Non-fiction week 11
Public language is everyday language involving politics, seeps into media, business/management. It’s formal but tries to be neutral. Not pleasurable language for enjoyment or clarity.
Liberal humanism is the approach toward art and literature although by learning the subject of English we learn by reading books and learn the ideas and attitudes which are in detail.
Liberal humanism is used to denote ruling assumption of values and meanings of the modern period. It has comprised the philosophies of the bourgeois enlightenment such as rationalism, empiricism and utilitarianism. The human being seeks a political system which guarantees freedom of choice. Liberal humanism subjects contradictions to the inequality of freedom where in theory all men are equal. Men were seen as heroes of liberal humanism were it produced contradistinction to the objects of knowledge, and in terms of the relations of power in the economy and the state. Woman were however produced contradistinction to men in terms of the relations of power in the family.
F.R Leavis, Liberal humanist who had different approaches to others. A particular text is a mind to writers. He was interested in concrete experience of the text. Not concerned with author’s attention as some critic’s maybe. A writer’s work should display reverent open before life. Spiritual and moral man. Not interested in theory outside the book, he says the text helps us experience or concrete experiences. Leavis in his writing thus radically altered the literary map of the past and laid out new patterns for the future; but perhaps his most vital contribution lay not in his assessment of individual authors, but in his introduction of a new seriousness into English studies. Leavis was one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century English literary criticism.
He introduced”seriousness” into English studies, and the modern university subject has been shaped very much by Leavis’ approach to literary studies. He insisted that evaluation was the principal concern of criticism, and that it must ensure that English literature should be a living reality operating as an informing spirit in society, and that criticism should involve the shaping of contemporary sensibility (Bilan 61).Leavis’s criticism is difficult to directly classify, but it can be grouped into four chronological stages.
The first is that of his early publications and essays including New Bearings in English Poetry (1932) and Revaluation (1936). Here he was concerned primarily with re-examining poetry from the seventeenth to twentieth century’s, and this was accomplished under the strong influence of T.S. Eliot. Also during this early period Leavis sketched out his views about university education. He then turned his attention to fiction and the novel, producing The Great Tradition (1948) and D.H. Lawrence, Novelist (1955). Following this period Leavis pursued an increasingly complex treatment of literary, educational and social issues. Though the hub of his work remained literature, his perspective for commentary was noticeably broadening, and this was most visible in Nor Shall my Sword (1972).
Two of his last publications embodied the critical sentiments of his final years; The Living Principle: ‘English’ as a Discipline of Thought (1975), and Thought, Words and Creativity: Art and Thought in Lawrence (1976). Despite a natural aversion to it in the early part of his career, his criticism became progressively philosophical in nature during the last years of his life
The greatest movie characters of all time have been displayed at the federation exhibition centre in Melbourne. It explores the central role costume design plays in cinema storytelling. Bringing together the most iconic costumes from a century of filmmaking, this was an opportunity to see the clothes worn by unforgettable and beloved characters in films from The Wizard of Oz (1939) to Titanic (1997).
Movies are about people as they are at the emotional core of every film and it is their story that moves us. Films characters hold our attention and are of endless fascination to the audience. The role of Hollywood Costumes brings costume designers role for bring these characters to life-from script to screen.
Costume designers create each character designing the clothes and accessories actors wear and perform. Depending on their style and complexity, costumes maybe made, bought, or rented. The shapes, colours and textures that a costume designer chooses make an immediate and powerful visual statement to the audience. Creative collaboration among the costume designer, the director and the set and lighting designers ensures that the costumes are smoothly integrated into the production as a whole. So when a character or a film captures the public’s imagination, costumes can ignite worldwide fashion trends. They quickly become part of our modern mythology. Cinematic icons are born when the audience falls in love with the people in the story.
In a film the costume design has both a narrative and visual importance. It is a distinct discipline that takes as its starting point the written word of the screenplay. On the screen when we see these characters we are engaged with them in every way, intellectually and emotionally. We pass their stories down from one generation to another. All Hollywood films are the product of creative teamwork. Production designers define the place and setting of the story. Cinematographers create the visual mood and tone of the narrative. Directors tell the story, making the final decision about everything that appears on screen. Together with the costume designer, this creative team makes a world and people in it come alive.
