So You Want to Write Fantasy Read This First

So You Want to Write Fantasy Read This First A nostalgic return to Arabian Nights is all it takes to understand that fantasy is as old as storytelling itself. Indeed, most of our mythology across cultures is fantasy at its purest, and weve told fantastical stories since the beginning of human storytelling. All that to sayâ€"sorry, Tolkien, but its not all because of you.The face of modern fantasy is rather due to a collection of hobby gamers and pulp writers like J. C. Henneberger, a Chicago journalist who published Weird Tales in 1923. In fact, this article in the Boston Globe discusses the reasons why Tolkien is falsely assumed to be the father of fantasy.It was in the feverishly penned pages of Weird Tales, and rivals such as Unknown and the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, that several of fantasys most authoritative voices gained prominence. One was Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian; another was Fritz Leiber, one of the acknowledged inventors of low fantasy, which emphasizes gritty realism and is skep tical as to the possibility of Arthurian chivalry in a pre-modern world.Weird Tales also published H.P. Lovecraft, the Providence-born horror pioneer whose dystopian dread informs much modern imaginative fiction. The pulp writers were contemporaries of Tolkien, but operated in a far darker milieu. Howards Conan stories are rip-roaring and full-blooded, a tapestry of amoral protagonists, exposed flesh, and gory action. Leiber showed fantasy could be urbanâ€"and urbane.Ed Power, The Boston GlobeThere were pulp fantasy writers who were contemporaries of Tolkien, but operated in a far darker milieu. Photo by Monica Silva on Unsplash.With this intricate past woven into the heart of storytelling across cultures, any potential fantasy writer should understand the massive task at hand when setting out to follow in the footsteps of the greatsâ€"whether that be One Thousand and One Nights, or Howard, Tolkien, Lovecraft, and Leiber. Simply put, its a genre whose scope is limited only by human imagination, which has proven to be limitless so far.So how do you get started in this undertaking? Here are a few tips that have been curated by the experts you should consider before you begin writing.Mythology reveals the real world and the real world has multiple points of viewThe ancient Greeks understood that their mythological heroes lived out the fallible efforts of humanity. Within the stories of gods and demi-gods were lessons to be learned by those of us who are presumably lesser beings. Their struggles were ours, only magnified, and put into storytelling form to make the lessons more palatable.There really is no better advice on this topic than that given by George R.R. Martin, famed author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, on which HBOs hit show Game of Thrones is based.In a discussion that took place at the Sydney Opera House, Martin said :My story is essentially about a world at war. It begins very small with everybody apart from Daenerys in the castle of Winterfe ll. Its a very tight focus, and then as the characters split apart, each character encounters more people and additional POVs come into focus.Its like if you were trying to do World War 2 as a novel: do you just take one average GI? Well that would only cover the European theatre, not the Pacific. Do you make Hitler a point-of-view character to show the other side? What about the Japanese or Italy? Roosevelt, Mussolini, Eisenhower â€" all these characters have a unique viewpoint that presents something huge in Word War 2.So you either need an omnificent viewpoint structure where youre telling it from the point of view of God, which is a pretty outdated literary technique, or you have a mosaic of people who are seeing one small part of the story and through that you get the entire picture. Thats the path I chose to take.George R.R. MartinPlay with fantasy clichésTo advise against using clichés in your fantasy is a slippery slope. On the one hand, agents and publishers look for fres h takes on old myths that can rise to the level of popularity of, for example, Neil Gaimans American Gods. On the other hand, the reason why these stories are so effective is because they are ingrained into our collective psyche after lifetimes and generations of hearing them. Heres what Martin has to say about it:I love fantasy and Ive been reading it all my life, but Im also very conscious of its flaws. One of the things that drives me crazy is the externalisation of evil, where evil comes from the Dark Lord who sits in his dark palace with his dark minions who all wear black and are very ugly. Ive deliberately played with that, where you have the Nights Watch who even though they are filled with thieves and poachers and rapers are heroic people â€" but they all wear black. And then there are the Lannisters who are tall and fair but arent the