller books. This genre consistently paves its way to the top of the list of every general fiction bestselling books. That said, regardless if it is the past, present, or future, suspense thriller books are and will always be in the trend.

Finest Non-fiction True Crime Novels of All Time

With the extreme rising of the cases of crimes all across the globe, the realm of film and literature have taken these matters as inspiration and turned them into wonderful masterpieces. Most true crime literary works and movies cover cases of murder, serial killers, and other gruesome crimes. The world went a buzz when news about a Ted Bundy movie is being filmed and when Netflix released the Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes documentary series. Aside from the Ted Bundy documentary series, there are also other remarkable true crime series — such as The Act, Making a Murderer, The Confession Tapes, and American Crime Story. It only shows that stories about transgressions and criminal acts set the people on fire.

Literature is a broad field of wonders. It already has a faction that covers crimes but with a hint of fantasy called crime thriller that belongs to general fiction. In contrast to the mentioned genre, the literary realm also has works about true to life crime stories called true crime — which falls under nonfiction category. True crime novels commonly have a pattern. The stories these books contain revolve around the committed viscous crimes until the conducted thorough investigation. Examples of page turner true crime novels are listed below:

The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story by Anne Rule

This autobiographical novel is authored by Ann Rule centers on one of the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. It includes a glimpse about the serial killer’s birth and family. Later on, it narrated the interaction between the author and Bundy and the friendship that they had formed. She then mentioned her first impressions about him and described the killer as “kind, solicitous, and empathetic.” The story continues to move until it arrived to the discovery of the brutal killings of women in Seattle. The person that these ladies were seen together with before their disappearance was tall, handsome, and named “Ted” based on the witnesses. It took plenty of years until Bundy was completely captured — after his two prison break escapade and bunch of killing spree. This novel has been adapted into a television film in 2003.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Truman Capote wrote this nonfiction true crime novel based on the murder of the 4 members of a family in the state of Kansas. The victims of this case was a successful and wealthy farmer Herbert Clutter, his wife Bonnie, and his two younger children Nancy and Kenyon. Ex-convicts Richard Hickock and Perry Smith are the suspects for this brutal murder. They raided the farmer’s house in the hopes of getting a bounty of cash from the household. However, they were not arrested until 6 weeks after the crime was committed. The killers were later on executed years after they were proven guilty and convicted. The author, along with his childhood friend Harper Lee, researched about the case and interviewed people related to this crime. Capote allocated 6 years of his life working on the book, thus this novel has complete ingredients and elements.

The Witness by Wanda Draper

Author Wanda Draper has written a detailed and amazing novel about the anatomy of a murderer. The Witness circulates on how a person becomes a cold-blooded killer, what are the contributing factors and triggers on his or her becoming. This is novel creates a fresh perspective of literature’s true crime genre. It does not merely centers on a hideous killing and its following investigation instead it focuses on what makes a person transform into a dangerous killer. Draper incredibly let readers shape an outlook on why a murderer behaves that way and how did he or she manage to do such crime. This books examines and narrates a suspect’s life experience ranging from his or her childhood to the turning point when the individual committed the crime.

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi

Vincent Buglioso wrote a book, together with Curt Gentry, based on his experience as the prosecuting attorney of the case of the Manson family. The Carl Manson family refers to the 5 people who cold-bloodedly murdered innocent individuals that took place in two different locations — the homes of Sharon Tate and Leno LaBianca. Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten, Charles Watson, and the leader Charles Manson were the convicted murderers of the gruesome killings of a total of five people. The novel Helter Skelter was published by W. W. Norton & Company in the year 1974 and was recognized as the Best Fact Crime book of 1975 Edgar Award.

There is just something appealing about this genre that makes the readers addicted to it. The weight and mixture of emotions that it awakens from the audience that make them filled with excitement is incomparable. True crime is indeed a jewel of nonfiction.