Letting go was the hardest thing to do. Not knowing what would happen next but life goes on no matter what. You never know what chances would come and go in and out of your life. But now what hurts the most is not having you there even though I knew you were there but I never got to see you or speak with you. But now I realise that you have given up so easily and it’s impossible for me to except that and give up on you. It was hard having you go in and out of my life giving so many chances and also having faith and hope that things would get better in time. But now there’s nothing more to go back to or turn to but rather start a new chapter and continue moving forward and leaving whatever was left behind. I have said my goodbyes many times and have always walked away but the thing is I have never stopped loving you but as you continue to stay your distance from me and not let me be there for you that love is slowly going to disappear and then I’m not going to feel anything again rather be thinking and always having question marks in what I want to do or what I should be thinking on doing. I had hope and I was patient but I can’t help it, it kills me to lose you like this but I can’t stay any more I have to let you go even though I made a promise to you saying I wasn’t. But you made it clear you gave up, even if you were to turn back and say it will work again it’s too late there’s nothing left to come back to. There isn’t a happy ending but a sad ending there’s no happily ever after it doesn’t exist.
Whittaker mentions that magazines fill our daily lives as we encounter them casually – as filler when waiting for an appointment, or something to read while travelling by train. At other times, they are the focus for interests, hobbies and our professional life, it’s something that we subscribe to or actively seek out because they are the best source of information on a particular subject (Whittaker, 2008, pg. 1). Publishing magazines is a process of production and dissemination of literature, music or information in which the activity of making information is available to the general public. Authors can be their own publishers as they develop the content and provide media to deliver and display content for the same. Publishing magazines includes stages of development, acquisition, copyediting, graphic design, production and marketing. With the advent of digital information systems and the internet, the scope of publishing has expanded to include electronic resources such as electronic versions of books and periodicals as well as micropublishing, websites, blogs and video game publishers.
This essay shows the history of magazine when it was originally printed and published, then later changed as technological developments improved. It will show the business of magazines and what roles of marketing, publishing and advertising it establishes as a title, providing a clear understanding of what is needed to succeed in a career in magazines. The legal and ethical issues will also arise in this essay as it affects magazine editors and publishers in the magazine production.
The first magazines ever published were articles that were a periodical format in England, since the turn of the eighteenth century. In 1731, Edward Cave published the first issue of The Gentleman’s Magazine, the first periodical to feature a mix of informative and entertaining genres, and the first to call itself a “magazine”(magazine publishing history). As the years went on technology improved, where in the twentieth century the glossy look that had been originally been pioneered by Vogue, Esquire and Playboy extended into the business-to-business (B2B) sectors. In addition, the 1980s saw further technological developments which were significant as the inventions of lithographic printing and photography was used to document important events since the American Civil War (Whittaker, 2008, p12). Whittaker includes that the introduction of computers and desktop publishing saw radical changes to the ways magazines were produced, with smaller teams capable of taking a title from the initial conception to final print quickly and cheaply. By then in 1990s, it was predicted that the magazine publishing would open up to a more democratic process (Whittaker, 2008, p13).
In time publishing magazines became a business as they made headlines which were a big deal and an acquisition to create huge companies. The design of magazines made a profit making business which was an advantage of a magazine being a non profit organisation. The cooperative profits grew and the advertisers achieved their goal by reaching their target consumers for marketing magazines. As a result in the recent years where Charles P. Daly, 1997, on page 27 mentions that “publishers have given significantly more attention to revenues derived from their circulation base and ancillary products.” This is when the publisher determines how many editorial pages he or she can afford to print based on cost printing, distribution and circulation revenue. The challenge for publishers and editors is whether if the audience they want to reach can support a magazine and they must do this by having critical mass of support.
When working in the magazine department the publishers and editors that work there get to see how things are made and how things come together from start to finish. They produce photo shoots in order to give the audience a visual image of what’s going on with the story and also work with the creator. By doing this the audience are shown things visually to create a sense and to capture their attention. Publishers and editors work with fashion editors, and the photo department to then build a team. Everything is done in a time period and is done in group work as one needs to edit or look over, then otherwise make changes. All editors and publishers in the magazine company have different tasks and roles and they all must work together to get the job done, it’s time consuming and a competition with other magazine organisations as they all put out similar information and visual images. The chief editor oversees the whole content and makes sure the flow of the magazine is seamless. As a top editor, this person is responsible for making all the final decisions and is constantly getting reports from the managing editor, creative director and the executive editor (magazine job titles). One magazine could be about fashion and accessories whilst the other one talk’s about celebrity gossip depending on the information and visual images displayed; it captures the readers and brings them towards either purchasing the magazine to make sales.