nicest people.George R.R. MartinEssentially, Martin understood that while fantasys clichés might be flawed, there are always ways to toy wi th them and surprise readers in the process. Whether you choose to use old myths in a reimagined way or a color scheme that goes against the grain (as Martin did), realize that you always have the power as a writer to turn clichés into something less predictable.Begin by worldbuildingThe amount of time you spend worldbuilding on the front end will likely be directly proportionate to the success of your fantasy novel. The reason why Tolkien is confused as the father of fantasy has much to do with the enormous effort he spent building worlds and including details of them in his plot.One important aspect of this step of worldbuilding is to give your world a history. This history can be based on real history, but it needs that backstory to become alive in the mind of the reader. Martin notes the importance of history in his own A Song of Ice and Fire success:Although my story is fantasy, it is strongly grounded in actual Medieval history. The War of the Roses was one of the major influ ences, which had the Yorks and the Lancasters instead of the Starks and the Lannisters. But I like to mix and match and move things around. As the famous saying goes; stealing from one source is plagiarism but stealing from lots of sources is research!George R.R. MartinSince much is involved in the process of worldbuilding, it is impossible to explain in detail how to do it for the scope of this article. However, this article about fantasy worldbuilding is a great resource and includes the multiple considerations youll need to have in the process of creating a great fantasy world.The amount of time you spend worldbuilding on the front end will likely be directly proportionate to the success of your fantasy novel. Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash.Leave room for greyThe cliché of purely evil or purely good characters in fantasy is one that needs to go away. Martin put it this way:Grey characters have always interested me the most and I think the world is full of them. I read a lot of history, and I dont see any purely heroic characters or purely evil characters. You could pick the most extreme examples â€" Hitler famously loved dogs. Stalin, Mao, Genghis Khan; the great mass murderers of history were all heroic in their minds eye. Conversely you can read stories about all the saints from Catholic history and Mother Theresa or Ghandi and you can find things about them that were flawed or questionable actions that they undertook.Were all grey and I think we all have the capacity in us to do heroic things and very selfish things. I think understanding that is how you create characters that really have some depth to them. Even when Im writing someone like Theon Greyjoy, who many people hate, I have to try and see the world through his eyes and make sense of what he does.George R.R. MartinMake old things new againIf youre writing a fantasy novel with classic fantasy tropesâ€"elves, wizards, witches, dragons, etc.â€"do it only if youre fascinated by the trope a nd only if you have a fresh, modern take. Agents and publishers in fantasy look for these types of characters but want to see that the author has taken a new slant in telling a story about them. What happens when elves are in modern-day New York City? Or when dragons are born in someones backyard in Oklahoma? These are the types of fresh perspectives that will get your fantasy novel noticed.Know your subgenre and read it voraciouslyBeneath the genre umbrella of fantasy are several subgenres, with varying approaches to storytelling. Its important to know which subgenre youll be writing in, see who the most popular authors are within that subgenre, and then read it voraciously. This will give you the best education you need to know what agents, publishers, and readers are looking for. A great resource for researching fantasy subgenres is BestFantasyBooks.com. The website offers extensive details about the various subgenres, along with list of the top-ranked books (by readers) within e ach.Always remember, winter is comingMartins last piece of advice should be a part of any fantasy story you set out to write:Valar morghulis â€" all men must die. I think an awareness of our own mortality is something that concerns most art and literature. But I dont think that necessarily translates to a pessimistic worldview. Just like in the real world, my characters are only here for a short time; the important thing is that love, passion, empathy, laughter; even laughing in the face of death, is still possible. There is darkness in the world but we dont have to give way to despair. One of the best themes in The Lord of the Rings is that despair is the ultimate crime. Winter is coming, but you can light the torches and drink the wine and gather around the fire and continue to fight the good fight.George R.R. Martin

