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Difficult conversations are never fun—whether you need to resolve a tricky work conflict, end a relationship, or ask for help, you can probably think of at least one conversation that you’re putting off right now. Yet, some things just need to be said, and while you might not jump for joy at the thought of saying them, there are some things you can do to make the situation easier on everyone involved. How to Have Difficult Conversations Use these 8 tips to make difficult conversations a little easier on everyone involved. What to Do Before… Before you meet or pick up the phone, you’ll want to be sure to do the following: 1. Make a plan. You don’t need to write an entire script detailing every word you’re going to say—but you should brainstorm an outline of the main points you want to bring up, and any key phrases that you feel are essential. Make sure you have thought out your goals for the conversation. What is the desired outcome for you? How can you best structure the conve

So you’ve decided to write a book. Whether it’s your first or fifteenth, the endeavor can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s where a solid outline can really come in handy and help keep your writing clear and structured. Fortunately, there are lots of helpful outlining software to choose from these days. Plottr is one of those tools, and in this post, we will be looking at it in detail to see if it will be a good fit for you.  What Is Plottr?  Plottr is an outlining software that is compatible with both Mac and Windows. It’s a very versatile tool that gives users options for outlining their novels, such as plot development outlines they can use to write the first draft.  Features and Benefits of Plottr Here are the main features and benefits of Plottr:  1. User-friendly dashboard Plottr’s software opens to a very straightforward, intuitive dashboard. It’s very easy to navigate with its large icons and buttons that are very self-explanatory.  2. Pre-loaded templates Plottr

Writing is a true art form, but it’s not just for the page—behind each of your favorite movies is an outstanding screenplay, penned by talented writers who know which words will translate to magical moments on the big (or small) screen. Whether you’re new to the game or looking for more opportunities, entering a contest is a great way to hone your skills, test your talent, and get exposure for your work. That’s why we’ve put together a list of screenwriting contests you can enter today. 2021 Screenwriting Contests Below is a list of screenwriting contests you can enter in 2021 for a chance to win cash prizes, meetings with film industry leaders, and more. Contest Name Contest Guidelines Entry Fee First Prize Deadline Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab sundance.org/programs/feature-film#/ $40 one-on-one story sessions with creative advisors; chance to screen at Sundance FF March 10, 2021 Scriptation Showcase showcase.scriptation.com/ $39–$59 $1,000 March 14, 2021

Reading historical fiction is a great way to learn about history. Instead of memorizing boring facts like dates and names, you can be transported into another time period, and even get to know people who lived during that time. Ken Follett is one of today’s greatest writers of historical fiction, with more than 30 novels to his name. His books cover some of the most critical turning points in world history.  In addition to publishing books under his real name, Follett has also used pen names, including Zachary Stone, Storm Island, Martin Martinsen, and Bernard L. Ross.  The Best Ken Follett   Books Below are 11 oF Ken Follett’s best books. For books in a series, we have linked to the first book. 1. The Kingsbridge Series The Pillars of the Earth is the first book in the Kingsbridge Series. It is set in the Middle Ages and follows the lives of a community near a prominent cathedral in a fictional town in England. Ken Follett includes important elements like the martyrdom o

You’re in the middle of writing a scene and your characters are talking to each other. It’s really a classic he said, she said–situation. And things are actually getting pretty heated—but wait! Let’s politely interrupt that conversation to learn how you should correctly format and punctuate that tense dialogue. This post will take you through all the rules of formatting dialogue, complete with several examples to show you what it looks like when done correctly. Before we begin, you should know that there is more than one style for formatting dialogue, and which one you decide to use is up to you. However, most US publishing companies follow The Chicago Manual of Style , and so most books printed in English do as well. That is the style we will be following in this post. General Rules for Formatting Dialogue Below are some general rules for formatting and punctuating dialogue. Double vs. Single Quotation Marks When a character is speaking, enclose their speech in double quotatio

Your favorite childhood movie. A whiff of the perfume your mom used to wear. That song. Nostalgia can strike at any moment, taking you back to days gone by, and filling your heart with a wistful longing. But what exactly is nostalgia? And is that bittersweet twinge in your chest actually good for us, or is indulging in nostalgic reminiscence just another of those strange ways we humans like to torment ourselves emotionally? It turns out, nostalgia is an emotion unlike any other, and though sometimes painful, the occasional walk down memory lane can actually be quite beneficial. Is Nostalgia an Emotion? According to Merriam-Webster, nostalgia is “a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.” It comes from the Greek words nóstos , which means “homecoming,” and álgos , which means “ache” or “pain.” If you’ve ever felt nostalgia, you know that it can feel a bit like its own emotion. It’s a very distinct, bittersweet

The pain of rejection can make you feel like throwing in the towel and giving up, whether your search for love, a new job, or just some quality time with a certain person. So how do some people seem to “take it all in stride” so easily? Do they have some kind of superpower the rest of us mere mortals lack? It’s not easy, and you may not feel like it’s possible now, but with a little practice you can learn to view rejection as a learning experience that will help you grow and find even better opportunities. Why Rejection Hurts If you’ve ever felt the “sting” of rejection, you should know that the pain you feel is actually real. A University of Michigan study used scans to show that rejection activates the same parts of your brain that physical pain does. This means that the pain we feel as a result of rejection most likely has an evolutionary advantage. Back when we lived in tribes, rejection was a threat to our survival, since it usually meant being cast out of the group, and ch

Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end, managing criticism isn’t always easy. For the critic, the conversation can feel awkward and even intimidating; for the person being criticized, it’s easy to take those words as a personal attack and get discouraged from trying again. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! By learning to give effective, constructive criticism that can actually help make things better, both parties can feel better about the conversation and start working toward a more desirable outcome. What Are the Benefits of Constructive Criticism? Constructive criticism usually focuses on suggestions for how something could have been done better, or how a goal could have been reached via a more efficient route. In other words, it’s not just criticism for the sake of criticism; it actually seeks to improve a process or product. As such, constructive criticism usually comes with proposed solutions that the receiver can implement to see improvement, whi

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was a year of canceled trips, closed borders, and isolation. While it’s too early to say what 2021 will bring, there is at least one safe way you can still satisfy your wanderlust: by reading the best travel books! (Take that , stay at home orders!) Best Travel Books Below are 12 of the best travel books that will take you around the world and make you fall in love with the art of traveling again. 1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed After the death of her mother and the dissolution of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed felt she had nothing to lose. At 26, and with no training or experience, she set out to hike over a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail through California and Oregon to Washington State, alone. With suspense, warmth, and humor, Wild is Cheryl’s story of the journey that maddened, but ultimately healed her. 2. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton Alain de Botton won’t tell you where to go, but he will tell you how and w