The Damsel’s Files

4 Reasons Why Happiness is Crucial in Living

There are various definitions of happiness and these meanings varies depending on what they mean to people. For some it can be a state of well-being or contentment while for others it can be a pleasant emotion. There are also many synonyms for this word — such as joy, delight, pleasure, bliss, enjoyment, and more. The mentioned words are commonly abstract nouns and are in the form of emotions. When it comes to the usage of the term “happiness”, on the other hand, it refers to the emotional condition where a person experiences a sense of delight or a total appreciation of contentment in life.

Easy as it seems, achieving this type of life satisfaction is difficult. There are a lot of things that hinders a person’s quest into living a joyful life, like worries and fears. That is why some opt to look for activities that will help them relieve their stress and unload their burdens. These activities may include watching their favorite movie, listening to music, working out daily, meeting with friends, camping to the woods, and reading books. For the last mentioned act, it is one of the most convenient for there are many books in the literary realm that promotes happiness. A concrete example of a self-help book about happiness is The Pursuit of the Personal Renaissance Experience, it is a novel that teaches people on how to achieve happiness in life by Peter Justus.

Happiness, no matter how complex the term, is still a necessity. It is because it create a great impact to people’s health and way of living. To get a clearer view as to why it is important for people to be happy and contented in their lives, listed below are the reasons why:

It improves people’s well-being

Almost everybody has experienced being stressed, frustrated, and sad. These emotions or statuses are result of the lemons that life throws to everyone. Some are not bothered by the obstacles in their lives while others are getting drowned by these challenges for every person have different emotional capacities and stress tolerance. These struggles can create a huge impact into one’s life if these aspects will not be given immediate or long-term solutions. That is when the importance of happiness will become a necessity for it is the only thing that would replace these frustration into contentment, making everything balanced and normal. When a person is happy, his or her body will produce more happy hormones resulting to restoring his or her physical health. However, an individual’s physical health is not only the factor that is being fixed or enhanced but also his or her overall well-being.

It makes people more productive

Many da-to-day activities are can be compromised if a person do not have an ounce of happiness in his or her system. It is because when people are sad, they tend to become sluggish and all over the place for they cannot function perfectly because of the thoughts that are bothering their minds. This situation can also be applied for those who are experiencing too much stress for they do not have enough energy to deal with other tasks because they are busy minding their businesses. But when people are happy, they become are more energized and enthusiastic. As a result, they will do things that they did not have the chance to do before. They will find more time for relaxation and leisure. Also, those chores that requires more physical effort — like cleaning, gardening, and washing the laundry, will become lighter and can be done in no time. Thus, making each day of their lives more productive.

It creates better relationships

Building relationships is one of the important things in life but this can be a little too tiring for people who are drained and weary. Since not everybody wakes up with smiles on their faces, mingling or socializing can be something unworthy to be on people’s priority lists. This is because people may feel that there are more significant things that they should do than meeting others. But when everything begins to fall into place because of happiness, creating connections and new bonds will become a priority. It is because when people are happy, they will have something beautiful to look forward every day and they will crave for something new. That is why meeting with friends, reconnecting with a distant relative, getting to know others, and hanging out with colleagues can be an exciting and addicting activity to do.

It leads everyone to appreciate every little things

Waking up every day, receiving a hug, being complimented, eating three meals a day, drinking the morning coffee, and walking the dogs — these are some of the little things in life. These aspects can be frequently overlooked due to problems and frustrations. As a people continue their journey to achieving a life of satisfaction, they will slowly realize that they do not need grander things in order to be thankful. Every little things that come their way are good indication that they are living a good life with happiness and contentment as the foundation of it. That is why being happy is truly a vital factor of living.

The Advantages of Reading Fables to Children

Fable is a genre in literature which pertains to the brief and fictional tales that showcases legendary beings, animals, plants, lifeless objects and natural forces. This kind of story can be written in a form of prose or verse and is usually carrying a moral. Fables are always present in every literature of each countries in the world. Thus, making it one of the most patronized type of folk literature.

Aesop is one of the most renowned fabulist from the 550 BCE until today. His works that were collected are amongst the widely-read tales until this era, which is called Aesop’s Fables. As literature progresses, various tales that features animals, inanimate objects, and other beings have been popping out; therefore, a lot of fabulist also worked their way to the top. Examples of these prominent writers from different periods of literature are Jean de La Fontaine and his fable collection called Fables Choisies, Mises En Vers, Hans Christian Andersen and his famous tale The Ugly Duckling, Janet Councilman with her book called Sammie the Shark and the Return of the Lost Gift, and Ray Sobrino Jr. with Charlie the Click Bug.