A magazine can get things wrong, and sometimes a reader might feel that a magazine has got things wrong. Magazines go sometimes beyond the ethical or legal bounds. It is a tough decision to run an article or not when it comes to an ethical issue. Every story should be factual and factually correct, there is no place for plagiarism however journalists still plagiarize or create false stories. Editors are responsible for checking the sources of information, as they have the last word, they are the one who should be aware of what their writers write, they risk their jobs as well as the writers do. They stake the magazine’s reputation, moreover, society has placed another pressure on traditional media in general, as information have become easily accessible on internet and they have to deal with “private journalists” such has bloggers who are not always aware of ethical or legal issues. Terms and copy right in magazine publishing must be related to work that is original. Facts or ideas cannot be copyrighted.
A career in magazine publishing might be ideal. Editors, writers, photographers and others bring a magazine together and the exciting world of magazine publishing can be a glamorous field to work in for creative people with a passion for print. In magazine publishing people who work in this field have different responsibilities and they vary from each other. A copy editor makes sure all the stories in the magazine check out, grammatical. They combat dangling modifiers, errant commas and every other grammatical no-no in the book. A Fact Checker for accuracy in the story appearing in the magazine as they ensure quotes and all factual information included in an article are accurate. Magazine editors are the wordsmiths behind the content in magazines. While some editors do more writing, others are more heavily involved with assigning stories and editing them. Lucky last, the photo editors oversee the photography that appears in a magazine. Although most photo editors don’t actually take the pictures — their job is primarily to hire other photographers to do that — it’s up to them to ensure that the right image winds up on the page.
Magazine publishing has had a large impact towards the public as everyone reads and buys off the shelves. As it has made great sales the publishing companies have improved with the production process such as typography, color and graphics and how it’s used to create a visual object that will appeal to readers. In the magazine publishing process everyone has different duties and responsibilities in getting the work out to the public, before they finalize and print off the magazine they go through corrections and spellings and make final adjustments. Ideally there are legal and ethical issues that arise as someone could make faults such as plagiarism or copy right other peoples work. It’s the same process that a normal book publishing house goes through. But it is a good field to work in especially because it involves allot of creativity.
· Magazine Job Titles: A Publication’s Staff and What Their Roles Entail | Suite101.com http://suite101.com/article/magazine-job-titles-a128089#ixzz27NZeRyEU
Are you bored of reading the same story over and over?
Would you like to be drawn to a book and find yourself in the story where you thought a fairy tale story could take your mind away and take you to all the action, where you find a handsome charming prince, a castle, a evil villain, and feels that there’s something deeper going on. Be prepared the prince in the fairy tale is real and the fifteen year old loner has caught her eye on him, but they are both from two different worlds and they don’t know how it will work out in the end. Will the two be together even though it seems unreal and imaginative. Would you be losing your mind if you thought just reading a story that you made yourself imagine the character was real and you were becoming in love but could not imagine him/her to be here with you in reality? Wake up it won’t come true you’re losing your mind.
Jodi Picoult and Samantha van leer writes a successful novel between the lines. In the fairytale Oliver who is the hero, is sick of replaying over and over the plot of Between the Lines. He is always the hero, on a quest to save his love, Seraphina. Over and over again, every time a new reader picks up a copy of the book. Except Seraphina is actually an imbecile who believes the parts they each play in the story and though Oliver enjoys playing chess with his best friend and cares greatly for the woman playing his mother, he wants out. Delilah, on the other hand, is a misfit teen, struggling to fit in and make her mother proud in the absence of her father. Delilah cannot bring herself to part with her copy of Between the Lines, the child’s fairytale she discovered at the school library. When one day she voices out loud her wish that the book’s hero, Oliver, were actually real, she is stunned to see him turn and look back at her. It is only when he uses his knife to scratch the words “help me” into the cliff wall that the adventure really begins.
While many crossover young adult books appeal to teens and adults because they can reach both on different levels, some are successful and popular with readers because they appeal to the teen in every reader, regardless of their actual age. The book is instantly magical, transporting the reader into a world where fiction is reality and the divide between reader and book has been crossed. The story jumps between the fairytale and accounts from both Delilah and Oliver (who was named after Samantha van Leer’s dog). The pair is star-crossed lovers for a new generation, both desperate to be with the other, to make the general monotony and daily grind of everyday life that much better simply by having the other in it. But will they find a way to be together? Will they manage to figure out how to get Oliver out of the book or will Delilah join him in the fairytale land? More to the point, will they devise a way to be together before Delilah’s mother has her committed?
Between the Lines will have you guessing to the very end and devouring each page at great speed. With gorgeous illustrations dotted around the pages, it is the kind of book you can escape into, just like Delilah. A delight.
