They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even though science doesn't fully back up that claim - and many people do just fine skipping it altogether - it still pays to eat smart first thing in the morning. To know which dishes to avoid, we rounded up the worst foods to eat first thing in the morning. Read more: www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/10-foods-you-shouldnt-eat-in-the-morning/ss-BBRZ9k7?li=BBnba9O
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For all intensive purposes
If you're using this phrase to mean 'for all practical purposes,' then for all intents and purposes, you're doing it wrong (see what we did there?). The phrase, 'for all intensive purposes' is a mondegreen, which is defined as a misheard version of a phrase, saying or slogan. The phrase you're actually looking for (as you've probably guessed by now) is 'for all intents and purposes.' Read more: www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/smart-living/70-words-and-phrases-you%E2%80%99re-probably-using-all-wrong/ar-BBR8P3v?li=BBnb7Kz Beth Eaglescliffe What is Flash Fiction? Flash Fiction is the modern term applied to a very short story; usually one under 400 words in length. There is no standard definition and some people argue the term only applies to stories of less than 300 words and others say that any story under 1,000 words qualifies. Whatever the agreed length of flash fiction, it should still contain all the elements that you would expect to find in a longer story. What's your story? Try creating some flash fiction yourself. What's your story? Try creating some flash fiction yourself. | Source Writing Flash Fiction is a Skill Flash fiction must have a beginning, middle and an end. For the story to have impact there must be some change in action or motivation of the protagonist. The reader needs to feel that there is some kind of resolution by the end of the story. Many people say that writing to such a tight brief is difficult. It is certainly a different skill to that of writing a novel. Flash fiction requires brevity. An author must convey character and plot in a succinct manner and make every word count. Writing flash fiction is fun. If you are nervous about getting started, I recommend you read In a Flash!: Writing & Publishing Dynamic Flash Prose. It will inspire you to try out the genre for yourself. It is written in an informal, chatty way that makes it easy to see that writing flash fiction is a must-do for everyone. How to Write Sudden or Flash Fiction The Essential Elements of Flash Fiction 1. Length of story Short; can be as brief as 6 words, or as long as 1,000. 2. Character development The character must engage the reader's emotions. 3. Surprise or Twist The ending should be unexpected and not predictable. 4. Change or Ephipany Either a physical change or a change of decision. For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn One of the most famous examples of flash fiction is a six word story usually attributed to Ernest Hemingway (although some say it predates him). “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” He is said to have penned this six word short story in response to a bet. It may have been inspired by news published in The Spokane Press on May 16th 1910 entitled "Tragedy of Baby's Death Revealed in Sale of Clothes." The words “For sale: baby shoes, never worn” engages your emotions because of the sadness implicit behind the final words. You are left wondering why a person had to sell the baby's shoes. Perhaps a baby was still-born or maybe a woman had an abortion after a rape? There are endless possibilities once you start to think about it. Tiny baby shoes create an emotional response. Tiny baby shoes create an emotional response. | Source Tell a Story In a Few Words I find the discipline of writing very short fiction requires me to concentrate on the heart of the story in order to reduce it to its bare bones. I wrote the flash fiction story “Coffee Break” (below) when I was trying to resolve a problem I had at work. I wanted to persuade my employer that they would benefit by allowing me to reduce my working hours. I chose to limit this flash fiction story to 350 words. "Coffee Break" (A story about wanting to reduce working hours) The foam from the coffee made a frothy moustache on her upper lip. Susie looked around the café feeling embarrassed and wiped it away quickly. Her green eyes met those of the elderly gentleman sitting at the next table. “I’m always doing that” she said. Then she wondered why she had bothered to make a comment about something so insignificant. He nodded in sympathy. “Be thankful you haven’t got a beard like me. My Louise is always nagging me to remove the odd crumb or drip of soup that’s got lodged there.” A small grin passed over his tired face as he thought about his long suffering wife. Susie smiled back at him and then picked up her pen and notepad once more. This coffee break was just an