These stories are convenient to be told to children for the characters, plot, and theme are all reader-friendly and do not require too much time to read. The lessons that are being hidden in the texts can bring a lot of advantage in nurturing a child. So, if you want your child to learn and be entertained during this trying times, you might want to look for fables in your library or online! Also, here are the advantages that you will acquire when you read this kind of tale to your children:

They shape up their minds

The lessons that fables showcase help build up the minds of children. Given their young age, these kinds of tales will absolutely attract their attention and implant morals that they will constantly value over time. Fables will also help you teach these kids from right or wrong, as well as the hazards that may come to their lives when they grow up. For example, you want kids to understand the importance of being nice to everybody regardless of their differences, you read them a book that promotes this trait — like Ralphie the Roach, a book by Ray Sobrino Jr. The said value, and other lessons that you taught them, will be implanted to their hearts and minds as they continue their journey through life.

They teach them lesson to be applied in real life

Generosity, respect, love, patriotism, kindness, loyalty, faith, and patience — these are some of the morals that are being conveyed in fables. These lessons are simple to comprehend but can be difficult to apply in reality. It is because everyone has different principles that they live by. However, in the cases of children, they are still innocent and vulnerable. That is why reading them tales of animals, forces of nature, or inanimate objects that promotes goodness will help them see the value of every lessons taught to them. They will start to see the beauty of this world if these morals are being executed instead of the other side of life, which is full of terror and chaos. Hence, making them live their life wiser and happier.

They help in building their attitudes

Attitude is not hereditary, which means that your child will not inherit your attitude for it cannot be genetically transferred. The most convenient way of helping your kid conquer the life ahead of him or her is to provide them with guidance. That said, you can help them by getting them close to literature. As early as now, start reading them stories with morals so that they can develop a likeable attitude. Supplying their minds with fables can be a good option for these stories promote values like love, kindness, and empathy. These tales will slowly mold your child’s attitude towards facing life and the lemons that it gives. Your child will also develop a good trait on how to deal with other people and the animals surrounding him or her.

They nurture their imaginations

Every type of literature fuels one’s imagination; thus, fable is definitely a good genre to spark up the imaginations of children. The amazing worlds, touching stories, and wonderful characters are some of the reasons why kids crave to read for more of these tales. Also, the embedded illustrations absolutely a good means of keeping kids hooked in these tales that promotes life lessons. Upon opening the book and reading the story to your child, they will begin to imagine the beautiful world where the story is set and even make themselves a character in the tale. They will begin to feel that they are the ones running with a hare, talking to a monkey, hiding in a flock of sheep, and mingling with a bunch of swans. Their imagination will fill their days with so much happiness and love that they would crave for more stories for you to tell them.

The Importance of Having a Deeper Relationship with God

There are things in one’s life that are difficult to comprehend. Some may take some time to understand these uneasy situations while others never had the chance to untangle these complexities. There are also other aspects in an individual’s life that will strip away his or her peace and make everything go downhill. These factors can include temptations, unfortunate situations, mistakes, pressure, and bad influences. However, regardless of how big and many your wrongs are or the puzzles in your life, the most important thing is that you do not lose faith in Him.

No matter how life gets and how much you like to give up on yourself, always remember that your faith in God will save you from all your distress and anxieties. Thus, your relationship with the Father Almighty is absolutely a gem you should not lose. There are many ways in which you can repay God for all the things that he did to you, such as by nurturing a stronger bond with Him or submitting everything to Him. For the former, there are several guides that you can look for in both the digital and print platform — one of the best examples is the how to develop a deeper relationship with God by Albritton, Marianna, a Christian book author.

Thus, if you want to know the significance of being closer to God, then you are in the right page! Listed below are the key aspects on why it is important to have a deep bond with the Almighty Father:

It helps you turn into a better person

Being in good and deep bond with the Almighty Father brings a lot of benefits and advantages to you as a person. All the sins and mistakes that you have committed will gradually be forgiven for you slowly submitting yourself to Him. All that you have done and will do will be by God’s grace and will be according to His ways. The decisions that you will be making in the future will also be in accordance to Him. Thus, in every action that you will execute, God will always be with you, which brings out the best version of yourself for you are not acting alone anymore.

It draws you away from temptations

The world is full of temptations and every person already has experienced being tempted and lured by these evils. Regardless of one’s status in the society, there are no exemptions when it comes to committing mistakes. The said temptations can include money, power, intimacy, affair, and more. However, when God starting to become the center of your life, all these work of evils will begin to disappear. You will be guided to the right path and He will be with you every step of the way. As a result, you will conquer every evil and challenges in your way no matter how big of a struggle they are.

It makes you trust His ways more

The guidance and light that God bring to your life will definitely make you become more faithful and trustful to Him. You already have experienced and witness how great and merciful He is. The doubts and worries in your hearts will soon vanish because your mind will already be in peace upon knowing that He is with you in both easy and difficult times. The deeper your relationship with God is, the stronger your faith in Him will become. Therefore, there will no longer be uncertainties and burdens in your heart for you already know that whatever move you make, you are following His ways.