Hope for a New Beginning
Outside in the dark, huge clouds arise, more dismal on the eye as thunder mutters on the ear. Still creeping on more loud and loud, stronger lightings splinter through the clouds. Rain pours heavily as the air is freezing and wet. Eliza stands, soaked in her long wet leather-coat, waiting patiently, alone. In her right hand, she holds out a pistol looking down at the rocky-pebbled ground. She notices drops of rain had fallen, creating a small puddle. Taking big breaths controlling her adrenaline she feels out of control. Her hair is wet and damped; cold but resisting and waiting. She begins to shake. She was clueless, didn’t know what had just happened and what the consequences were. Eliza had only hoped that she could control what has been brought down to her once. But firstly she had to come back to reality by not wondering off. The world is dying as society has been infected. Everyone is out of control; they won’t stop or hesitate but kill on site. Eliza’s only chance is to protect herself, as survival extinct comes first.
Whatever caused this tragedy upon society, the infection is spreading around the world. There has to be away to stop it or else everyone will not have a chance. Eliza has many gifts that no one else can comprise. She is everyone’s last hope.
“Eliza, what are you doing here? You have to leave now.” a young man ran next to Eliza. His voice was loud. He was in shock and looked scared. “You have to run, come with me now.” he began to yell out to Eliza, but she continued to stand there as if she had left this world and her mind had gone somewhere else. The young man wearing black placed his hand on Eliza’s arm. He went to slap her on the right cheek. Eliza snapped out of it, taking slow breaths. She held her gun tightly and looked around. There were abandoned vehicles on the side of the road in flames others were pitched black.
“Tom, where is everyone? Did they make it out alive?” Eliza spoke in fear, hoping that the others made it safely.
“Eliza I don’t know, but we are in danger, okay? We made it this far alive, with your help. I’m sure the others have. But now we must leave, otherwise we won’t reach the other side of the walls.” They stood there for a while before they heard the cries of woman pleading help. There were sounds of anger and threat, then sounds of guns being fired. Out towards the west side, a bomb was let off. It created a massive impact across the city of San Antonio. Still there were cries and screams, the sudden rush of the crowd running for their lives. Eliza and Tom where surrounded by people only they stood in the dark. From each corner, Eliza noticed no movement, nor could she sense them taking any breath. But she felt danger, she knew they were infected.
A tall man took a few steps towards Eliza. She stood her ground, waiting. The man wore a grey suit with a blue tie with stains and small rips. His face was rare: eyes pitch black and red in the outside layer when they should be white. His hair was trimmed short to the side of his face. Tom grabbed Eliza’s hand when he noticed others were moving close creating a circle. For protection, Eliza used her powers to create a blue shield. The man finally stopped and took a good look at Eliza. He opened his mouth wide open: it was something like a dogs jaw with massive teeth. It was black and red with pieces of skin, more like human flesh. He spoke then in a soft voice.
“Eliza, join me” he reached out his hand towards the blue shield trying to stimulate the energy wave. He did not feel any pain but felt hate and anger.
“Don’t listen to him, his not one of us. His turned we need to go now.” the man turned his head across to Tom tilting it sideways, before coming closer to face him. Eliza’s shield was going to disappear soon she was not strong enough. “Hideous, you are, dare to speak.” The man smiled till they heard a pack of helicopters from above moving towards the gates. A bright light from above took the man and others off guard in time for Eliza. Her shield disappeared, and then she pointed her gun to the man’s head setting off the first trigger. He fell backwards to the ground as there was black blood pouring out from his scalp.
In the helicopters above soldiers in army suits started to fire down below at all the targets. They helped Tom and Eliza as they were surrounded. As they continued shooting more and more came in packs. Eliza ran out of bullets, she called out for ammo. A soldier noticed Eliza, throwing her a large green box from above. It reached her as it fell, she grabbed for two guns beginning to fire at each angle shooting the infected.
Eliza was caught by arm when she heard Tom’s voice. He yelled out as one of the infected humans bit into his arm. The infected human was sucking out blood from Tom’s vain in a fast pace. Tom reacted to it by shooting its head from behind. After Tom saved himself, Eliza felt regret and pain. She knew there was no cure for Tom he was infected. Eliza hoped that they would both make it in one piece but she’s lost her only friend. Tom saw Eliza starring at him he knew what was going threw her mind. “Eliza you need to leave.” He turned back around and fought back, still firing his lasts bullets at the infected.
A helicopter came towards Eliza letting out a ladder below. Grabbing hold to it tightly with one hand Eliza was being pulled away by the helicopter as it flew up. She watched Tom defend himself to the rest of the infected. There was now millions of infected humans scattered all around. Tom was attacked; he gave himself up as the rest of the infected fed against his body. She saw his hand raised up, feeling him suffer with grieve and pain. Eliza looked away; she lost too many friends and family to this incident. Climbing up the ladder into the helicopter she sat down remorseful, she did not want anyone else to die for her. But she was important, she had to be safe.