excuse to take her mind off her immediate problem of not enough hours in each day. How could she get her boss to agree to her going part-time? She stirred her spoon round the half empty mug and scooped up the foam that was still clinging to its sides. “Mm I love the smell of fresh cappuccino”. The old man stood up to go. Before he left he leant over and said “Thank you for brightening my day”. Susie was surprised. She’d been so engrossed in her own thoughts that she had forgotten all about the other customers. She had made her plan and was keen to go straight to her boss to try it out. “Employ me in short bursts and like a cappuccino I will be exciting and refreshing. If I have to work long hours I become like a leftover cup of coffee, stale and uninteresting. Shorter hours will help me give you a quality performance rather than a greater quantity of mediocre work.” Janice, her boss, started to smile. “I’ve got to hand it to you. You have a wonderful way of getting me to see your point of view. I’ll get back to you on it, but I’m pretty sure we can work something out to suit both of us.” Taking a coffee break can help order one's thoughts. Taking a coffee break can help order one's thoughts. | Source Coffee break Have you ever changed your working hours? No - never wanted to No - my boss wouldn't let me Yes - changed from full to part time Yes - changed to work unsocial hours for more money See results Asking Awkward Questions There are many occasions where it is necessary to ask a difficult or awkward question. The workplace situation in my story is a common one for serious questions to arise that need to be asked (and answered). There are also lighter scenarios in which it can be just as difficult to broach the question. The YouTube video below is one such lighthearted example. When was the last time you asked someone if they would mind holding your balloon for a moment? What was the result (or what do you think the result would have been)? This may be a daft example, but it illustrates the awkwardness of asking a difficult question when the recipient cannot immediately see any benefit to them of granting your request. It is also exactly the kind of interaction that makes a great topic for flash fiction. The interaction has a start, a middle and an outcome. It can be funny, whimsical, frightening or informative; it’s your choice. Asking People to Hold a Balloon Try Writing Some Flash Fiction Once you have a go at writing flash fiction, be warned, it can be difficult to stop! Many novice writers use the discipline of writing these short stories as way of training themselves to make every word count. You can also use writing one as an exercise to get over writer’s block. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it requires less effort than a longer piece of fiction. With flash fiction every word must be meticulously chosen. No word can be wasted; there must be no padding in your story. Flash Fiction Writing Exercise Here are some quick questions to ask yourself to get you writing great flash fiction. For this exercise keep your story below 100 words and limit the time you write on each one to just 10 minutes. 1. Write about a cat who doesn’t want to get wet. 2. Write about a mole that is digging a burrow. 3. Write about the boot a child lost. 4. Write about the letter that didn’t arrive. 5. Write about the flooded cellar. Don’t forget to include the essential elements needed for flash fiction. If you would like to share your thoughts on this article, please add some comments at the end. I’d love to know how you got on with your first attempt at writing flash fiction. A Great Story Holds Your Reader's Attention Are There Flash Fiction Competitions? Yes, there are lots of flash fiction contests advertised both locally and nationally. A quick search on the internet brings up thousands of results. However, most of them charge a fee and are money-makers for the organisers rather than prestigious contests. Think about why you want to enter a competition before spending a lot on entry fees. You may find it better to join a local writers' group and share your writing with them instead. Flash fiction competitions have very specific rules relating to word length. Make sure you read the rules and follow them precisely, or your entry will be disqualified.Beth Eaglescliffe From bright bikinis to retro two-pieces, these celebs know how to make a major style statement at the beach! Check them out: www.seventeen.com/fashion/celeb-fashion/g489/swimsuit-inspiration/
What's the worst part of having anxiety? Worrying about how much you worry. Click through this slide show to find ways to stop. www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/11-top-tricks-from-therapists-on-how-to-deal-with-anxiety/ss-BBSfHcV?li=BBnbfcL
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AuthorKeith Kelly currently lives in Rio Rancho New Mexico. Archives
October 2020
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