It casts out your fears

People have different fears and worries. They are some of the factors that make your life a little too bumpy. The more fear you have, the lesser confidence you will get; so, the tendency is either you conquer your anxieties or they will conquer you. This is where your bond with God will be tested because your burning desire to live worriless will become stronger while the monsters that live in your mind will also get bigger. However, as long as you have faith in Him and trust His methods, no monsters can come into your mind. All these anxieties will be exchanged with peace for God will cast them away and protect your body and soul from these fears.

It gives you a sense of purpose

Purpose has different meaning to each person. Some have already found their purpose while other are still searching for it. Living in the world where everything can fall apart anytime soon, you will definitely wonder what the point of being alive is. Sometimes the thought and need of having a reason to live can consume your mind; however, these doubts will be removed with the help of the Lord’s power. The more you develop a good relationship with Him, the clearer your sense of purpose will come into view. You will start to live peacefully and happily for you already know your goals in life and the reason why He is keeping you healthy, alive, and strong.

Five Perks of Reading Books about Self-development and Healing

Literature is a broad and diverse platform. It do not only offer books of fiction but also non-fiction works. There are many bibliophiles and literary enthusiasts that are experiencing personal struggles who came to literature in order to find answers and healing. Thus, this avenue turned out to be a safe haven for some and a temporary escape for others. Literature offers a handful of genres that readers may delve into, such as thriller, romance, young adult, true-crime, science fiction, memoir, poetry, and self-help.

The literary realm is not always about sparking up the imagination but also about self-improvement. That is why self-help books are present for their primary purpose is to help people. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, How to Win Friends & Influence People by Sale Carnegie, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale, and Healing and Transformation: Moving from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary book by Eric Alsterberg, Ph.D. — these are some great examples of self-improvement book that everybody should check out.

The world of literature is, indeed, a good place for spiritual healing and self-development. So, for those who wants to heal, find peace, and improve themselves, here are the five advantages that may convince you that self-help books can help you look for answers:

They promote self-development

The primary aim of self-help books is promoting self-development and healing. Some of these books are based from the author’s personal experiences, people’s testimonies, and thorough studies. They are not the same as fiction books that are result of the author’s imagination for they are more serious and they need proper research. Thus, these works can become your confidant, listener, and comforter. The words of wisdom and comfort that these books contain is equivalent to the advices that are given by someone close to you.

They help you live a better and happier life

Who would not want to have a better life? No one. There are many way on how to achieve a happier life depending on someone’s definition of “happier.” These measures can include but are not limited to doing well at work, earning money, buying wants and needs, starting up a business, having kids, and being carefree. In reality, those methods are not easy to execute for there are a lot of challenges and temptations along the way. However, with the help of self-help books, you can broadly and thoroughly think about the kind of “happier life” that you want and not just what you see from others. You will have a sense of purpose and you will develop your own goals in order to achieve your desires and, with that, you will start to find the path for the life that you think you deserve.

They make you understand yourself better

Self-improvement starts from self-understanding. There is no better way to achieve the growth that you have long been waiting for than knowing who you are and what are your goals in life. Self-development books are good agents of growth and learning for they contain experiences and lessons from authors that also had the same problems as you do. However, every person have different characteristics, aspirations, and dreams in life. Some are contented on what they have while others are still seeking for a greater perhaps. However, life is not a competition. That is why if your self-discovery and understanding phase is still a work in-progress, worry not! All you need to do is to continue what you are doing and comprehend every little thing that you have discovered about yourself.

They enhance your skills

Self-help books help you enhance your skills in decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. There is just so much growth that these books bring to every person that wants development, as well as healing. There may have been situations in your past that has made your life a little too difficult to handle or there may have been decision that were made poorly due to impulsiveness. However, there are still time to change these mistakes committed and decisions made. Wounds will heal eventually heal and your ability to think rationally and solve problems will gradually enhance with the help of the wisdom that self-help books bring.

They remove your worries

Sometimes people are too focus on their worries and problems that they forget to look on the brighter side of life. There are a lot of circumstances that makes everybody crumble in fear or go crazy for they can no longer get in charge of the situation. This is where self-development books come into view and slowly erase these negativities in the minds of anxious and worried people like you. Healing and answers will clear the foggy visions of reality and soon, when the time is right, growth and optimism will sprout from your end.

Three Finest Fairy Tale Books to Keep Your Child Entertained During Quarantine

In literature, fairy tale is amongst the many literary devices that showcases stories for children that are usually filled with magic and contains supernatural characters. The said characters include but are not limited to dwarves, leprechauns, mermaids, animals with human characteristics, goblins, witches, and other extraordinary creatures. There is still no apparent line existed that divides the attributes of folklores, myths, and fairy tales. However, fairy tales can be identified from the rest of the folk stories, like legends and definite tales with morals.