“Princess Eliza we’ve almost reached the gate.” She nodded before closing her eyes to sense any threat on board. In her senses she could feel a rush in her pulse targeting the infected, as she can track no beating heart. She felt no heart beat but she was facing at one of the soldiers, his heart beat was weak. Her eyes opened, the soldier looked at her in fear. Without letting him speak out she shot his head and he fell out into darkness. The other soldiers aboard did nothing as they knew they were in good hands. Nothing was going to get
across the gates. At last they reached gates: it was steep, long and wide made out of iron. There were soldier’s scattered above the gates targeting infected humans below. Eliza examined most of them sensing no life or danger, for once she felt safe.
The helicopter which Eliza was abroad landed, thousands of tents were scattered outside, and a Mercedes was parked across Eliza where a man stood in a suit and black glasses. Eliza walked out of the helicopter onto the soft soil, she watched the other soldiers walk by her towards a tent. She was startled after she heard a loud voice cal out to her; she turned backwards before somebody had grabbed her arm placing a serum. She felt her body weaken, not feeling her balance, her hands became visible, and everything became a blur. Eliza fell to the ground, her eyes closed and she soon fell into deep sleep.
Coldness below the ground was felt as the Goosebumps on her skin made her shiver. The sounds of dogs barking from behind the wall awoke her from her sleep. She opened her eyes finding herself in a room she has never been to. The ground and walls are made from bricks, and a door made from iron. Eliza was able to move this time but she did not feel her powers, it was blocked away after a serum was inserted to her skin. It was taken from her, she needed to know why.
She could not understand why she was here at all, but it seemed more like she was a hostage. Sounds of footsteps were drawing close from behind the iron door. Eliza stood waiting before the door fell open. A young man in a white shirt stood out. He walked near Eliza not wanting to frighten her. But she was not frightened she had no fear from any one.
“It’s alright; I’m not here to harm you.” Eliza could not speak but she tried speaking with her lips moving. “I’m here to help you. No need to worry, I’m giving you a second chance to survive. But first I need you to sit down.” They both sat down on the bed, she did not know what was going on but waited. “You must be wondering what you are doing here aren’t you.” Eliza nodded to agree. “Well you’re not a hostage; I’m just trying to help you.
Everyone is hunting and trying to track you down as you’re valuable. I’ve inserted a serum to make you immune to the infected. There blood won’t turn you it will only make you stronger towards them. Your powers aren’t gone it’s just weakened. The inside part of you is weakened, you have been using your powers by triggering regret and anger, each time you do this you cause your power to switch off quickly. It’s not powerful. Apart from your voice you haven’t lost it, you choose not to speak when you meet strangers.”
“Why have you done this to me?” Eliza questions waiting for an answer.
He said “you are the chosen one”
“What do you want me to do in return?”
“We want you to end this tragedy by killing the leader of the pack. When you terminate the leader there will be a cure for every other infected soul.”
Eliza agreed, she got up sensing a powerful energy building inside. It was building up which was going to set off a blast. The pulse of her heart beat continued to pace quickly, she felt change in her powers, she able to control and stimulate it from disappearing. Not only was she able to cause a shield for protection but she was able to cause an energetic blast that can shred you into pieces and make you fly out of buildings. With one energetic blow Eliza blasted out of the building, she came towards a native forest outside of the gates. Once she reached the infected side it was a start to her journey to go and find the one who caused this tragedy.
Nothing was lost yet, only hope for a new beginning, a second chance of survival.
A new year
It was the afternoon when she drove to side of the road in her black Mercedes convertible. Walter stood by the window gazing out to check who had just moved in, he saw her for the first time and watched her grab her bags into the house. She had long dark brown curls that shaded into a mixture of light brown and hazel as the suns light touched her. Walter could not see a clear view of her face so he walked back to sit in his comfy chair. As he sat there he grabbed for the remote control to turn on the television, he watched the local news having a sip of his beer. Then for a good couple of hours sitting in the dark he grabbed his pills taking two tablets from the casket. Having to absorb his medication with alcohol Walter started to shake and cough as he didn’t feel well. Not only was it appalling enough to have medication with alcohol.
Soon or a latter Walter heard a car pull over outside, he went to go check who it was, a man was waiting outside in the dark beside the old tree near the foot path. Walter became alert and wondered who the man was waiting for, until he saw her walk out of the house smiling. There she stood in her long red dress, her hair was nicely done up in a nice bun she was holding onto her black jacket. As she walked in her perfectly high heels down the pathway she reached the young man giving him a slight kiss on the cheek. Walter thought it was probably a date or maybe thought it could be a friend or her brother. Either way he grew conscious minded but also became passionate about her as he felt a slight attraction to her in red.