A Country Is Authoritarian Or Democratic Is Not A Choice

A country being authoritarian or democratic is not a choice; it’s a result of the policies the country makes. There is no one factor that makes a country democratic or authoritarian, but the degree of capitalism that is implemented in a country is the most effective factor in determining a countries regime type. Australia and North Korea are two countries, which have two completely different regime types and economies. Using these countries as examples, I will show how capitalism is the most important factor in the regime type of any country that exists in the world today. I will first give a brief introduction of each of the two countries mentioned. Then, I will describe what it means for a country to be democratic and compare the two countries chose to those requirements. I will then go into reasons of how the degree capitalism is used affects the country’s regime type. I will use Australia is a country that has a democratic regime and a capitalist economy. According to the Freedom House â€Å"Freedom in the World Report† of 2014, which rates countries freedom on a scale of one to seven, Australia has a perfect 1.0 (Australia). This means that Australia is a full and free country. On the other hand, North Korea has an authoritarian regime and a very tightly closed economy. North Korea’s score in the Freedom House report is a 7.0(North Korea). This score means that the country is not free and that the people do not have as many rights as free countries do. With the twoShow MoreRelatedThe Contrasting Development of Democratic and Authoritarian States1133 Words   |  5 PagesTwo states, developing as either a democratic or authoritarian regime, could be expected to undergo different paths over the course of fifty years. While this opportunity of observational research is unlikely to occur, it presents itself to analysis implementing secured theori es regarding the tendencies of both forms of government. 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According to Alexis de Tocqueville and his book quot;Democracyquot;, he defines culture as an ordered set of symbols, and in turn, political culture as a set of values and orientations through which one perceives and reacts to authority. The way that this set of values and orientationsRead MoreThe Arab Spring Movement Of 2011965 Words   |  4 Pagesconcerns among protestors. What’s unique about the Arab Spring, is that activities and information was often shared between participants via social media. Cheers and encouragement were also doled out via social media by individuals and groups in other countries. (Kesselman, 2016 page 487) In retrospect, it’s easy to see that their objectives fell short of their intended goals. Be that as it may, it would be wise to understand the reasoning behind their actions and take a closer look at â€Å"democracy† and

The Pharmacy On Camden Road Will Pilot Test A Suboxone Clinic

Executive Summary Proposal †¢ The Fruth Pharmacy on Camden Road will pilot test a suboxone clinic in association with Dr. Toshiba. This clinic will target patients with drug addiction and they will come here to allow the doctor to prescribe them the medicine (suboxone) that they need to control their addiction. The pharmacist will provide counseling on the medication use and discuss ways to control their addiction most effectively. Background †¢ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality’s data shows more than a 5-fold increase in opioid dependence treatment admissions. †¢ West Virginia has the second highest prescription medication overdose rate according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (Figure 1). Benefits to Fruth Pharmacy †¢ Possible hospital referrals to our doctor. †¢ Increased foot-traffic through physical stores as well as increased pharmacy use for maintenance medications. †¢ Promoting health and wellness to patients within the region. Financial †¢ This program will be paid for through cash paying patients. o The doctor will be using our facility to see patients and will be billing for his services. Conclusion †¢ Fruth pharmacy will help patients confront and manage their addictions to pain killers and other opioids. Table of Contents Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2 Table of