The term “fairy tale” is basically utilized for tales that originated from the Western tradition and have usually fall under children’s literature. Also, it originated from the translated work of Madame D’Aulnoy, which is the Conte de fees, for it was first utilized in her anthology in the year 1697. Moreover, these stories are highly patronized by children for they have been tied to these tales during their growing up stage. Parents, guardians, and nannies read these fairy tale books to kids during their bedtime, study time, or even past-time; thus, these tales serve as the primary agents for shaping up the minds of these young learners.

Since quarantine has not yet been lifted up to this day, here are some wonderfully written fairy tales that you can read to your child or sibling during this period:

The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Anderson

The Steadfast Tin Soldier is a fairy tale written by one of the great masters in his time, Hans Christian Andersen. It was first published, using the Danish language, by C.A Reitzel on October 2, 1838 in the Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Ny Samling. Første Hefte. 1838 — also known in English as Fairy Tales Told for Children. New Collection. First Booklet. 1838. The tale centers on the affection of the tin soldier towards the paper ballerina.

The tin soldier was among the 25 toy soldiers received by a child during his birthday. The love that the soldier felt for the ballerina sprouted when she saw her standing in one leg just like he does. It was not an easy love for he has a rival, which is the goblin in a jack-in-the-box that warned him to stop looking at the beautiful dancer. The soldier neglected the caution of his rival and ended up falling from the windowsill and landing on the street. He was found by two boys, who put him into a voyage using a paper boat. After that, he also had his little stop overs in a drain where he met a rat and in a canal where he was eaten by a fish. The fish was caught and brought to the same home which the soldier was gifted to. He found himself in a tabletop before the love of his life; however, he was tossed to the fire by his owner. The wind blows the ballerina into the fire and they were eaten by it together.

The Patchwork Princess by Connie Arnold

The Patchwork Princess is authored by Connie Arnold. It was published by iUniverse last March 18, 2019. It is the first book of the Adventures of Ra-me the Traveling Troubadour series written by Arnold, which was followed by the Blaze the Dragon and Mudcat the Pirate. This book is also the recipient of the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the Children’s Fairytale Category for Winter 2019.

The tale begins when the ruler of the kingdom distributed an invitation for the courageous knights in his kingdom to try to rescue his lovely daughter from the ten-story tower of Terrance The Terrible. There are two antagonists that must be defeated and killed — which is the black knight and the dragon. The million-dollar question is: “Who will be courageous enough to bring victory to the kingdom?” The winner was pledged with generous prize, which are the one-third part of the kingdom, three bags of gold, three brand-new armor suits, three white stallions, a sword that has a ruby-studded handle, and the hand of the princess. A singer — also known as a troubadour, turned out to be the story’s hero. He is delighted to receive all the prizes except for one, which is to marry the princess. That said, he composed new songs, cleaned his instruments, and exposed himself to the king in order to ask his blessing to start the journey.

Snow White by the Brothers Grimm

Snow White is a German fairy tale written in the 19^th century by the Brothers Grimm. The story has become popular all around the world because of its film adaptation called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs produced by Walt Disney in 1937. It was published by the authors in the first edition of their Grimm’s Fairy Tales anthology in the year 1812. The tale was originally titled Sneewittchen and was categorized as Tale number 53.

The story started when the queen is sewing in her windowsill when she pricked her finger. Her blood fell into the snow; thus, she wished to have a daughter with a hair as black as ebony, skin as white as snow, and lips as red as blood. The queen had a child, which she named Snow White, but she unfortunately died after delivering the baby. The king remarried. The new queen was very beautiful but also really vain. In fact, she has a magic mirror which she constantly asked who is the fairest of them all. One day the mirror answered that her step daughter, Snow White, is the most beautiful in the kingdom. The evil queen ordered to kill her but Snow White was spared by the huntsman and ordered to escape. Snow White ran through the forest and was fostered by seven dwarves. However, the queen — disguised as an old woman, found her and offered her a poisoned apple. It poisoned Snow White but she was awaken by the kiss of a Prince. The queen discovered that Snow White is still alive when the mirror told her that the fairest is the bride of the Prince, which is her step daughter. The Prince defended his bride by ordering the queen to wear a pair of absolutely hot iron slippers and dance until she drop dead.