They drove down the street whilst Walter stood by and observed. Not knowing her name or knowing what her likes and dislikes were he decided to do something outrageous, the only thing he could do is walk out towards her front porch and find a way inside the house. Walter grabbed the pins from his pockets sticking them through the key whole and with a few tries by twisting and turning; he managed to unlock the front door. He closed the door behind him as he looked around and searched. Everything was in big cardboard boxes sticky tapped and left inside the first room which happens to be the living room. As Walter walked through the living room he watched his steps trying not to touch or move boxes around; there was a large object pushed to the side of the wall with a white cloth.
Walter wondered what was behind the cloth so he pulled away and saw a black piano that was old and antique. It was dark in the house so luckily Walter had a torch light held in his right hand. He continued searching, starting upstairs in the bedroom. He searched through her clothes having a swift of her smell of perfume that was sweet but also fragile as it was in a glass bottle. Everything was tidy and neat apart from her bed as the covers weren’t spread out tidily. Downstairs in the kitchen area there was an invitation card which had an address, date and time of the event taking place. It was located in the city at a fancy ball in a hotel which was tonight. Walter took the invitation walking out back to his house. He got ready in excitement wearing a white shirt and black tie and suit.
Walter arrived in front of the hotel; a young Shaffer had come to the front opening the door for him with a slight smile. “Good evening sir.” He spoke out holding the door open wide enough for Walter to step out onto the red carpet that went across the footed path into the hotel building. “There’s an event here, a ball which way.” Walter asked once he had a quick observe of the front. “Straight in across the front desk and turn right you will see a large white door.” Water walked towards the door then stopped looking back to the man he said “thankyou kindly.”
Across the front desk and turning right Walter came near the two large white doors, hearing sounds of music from behind, you could hear the jamming and excitement had started. This was going to be a surprising night for him, he hoped he will see her and have a chance to talk with her. He did not care who got in the way he just needed to see her. The doors swung open as two young waiters had opened the door, Walter could see the disco ball in the centre of the dance floor, and lights glittered across the floorboard in mixtures of colours. Everyone was well dressed but looked similar, all the men were wearing black in a red tie and a black mask covering their face, you could only see their nose and lips but not have a clear view of their face. The young girls however where all similar they all wore a red dress that were identical but had a different style and fitting. They all had masks on also covering their face you could not pin point who was who.
“Everybody this is the night of your lives, now we all have till midnight before we can take our masks off so I invite everybody now in partners to get on the dance floor and have a dance.” A man wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans spoke through the microphone on stage with a red electric guitar on stage; there was also a piano, a drum kit and base. Walter walked down stairs and stood by as everybody found a partner and danced, he however examined everyone carefully hoping he will find her, but before he could have a closer look someone had tapped his shoulder from behind.
“There you are I thought I would not be able to recognise you but luckily I found you.” A girl stood by Walter; she was a few inches shorter, had the nicest smile that made you feel peaceful and was so gentle when she had touched you. Walter did not know who she was but he thought it could be her.
“Are you sure you have the right man young lady?”
“Well of course kind sir unless you were waiting for somebody else.”
“I’ve never seen such beauty as bright as you.
“Are you going to ask me to dance or what?”
“Give me your hand first.” She starred at Walter with a pleased smile, holding out her hand; Walter felt a sudden pulse hoping he would feel something when he touched her hand. Her hands were soft and warm in his, he felt the slight hope. On the dance floor under the disco ball Walter placed his hand behind her backside whilst she placed both hands around his neck. She danced with him so closely that she could smell his aftershave.
“Have you changed your aftershave?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“It reminded me of when I was a child that strong sent, it’s unforgettable.” Walter had smiled he loved how she talked and how her cheeks turned into a red blossom colour. He wanted to have her by his side and never let her go. Time had flown by quickly it was 11:50pm only ten minutes before midnight. “You know what I’ve never felt this secure and happy in my life before.”
“Why is it because I dance so well or is it because I look so good in this suit?”
“no its none actually, your different somehow like usually you don’t act this way to me your more childish like the way you talk and behave, I’m not sure if you are trying to change and be something you’re not.”
“This is the real me, I’m just being myself.”
“I like that how you are being yourself, don’t pretend to be something you’re not.”