English Essay “On the Lake” Free Essays

The definition of a good parent: Is it being the sensible grownup that is the perfect example of how to act properly, or does this interpretation of a good parent also include a â€Å"wild† site which allows breaking the rules from time to time for the fun of it? â€Å"On the Lake†, by Loaf Alfonse 2008, he reviews the problem of being a responsible adult and a good role model, and yet being able to be an interesting and fun person to be with. It is a typical novel genre text, by the in medias-rest, the short period of time the story trenches on, the few characters and by the â€Å"open† ending of the story. The main theme in the short story is being a good parent. We will write a custom essay sample on English Essay: â€Å"On the Lake† or any similar topic only for you Order Now By this not meaning doing what is the safest and the right thing to do, but doing what is fun and exciting for your children. This is being expressed in the act of wild cruising on the lake. This is neither a safe nor a responsible thing to do, but it is fun for the son, although the cruise almost took a fatal turn, by capsizing. Afterwards it is about whether or not Oscar is to blame for this accident, which he tries to avoid at his very best by blaming Whelm (p. 4, II. 5-36) whenever he mentions the episode, serving scotch or by offering a game of cards. It the story, it seems as if Margaret is very overprotecting towards Oscar. She sits with him till he fall asleep, and constantly checks on him while he is sleeping, listening to his breath takes, and if she can not hear it, she puts her ear to his mouth and nose (p. 2, II. 2-6). This persistently surveillance is caused by the near drowning experience her son Just had. Oscar is still very young, 6 years old, and is still not aware of what s best for him, and is not capable of estimating the risks and dangers by his actions. He saw how Whelm was sailing, and wanted to do the same, unaware of the danger by doing so. Whelm plays a crucial in the outcome of this story. Not only he is responsible for the rescue of Jonas and Oscar, but he is also partly the reason of the hazard sailing by Oscar. While Whelm making tight turns and wild sailing on the lake, Jonas would watch enthralled and fascinated. This later on result in Jonas wants to do the same thing in his boat, but is disappointed of his father’s boring cruising. â€Å"†¦ You never do anything fun like the man in the white boat† (p. , II. 10-11), Jonas stated towards his father. Oscar became rather irritated, and wanted to go home. He gave the boat full throttle, and tried his best to impress his son doing tight turns on the lake. The urge to impress Jonas, and the safety violations, culminated in the boat capsizing. Whelm was watching Oscar and Jonas cruise, as his barbeques was heating up (p. 4, l. 36), and saw them overturn, and h im and his friend, Bicorn, sailed out to save them from drowning. Happen next, a typical novel genre feature called a â€Å"cliffhanger†. img class="aligncenter wp-image-34521 size-full" src="https://donemyessay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/fishing-on-circle-lake-165.jpg" alt="On the Lake" width="800" height="533" / It ends with Oscar suspecting an evolving sexual relationship between Margaret and Vilely, while being out for scotch and the binoculars with Boson (p. 6, II. 12-15). He checks to see if they are visible through the binoculars, but he is unable to see them in the living room. He runs up to the house, and finds them in the living room, having a suspicion about they had Just sat down again. As he steps in, Whelm says that it is late, and decides to leave with Bicorn. Margaret had found out that Oscar let go of Jonas’ hand and that he was saved before Jonas. This was very upsetting for Margaret to find out Oscar left his son. There is not a universal definition of a good father, but I believe there are certain clichà ©s for the father figure, such as he is a strong, care-taking, encouraging and inspiring role model whom you can rely on. These features it not entirely adjectives that fits the father in the novel, such as he let’s Jonas down, and afterwards is trying to blame others for his mistake, although he is trying as hard as possible to become a good parent. This story can be related to the movie which also is about an Indian father who wants the best for his sons, but in the end has caused more harm than good. How to cite English Essay: â€Å"On the Lake†, Essays