Making Days Productive: Three Best Sci-fi Novels to Check Out this Quarantine Period

Unfortunately, the quarantine period fell under one of the most wonderful times of the year — which is spring season. The current health crisis made it hard for everyone, especially those who need to hustle and bustle to bring food to the table. Amidst the growing curve due to COVID-19, the government are doing its best to flatten the curve by making the populace to stay at their respective houses in order to contain the virus and prevent further transmission. Instead of having to enjoy the amazing moment of the blossoming of flowers, growing of trees, melting of ice, and warming of the temperature, almost everyone are stuck in their homes in order to be safe from the novel coronavirus.

If you are an outdoor kind of person, you bring your external activities in your homes by using your resourcefulness and creativity. For introverts, on the other hand, you can continue doing your usual thing. There are also many alternative ways to make your days productive and normal, and by “normal” that means that nothing in your routine are being changed. The said alternatives include but are not limited to bonding with your family, cooking your favorite dish, cleaning your room, dressing up, taking selfies, watching movies, and playing board or video games.

In this time where the movie theaters and book stores have closed their doors for the safety of their customers, listed below are some science fiction book recommendations that you should definitely check out! Do not worry if your favorite book shop is closed because there are other ways to possess them, like ordering them online maybe. So, without further ado, you may check the finest sci-fi novels listed below that you should definitely add to your to-be-read list!

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian is one of the greatest sci-fi book that was written by Andy Weir in 2011. This book was self-published in the same year that it debuted, 2011, and the rights was bought by Crown in February of 2014. Aside from print, it was also converted into other types of media — such as audio book and electronic book. The books centers on the protagonist, Mark Watney. He is an American astronaut who was stuck on the planet Mars, in 2035, alone. Watney must strive to survive; thus, he have to look for ways to continue living in an unfamiliar planet. Because of this well-written novel, author Andy Weir was awarded with the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer while the book’s Japanese translation was the recipient of the Seiun Award for Best Translated Long Story in the year 2015. The book was also adapted into film, where the movie was launched last October 2, 2015.

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

Exhalation is an anthology of short stories authored by Ted Chiang. It was first published on the 7^th of May last year by Alfred A. Knopf. It was released in both print and electronic books. This anthology is composed of nine tales that tackle problems and concerns regarding the place of people in the universe, the characteristics of humanity, cyberspace, discretion, biological sciences, inevitability, time travel, and the exploitation of robotic figures of A.I. Seven of the nine stories were partially released between the year 2005 and 2015. Exhalation has been recognized by the New York Times Book Review as one of the top 10 novels of 2019 and made it to the 2019 Summer Reading List of President Barack Obama. It was also reviewed by notable book critics, such as Constance Grady of Vox, Adam Morgan of The A.V. Club, Joy Carol Oates of The New Yorker, and more.

The Brotherhood of the Wone by Len Stage

The Brotherhood of the Wone is a one of a kind science fiction novel authored by Len Stage. It was originally published on the 5^th of June of the year 2019 by Newman Springs Publishing, Inc. The books is a captivating story of an archaeological unfolding that releases unforeseen powers to the world. The power follows a village handyman named Lon. The handyman’s brand-new familiars as this apparently elusive findings alters their lives forever. Lon was contacted by the daughter of a small-town museum owner named Jean Conway to offer him a job as a utility man on a journey that she is about to take to Belize. Jean discovered a peculiar portion of a Mayan priest’s garment from Belize, which she cannot see the logic of. Moreover, Jean is unaware of what she is about to uncover — which is one of the strongest power in all of the universe, a source that had been idle for hundreds of years. Time will come when Jean will become terrified for the life of every person in the planet and regret her engagement to this discovery.

Six Amazing Types of Readers: Know What Kind of Reader Are You!

Reading, in the broadest sense, is the ability to interpret and comprehend every written text and symbol. It is a complicated mental and learning process of deciphering various signs and symbols to extract the correct meaning. Also, it is an important part of nonverbal or written communication. Reading is one of the fundamental skills a person possesses for it leads to better comprehension and communication. It can be used everyday life as a form of entertainment or recreation.

There is a wide array of book lover all around the world. These bibliophiles have diverse reading techniques, as well as reading pace. When it comes to reading, there is no such thing as boring or dreary, only excitement and enjoyment. Literary enthusiasts consider books as one of the greatest reasons to look forward every day. The smell of books, inspiring stories, amazing characters, and well-crafted plot are some of the factors that make reading the all-time best leisure activity for book lovers. So, do you want to know what type of reader are you? Then, read the text below!

The Fiction Fanatics

The fiction fanatics are the readers that are die-hard fans of the fiction genre. They are those who patronizes the products of imagination and creativity. These type of book lovers are mostly into magical worlds, mythological beings, extraterrestrial creatures, teenage love, adult romance, thriller crimes, and other things that do not exist in the real world. They most likely jump from one author to another as long as the story falls under the genre that they love the most — which is fiction.