Everyone in the centre of the dance floor had all taken off their masks as it was midnight, glitter and balloons had came down from the top of the ceiling and everyone was smiling in excitement celebrating a new year. Walter starred at the girl still not knowing her name but she took off her mask starring back at Walter. He took one look at her and only saw her eyes that were dark and brown, they glittered across the room, when you looked at her eyes you could see the innocent and soft hearted side of her personality. Before Walter took off his mask he asked her one question.
“Would you be my girlfriend if I asked you out, even though you don’t know who I am or don’t know my name.”
“That’s a tough question, depends really if you’re a true man who is loyal and honest to his misses.”
“I’ve never felt this way before seeing someone for the first time and knowing what I truly feel, it’s like when I first saw you I felt something towards you, a sign of hope.”
“Can you take your mask off now I’m getting annoyed?”
Walter placed his hand in the centre of the mask grabbing it slowly off his face, and then she saw him for the first time as well. His eyes were hazel, on the side of his left eye brow he had a scar, she did not feel scared of him but still did not know who this stranger was. “I’m Walter pleased to meet you.” She did not answer right away but she gave a little smirk in excitement.
“Well Walter my name is Elizabeth and I’m quite surprised to meet someone like you tonight.”
“I’m sorry I just wanted a dance with you I had no bad intentions against you.”
“Glad to see your being honest and you did not ruin anything.”
“Would your partner be upset with you?”
“Yes indeed, even though his my, older brother. I’m sure he won’t be to upset that I left him all alone by himself at the table.” Walter was now confused she took him off guard and was unsure of what was happening. “I’m sorry I was not quite honest with you from the start I made it seem like I knew you but I was just hoping for someone to meet and dance with.” Walter smiled excited he had a chance to be with her.
“So is your answer a yes or no.”
“Definitely a yes, but could we start by going out for dinner?”
“Can I play the piano for you?” She was amazed when he mentioned the piano.
“How do you know?”
“Debussy Clair de Lune right?” Elizabeth nodded her head agreeing to Walter, it made her feel the intention to trust him and get to know him.
“Happy New Year Elizabeth.”
“And to you, Walter.”
There is something that has caught my attention and it has opened my mind broadly so that I can see what paths I must take and what alternatives I can follow to get me where I want to be in the future.
Many writers want to have their work published, but conquering the publishing world can seem like a challenge. Faced with rejection, many give up rather than pursue their goal. While publishing your work requires persistence and attention to detail, the process doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re a fiction writer, the author of a scholarly work, a photographer or an illustrator, you can have your work published by finding the right publisher and focusing on the quality of your work.
After finishing this course and receiving my diploma I would like to publish my written stories / projects which would be a success. However, there are many challenges and procedures I have to go through. I know that I must be aware of what outcomes follow. Getting your work published as a hardcopy book is not so easy. It takes time and needs allot of effort and long hours of work. Just say I was to go out to one of the publishing houses and speak to one of the editors or publishers saying here is a copy of my manuscript and I want it to be published. I know that they will either reject me or either publish my work. In that case if rejected I should not let that bring me down or make me give up. I know that I should keep trying and never give up. You can’t just stop and say I’m not going to succeed. Things happen in time it’s only a matter of you being more confident and putting hard work in. Just say that no one accepted you and wherever you went you got rejected by the publishers. There are always alternatives to get your work out to the public.
That’s when eBooks comes in as a growing number of ambitious authors are turning to self-publishing. When publishing a book it has never become easy to publish, whereas turning your manuscript into print on a page you can get your own e-book on sale around the world in just four minutes. But the battle however is finding the right audience that will be interested in your work. You have to choose the right book, the right genre and the right title. You can write for the right reasons such as yourself. At this stage in the digital revolution, the successful self-published e-books spring from popular genres, and those for which there are already big online communities – fantasy, chick-lit, horror and crime thrillers. The future may be a world where authors prove themselves in the self-published world before they are snapped up by mainstream publishers. Self-published success invariably leads to big book deals.
Lulu allows you to create a variety of books, but also lets you develop digital media. These range from music and ringtones to videos and e-books. With Lulu, you can also scan and digitize your old books, albums, and photos. You are given the option of leaving the book in private view or releasing it to the public.
Blurb allows anyone to create any kind of book, from nonfiction to photo, recipe, and more. You can use one of their templates and layouts or import your own design. Once you’ve created your book, you can choose between making the book open to the public or keeping it private. If you choose to make your book public, it can be sold on the Blurb website. Additionally, you can opt to offer readers a preview of the first 15 pages of your book to help them decide if they want to make a purchase.