Macbeth Essays (1296 words) - Characters In Macbeth,

Macbeth Macbeth's Representation of Ambition From top to bottom of the ladder, greed is aroused without knowing where to find ultimate foothold. Nothing can calm it, since its goal is far beyond all it can attain. Reality seems valueless by comparison with the dreams of fevered imaginations; reality is therefor abandoned. Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in truth been known to exist; the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done learns the way to self destruction rather than self-preservation. Italian political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) states that greed leads men to their downfall, a concept which is paralleled with Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. This play is the representation of human society in which Macbeth represents man. The play opens with 3 witches who honor Macbeth with three titles: Thane of Glamis (his present title), Thane of Cawdor (his son to be announced title) and the pr ophecy that he will be king hereafter. Macbeth who is roused by his vaulting ambitions, lust for power, tempted by these titles, murders his rivals to the throne with his wife. As a result of his ruthless quest for power leads him to his fate. Erich Fromm (1900-1980), a psychologist once stated greed is a bottomless pit which haunts man in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. He who comes along greed is condemned to this bottomless pit. Shakespeare demonstrates that greed that harms others, destroys the holder: mentally and morally, and eventually leads to ones ultimate destruction. When man is driven by greed to achieving their goal, they are stripped away of their morals and ethics. Macbeth is fighting a war, a deadly game where man takes advantage of others to win and claim the title of king. if it were done when ?tis done, then ?twere well it were done quickly. If the assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with the surcease, success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here, but here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'd jump the life to come. But in these cases we still have judgement here; that we but teach bloody instruction, which being taught, return to the plague of inventor: this even handed justice condemns the ingredients of our poison'd chalice to our own lips. (Act I, Scene VII) Macbeth has confused feelings about murdering Duncan, his worthiest cousin. He hesitates to murder Duncan because he is scared of the consequences which may somehow return and plague him. He questions to himself, how would his new s ubjects react? However, his ambition numbs the fear and the conscience concerning consequences and his morals. At this point, he is already morally degraded. Macbeth does not question the morality of the actions of what he is about to take but instead worries about the consequences he may have to face if he fails. Thus Macbeth does not fear or feel any moral remorse in committing the murder itself. Our fears in Banquo stick deep; and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear'd: ?tis much he dares: and to that dauntless temper of his murder he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety. There is none but he whose being I do fear: and under him, my genius is rebuked. ( Act III, Scene II) Macbeth is irritated by Banquo, whose existence is a hinderence towards his fulfillment of the prophecies. My lord, his (Banquo's) throat is cut; that I did for him. (Act III, Scene II) Macbeth deals with this by murdering Banquo. However, this time he does not contemplat e over whether or not to murder Banquo but the actions he takes are caprice. By the end of the play, Macbeth does not feel a bit of hesitation to taking the life of another. Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. (Act IV, SceneI) Greed degrades a man's morals by blinding him of them, only allowing a