The Series Die-hards

The series die-hards are the kind of readers that have fallen into the wonderful pit of series. They are most interested in reading books that circulates into one goals but different storylines. These bibliophiles can be considered as binge readers for they desire to quench their thirsts for the next events that will happen and the ways on how the protagonist will achieve his or her goals. The only agony that these die-hard fans faces is the waiting game, which means they have to wait for how many months or years that the next book of the series will be released.

The Author Obsessed

Are you one of these author obsessed readers? Does your eyes sparkles upon seeing the newly published books of a particular author? Does your heartbeat race when you hear about an certain author’s book signing events? If the answer to these questions are all “yes,” then it is confirmed that you are in awe for the specific author and his or her books. There may be something in the writing style, choice of words, themes, story line, or personal belief of the author that has moved you as a reader.

The “Slowly but Surely”

These kind of readers have the same mantra, which is the “slowly but surely.” They are not those who can finish a novel in one go, they are more of a slow poke and have a sluggish pace. The desire to read is found within them but the goal to finish is not on their top priority. More important things may be in their plate that is why reading is not being given enough time and effort or they want to savor the books so they are reading it slowly. They may read five pages every three days or a hundred words per day, as long as they finish the books no matter what time or day it is.

The Lightning Flash

Can you finish a book in one sitting? Is your thirst for reaching the end of the story is so strong that you cannot put the book down for some time? Are you innately a fast reader? If you can and you are, then you must be one of the lightning flash! These type of readers are into both series and non-series books. They are not in a rush; it is just that they can naturally read a book a day or two. They do not have a long to-be-read list for they are most likely in line with their reading schedules!

The Visuals

The visuals are the kind of readers that are into books with embedded photographs and illustrations. These books are called picture-books. Common examples of picture books are the books or reflections of Gabriella Eva Nagy, books of Dr. Seuss, and other children’s books. However, there are also books for young adults and even for all ages that contains illustrations or photographs, such as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney or Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Readers of this kind enjoy reading because of the illustrations included by the authors. The pictures can help the imaginations of the readers to generate and work well.

A Writer’s Guide: How to Enhance Your Typing Skill

Typing is an essential skill for writers. In this digital age, both established and aspiring authors need to be tech-savvy to keep up with the competition. This skill can somehow make or break a writer’s career, because most publishers opt for manuscripts that are encoded through the computer than those that are being written traditionally. Thus, the competition does not only focuses on the amount of writers present in the industry but also on the abilities these writers possess.

There are numerous books that centers on typing. These books target not just writers, but also the general public, who want to enhance their typing abilities for both personal and career growth. Fundamental Key boarding Skills: From The Typewriter to The Computer by Denise Chambers, Mastering Computer Typing, Revised Edition by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts, and How to Type Fast: Save Time, Boost Productivity, and Double Your Typing Speed by Brandon Nankivell are some great example of books that can help honing one’s typing ability.

Find a Comfortable Position

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Every task becomes lighter if a person is on his or her comfortable position. Your main objective is to improve your ability in typing, so begin the process by looking for a position that will bring you comfort for the time being. Although there is a proper typing posture, which is sitting straight and maintain a 45-70 centimeter distance from the computer screen to your eyes, if you do not comfort in that post then you might get weary in an instant. Thus, you can sit cross-legged, on the floor, properly on a chair, and any other sitting position that you are most comfortable. Also, make sure that your arms are well rested so you will not feel uneasy throughout the process. As long as you can ensure yourself that you can last long in that position and your computer is placed fine, then you are good to go.

Familiarize the Keyboard Layout

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The most common keyboard that is widely used in the United States today is the QWERTY keyboard which was originally designed and produced by Christopher Latham Sholes in the beginning of 1980. There are various keyboard schemes available online that are color coded with legends for faster familiarization. You can simply study the layout of your computer’s keyboard so that you can familiarize and type without taking more of your time locating each letter in the keyboard each time you encode something. The biggest advantage of this is that you can type without frequently looking at the keyboard to locate for the letters. Hence, enhancing both your skill as well as your pace.

Keep Your Fingers in Motion

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Let your fingers to their thing by keeping them in motion. Trust your fingers to do the work by giving them the power to do the typing. Position your fingers closer to the keyboard so that you will not have a hard time adjusting your hold of the board, as well as pressing the specific keys. Afterward, begin typing and allow your fingers to be in single motion. Your fingers will be less stressed and worn out since all keys are on their scope. All you have to take note are the text that you are encoding, as well as the spelling, typography, and punctuation.

Stop Being Conscious of Your Pace

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If you type fast, then you type fast. However, if you type the other way around, do not worry because everyone has their own pacing. Not everybody is the same. The only thing that matters is that you are allowing yourself to enhance an ability that is essential for your growth. If you are about to encode a large number of data, then ready yourself and allocate a good amount of time for it. You can avoid mistakes and errors in your document if you are take your time typing. Your main goal is to harness your skill, so do not rush because speed will be developed through enough time and practice.