CreateSpace was acquired by Amazon in 2005, and similar to Lulu, it provides book publishing and digital media development. Because CreateSpace is a subsidiary of Amazon, it’s easier and quicker to sell your book through Amazon. Like the other sites, you are able to choose between making your book open to the public or private. The only format accepted during the submission process is PDF, which is for both text and images.
CafePress provides a way for people to sell their creations in “shops.” It is a marketplace with over 150 million products (i.e. clothing, gifts, books, etc.). They also provide you with the ability of self publishing your books. Like the others, CafePress also has private and public options. While you are able to upload your book in PDF format, it has to be less than 100 MB. There are different templates you can use based on the type of book you are trying to publish, and you can tailor it the way you see fit.
WeBook combines the joys of self publishing with social media. You are able to write a book alone or collaborate with other writers. The site provides an online text editor for you to write, and you are able to add images from image-hosting sites like Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, etc.
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and is one of the first self publishing services in the industry. You start the process by having a consultation with one of their consultants about your needs and the correct package to fit those needs. They create the full design of the book and send it to you for feedback and approval. After that, the book is yours and you are able to sell it wherever and to whomever you want.
Scot Sigler is a good example; he has made a huge success in his career. Although doors were closed for him in the begging, he could not find anyone to publish his work but, he never gave up and tried other alternatives to find a right pathway to becoming a successful author. You need to have the patience and time for things like that, you will be rejected by the publishing companies, no one will approve of your work but that should not bring you down. Take it as a positive way and keep trying till you achieve your desires and success then when you look back you will know that you have made great efforts to get you where you wanted. The website that Sigler has on yahoo news and Amazon tells us about his successes and achievements, though his own website is useful to finding most of his released books that shows each chapter, views of other readers of what they thought about the book. Yet there are many blogs and tweets posted on the web page about him as everyone gives both positive views and negative views to what they think of his work. This is good to interact with the public because you can take their feedback and work on it and improve yourself.
So in that case I might fall in the same situation as Sigler and I could do exactly what he did in my own way. If in that case I change my mind and want to try other things I could go for the creative side such as designing book covers for a book. Book Cover Design is not just about knowing how to design a nice looking cover it needs to say it all in one quick, really quick look. The title and image needs to be seen as of one mind. The message needs to be compelling. Your reader needs to feel motivated and moved to buy your book because of these qualities. A Book Cover Designer knows the magic, the balance and the right combination of elements that make a cover sell. And each Book Designer has their own special feel and form they apply to the books they design. The same can be said about designing the interior of the book. It’s not only a mathematical equation of font /size/ space/ margins/ format … it’s a love for and of the read. The ability to create a dynamic book cover design, title dynamic and interior typesetting is not only about book design experience but a combination of book design, marketing, advertising, branding experiences and the ability to be in relatedness to what works to capture your target audience’s attention and action to buy.
You made me cry; you made me laugh, we told each other secrets, and shared good memories together. All those years together I never knew your side of the story but in the end I found out what was troubling you. If I could turn back time I would of wanted to be there for you, I would have made you talk to me. But you kept things to yourself and you shut me and all your other friends away from you. I never knew there were two sides of you one was quiet, shut away, cold the other was more humorous, funny and kind. You had a great heart and good sense of humour you were always there for me not just as a best friend but more like a sister and mother. I use to open up to you and tell you all my secrets and problems and you use to help me and listen to me. But you never told me your side of the story, I found out in the end. It was too late when I lost you, it was devastating to hear the news of you were gone. I thought I was having a nightmare; it could not be true to believe. But it was the truth you were gone, now you are a spirit that glows everyday watching all of us from above somewhere peaceful laughing at us. But you are happy and you know that I will be there for all your loved ones that you left behind your family and friends. I will never forget all those memories and good times we shared together. You won’t be forgotten, only you will be in my heart and a part of you will make me smile because all I think of are the good memories you left me with and they are all that I have to look back at.
When I first met you, you were shut away and quiet, you did not open up but when I knew what type of personality and character you had, looks and fashion did not matter to me about you. I saw you like a book that needed to be looked at closer. It was like I was reading a chapter every day getting to know you. Others use to judge me for being friends with you but I told them that looks did not matter and that it was the personality that mattered. You were very soft hearted; you had a good sense of kindness in you. Although you made jokes and made fun of others, or swore or spoke out loud getting yourself in trouble at school you were a good friend. Everyone knows the good side of you, only because you never showed your bad side which you never had. I wish you were here with all of us, I wish that I could have been there for you when time was tough on you. I miss your laughter, your jokes, everything about you. Now I hold on to the memories tightly as if I saw you just yesterday and we were enjoying ourselves.
I love you, you won’t be forgotten J