Do Not Be So Hard on Yourself

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Do not put pressure to yourself and do not compare your skill to others. It is the only thing you can do to avoid getting frustrated and tired. Typing require not just time and pacing but also effort and attention. If your feel that the number of mistakes that you have committed through the process is getting in your skin, then take some time off to relax and soothe your mind. You may also eat something to relieve your tiredness, watch a couple of movies to find motivation, or do an activity that you are fond of to be refreshed. Afterward, you can go continue the process of enhancing your skill.

Improving a skill is not something that can be done with a blink of an eye. It needs time, perseverance, effort, and willingness. Because of the growing competition in the industry, it is a must for both start-up and established writers to develop not just their writing skills but also their typing abilities.

Five Perks of Reading Historical Fiction Novels

Historical fiction is a genre in literature that centers on mixing both fact and fiction ingredients and forming it into a delightful story. The use of this genre is not only limited t literature but also includes other kinds of narratives, such as film, theater, TV, graphic novels, and others. There are a bunch of subgenres that emerged and are being used up to this day, examples are the documentary fiction, historical romance, fictional biographies, children’s historical fiction, and more.

There are various novels of historical fiction that were produced that are being read by readers of all ages up to this day, such as The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, The Three Muskateers by Alexandre Dumas, Shanghai Girls by Lisa Lee, etc. Reading these books have a lot of perks, if you are one of the lovers of this genre then you might want to know what are the advantages that these books offer. Listed below are the perks of diving into historical fiction stories:

Provide a glimpse on the different cultural practices in the past

The progress brought by time does not only apply to the physical aspects of a place but also to its culture and people. Most historical fiction books showcases various cultural practices that have been prominent on the story’s timeframe. In Khaled Hosseini’s notable novel, The Kite Runner, Buzkashi and Kite Fight, Marriage, Eid-e-Qorban, and other common customs of Afghanistan are being showcased in a detailed manner using a first-person point of view. Hoesseini’s work is one of the best example of injecting and giving value of a country’s history and culture through literature. Reading these type of books is the best method to collect knowledge on different traditions of every country. It is because some of these ancient customs have been banned, stopped, shifted, altered, or put to an end.

Let you travel back in time

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Reading is traveling. It is the fastest means of transportation without any resources needed, only time and effort. Historical novels offer the great trips and journey towards various raw destinations that have never been touched, destroyed, or developed by humans, time, and nature. These books can take you to the 19^th century United States, ancient China, mid-17^th century England, World War II, the Great Depression, and more. You can experience being a brave soldier, powerful elite, wise merchant, illiterate, slave, or middle class resident. You can be anyone at any time depending on what historical fiction book you pick and read.

Help you understand the roots of war and other conflicts

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Aside from history textbooks that you get from school and borrow from your local library, historical fiction books offer a comprehensible narration of the origin of wars, conflicts, events, and other remarkable activities in the history of the world. These works also focus on the before, during, and after happenings of these events. There are various books that tackle these activities, such as Esther and the Revolution by Ray Sobrino, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Book Theif by Markus Zusak, and more. It is important to know the roots of these events because they helped in shaping up the world, country, and society that we are currently living in. Knowing what your country has suffered and conquered brings pride and honor to you and your fellow countrymen. It is not just about the bombs, destruction, or bloodbath, it is more about wisdom, honor, and glory.

Ignite a roller coaster of emotions

How magnificent it to think that a single book can bring out thousands of emotions from a person? Historical fiction novels, for example, can arouse a bunch of feelings from the readers. These feelings include but are not limited to fear, pity, anger, sadness, etc. Reading fictional stories about war, slavery, and other events in the history also develop the sense of sympathy and empathy from readers. It is through books that readers can learn and assess what truly happened and how people lived during those good and unfortunate times. Remember how Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood has tackled justice, religion, social class, gender stereotyping, and other societal issues of the 18^th century Canada? The novel evoked thrill, suspense, and fear, especially after knowing that it is based on a true story.

Teach you about history in a new approach

Learning is unending. Reading historical fiction novels count as learning because those books are not a total product of the writers’ imagination. It is also based on facts in order to make the story compelling and successful. Thus, readers who are into this genre gathers more information about diverse happenings from the past in a more exciting way. It is different from the type of teaching method executed in a classroom, it is more free and unexpected. You do not expect to learn something about sexism, slavery, capitalism, abuse of power, or political dynasties in reading because what you are looking forward is the story. However, as you swam deeper into the plot, you can find these keys scattered somewhere that will unlock what the book truly is about. Thus, the reading these types of books also promotes learning.

6 Incredible Young Adult Fiction Books with Amazing Female Protagonists

Young Adult Fiction is another type of fiction in which the books that belong to this classification are intended for readers age 12-18 years old. There is a wide array of YA category, such as dystopian, fantasy, tragedy, romance, and a lot more. The beauty of YA fiction novels is the way it teaches its young readers about life, love, and other things in between. Although the books in this category are meant for teenagers, readers beyond the target age range still delve into these wonderful literary works because of their themes, characters, and stories in general.

Readers do not only seek for stories but also for wisdom so that they can feel assured, calm, and even understood. YA fiction books offer those things that readers long to find. Moreover, the other wonder of this category is that most of the books have strong female leads, which breaks the gender stereotype that is common in every aspect of the world even up to this day. If you are on the look-out of young adult books with phenomenal female main characters, then this article is perfect for you! Below are the YA books that proudly shows the greatness of their feminine protagonists.

Divergent

Divergent is the first book of the Divergent trilogy authored by Veronica Roth. It was published last April of 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books. The story centers on Beatrice Prior, also known as Tris, born on a dystopian world called Chicago and belonged to the Abnegation faction. Chicago is split into 5 divisions where each is devoted to the nurturing of a certain value, such as Abnegation the selfless, Dauntless the brave, Erudite the intelligent, Candor the honest, and Amity the peaceful. The most important rule in their post-apocalyptic world is summed up in the phrase “faction before blood.” Thus, they should put their division first before anything else and they should be part of only one faction.

After being tested, Tris discovered that she is Divergent meaning her attributes show the characteristics of other factions. In their world, divergence is highly considered as a kind of abomination and danger. When the annual Choosing Ceremony came, where sixteen-year-olds are given the chance to choose a faction to dedicate their lives until the end, the protagonist chose to be on Dauntless and strive to fit in and excel. From being mocked as a “Stiff,” Beatrice continue to battle to prove her worth, hide her divergence, and see what she is capable of.

City of Bones

City of Bones is the first book of the New York Times bestselling The Moral Instruments series of Cassandra Clare. This is a young adult fantasy fiction series set in New York City. It was published by Margaret K. McEldrerry in two different editions and dates. The US edition was published last March 27, 2007 while the UK edition was gotten out last July 02, 2007. The story revolves around Clarissa Fray, also known as Clary Fray, her identity discovery and her adventure as a shadowhunter — which is a Nephilim and have been scattered in the world to hunt demons.

Clarissa Fray discovered that she is not mundane when she entered the Pandemonium club with Simon Lewis, her best friend. She saw a boy with a blue hair and a girl that is black haired slip into the club’s store room chased by two guys where one holding a knife. She goes to the room where the boys creeped and saw that the blue haired boy being murdered and disappeared afterward. Her best friend entered the room with a club bouncer and saw nothing but Clary. That is when she realized that nobody can see the other creatures other than her. That is the turning point of the story where she began discovering her shadowhunter roots.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is also the first book of the The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. This award-winning book was first published by Scholastic Press last September of 2008. This dystopian story is set in post-apocalyptic country in North America called Panem and is narrated by the 16-year-old protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. The book is titled based on the yearly event in their fiction world called The Hunger Games in which a pair of boy and girl teenagers, with ages that range from 12 to 18 years old, from every district that encompasses the Capitol are chosen via lottery to contend in a broadcasted deadly pitched battle.

Katniss Everdeen is a teenager from District 12 who volunteered as a tribute to save her sister, who was chosen in the lottery, from participating in the game and, worse, being killed. She was paired by Peeta Mellark, the selected male tribute. Both did not have an experience in the battlefield. Katniss, however, has an advantage because she knows how to use a bow and arrow. All the tributes were presented to the public in the hopes of getting some sponsors, and the tributes from the 12^th District definitely achieved the highest score. When the game begun, almost half of the participants were already killed. The Hunger Games continue and Katniss consistently strived to survive and show her greatness.

The Selection

The Selection is the first book of the young adult The Selection series authored by Kiera Cass. It is published in April of 2012 by the HarperCollins. Aside from print, it was also converted into ebooks and audiobooks. Set in a dystopian world called Illéa, which is formed from the ashes of what was once believed to be US before it loses to China in the World War II, the fictional society of this story is divided into eight castes. The said castes are consisting of people of different societal status, ranging from the royalties to the homeless people. The story centers on America and the reality show the Selection. This competition revolves around 35 chosen young ladies who will be taken to the castle to fight for the heart of the prince.

America Singer, the protagonist, is a red-haired sixteen-year-old girl that was included in the 35 lucky young women for the Selection. However, America do not want to be part of the competition and even do not desire to marry the prince because she already have a secret lover, Aspen. What sets the main character and her special someone apart is their castes. Later on, they broke up and it became one of the reasons why America decided to join the Selection.