How The Independent Publishing Magazine Can Increase Your Profits

How The Independent Publishing Magazine Can Increase Your Profits If youre an indie author, in addition to writing gripping prose, you are required to make difficult and costly business decisions in a rapidly changing, digital industry. Many authors find the myriad choices available to be utterly baffling. The Independent Publishing Magazine (TIPM), an online affiliated website, guides authors toward making smart choices through ratings and reviews of publishing services, and meaty trade news.Founded by Netherlands-based editor/journalist/author/publishing consultant Mick Rooney in 2007, the blog averages about one post per week, comprising a newsy and analytical resource for authors and small publishers who are developing a brand.Commended by Writers Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, and Feedspots Top 100 Self Publishing Blogs and Websites for Independent Authors, among other fans, TIPM is listed among scores of websites that review publishing resources. It is unique, however, in featuring the originally researched and synthesized Publishing S ervice Index.The Publishing Service Index not only rates and reviews publishing services, it ranks companies over time, providing a picture of overall industry trends, and enabling the author to evaluate a company like a stock. Hey, you might as well hitch your fortune to a star! For instance, a trip through the archives shows the closure of CreateSpace was foreseen by TIPM analysis at least a couple of years ago. Armed with this knowledge, the savvy and efficient indie author might have opted to invest resources with Ingram Spark or Smashwords. (More about the Publishing Service Index later.)Photo by rawpixel on UnsplashA roadmap for accessing TIPM intelWriters new to self-publishing should immerse themselves in the New to Publishing articles under the Author Resources tab. A seven-part series entitled The Future of Publishing 2020 makes an excellent primer of industry dynamics. Rooney discusses the evolutions of traditional and self-publishing business models with an entertaining, insider voice. Guest posters provide step-by-step How-to articles and videos to quickly get the new indie author up to speed. Or progress more quickly with searches for key topics by using the red-boxed tags.After digesting the fundamentals, assess your own skill set before deciding what services you are going to need. How much of the publishing work do you want to take on yourself? Do you want to design your own cover, or prepare an entire book file for publication? Which jobs do you want to contract out? There is no right or wrong answer. There may be as many logical choices as there are writers.Its important to articulate your requirements and expectations, then match your needs with the best services and companies for the project. Some companies offer a whole gamut of services presented in packages. Others specialize in particular services from an a la carte menu.In addition, you can use TIPMs powerfully informative Publishers Service Index to identify the companies that will b est meet your objectives. Launched in June 2010, the Publishing Service Index is now released twice a year.Service providers such as Matador, Ingram Spark, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kobo Writing Life, and about eighty or ninety others are rated according to TIPMs proprietary algorithm. The formula considers both anecdotal author feedback and objective, weighted criteria, such as (not listed in any particular order):Volume of titlesYears in existenceFees chargedTIPM review ratingService rangeDistribution rangeCustomer support and transparencyThese factors produce an index rating, which determines each companys rank.Remember that the companies profiled offer differing services. So, to avoid comparing apples to pears, reviews focus on what a company claims it will do, and the extent to which it delivers the promised service to customers.Photo by Edho Pratama on UnsplashMore about The Publishing Service IndexThe Publishing Service Index is not presented as an exact science, nor is it ex haustive. There are hundreds of self-publishing service providers in the USA alone. But the Index is a powerful mass of information in one website. Check out the November 2018 Publishing Service Index.Results are ranked in a clickable table that links the author to detailed, in-depth reviews and updates for each publishing service listed. First, survey the Index to decide the kind(s) of service(s) that best fit your needs. Then drill into the individual reviews.Be sure to read or scan all the way down to the Comments section, where real live authors who have dealt with that company may flag a warning, or sing praises to other authors who are considering using the same service.Dont feel you need to choose a company listed in the top five. Some authors will find it optimal to use a combination of companies, particularly if you are publishing in both e-book and print formats. Just because a company and their services dont fit with your requirements, doesnt mean its a bad company. That said, the further down the Index your choice falls, as an author, the more likely you may be to find a company with mixed or negative feedback, and less flexibility.TIPM Editor-in-Chief Mick Rooney expounds on the November 2018 Publishing Service Index with this analysis:With CreateSpace shuttering and Amazon continuing with its longer-term strategy to merge and streamline its print and ebook platforms, I have dropped CreateSpace to the bottom of the index ahead of its imminent closure.The recent indices reflect something of a mini-resurgence for some of the top-rated Full-Service Providers. While IngramSpark maintains third position, Kindle Direct Publishing has now slipped to second, and Matador for the first time hits the top spot.I am finding it increasingly difficult to suggest a large and varied pool of reputable full publishing service providers to authors looking to go in that direction, particularly if an author wants both print and ebook editions of their book.We are movin g to a publishing landscape where authors need to take greater control in the management of their book projects, and that means looking to publishing marketplaces to connect with professionals, whether an author is looking for a book designer, a skilled book formatter, an editor, or marketing and promotional assistance.IPM Editor-in-Chief Mick RooneyIf thats the case, trustworthy reviews and ratings of a la carte publishing service providers remain essential.Beyond the publishing service indexAdditionally found within the site, robust articles, not promotional puff pieces, are catalogued under the headings of Self Publishing, Traditional Publishing, and Digital/Traditional Marketing. From News and Opinions, to Advice and Technology, Forums,TIPMs editorial scope thoroughly covers independent publishing, as well as its intersection with traditional publishing in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe.Going back to 2013, frank reporting covers innovations, and merger s and splits, from notable industry players down to startups that have already gone bust. Penguin imprints, Vantage, Kobo, Reedsy, prestigious awards to self-published authors, the London/Frankfurt Book Fairs, Blurb, Lulu, Nook, BookBaby, Bowker, Liberty Hill, Barnes Nobel, WattPad, BooksAMillion, Pronoun/Vook, Fast Pencil, Blurb, Troubadour, Unbound, Google Playbooks and PubSlush, are among many more subjects.You can read, for instance, the Author Solutions exposà © as events unfolded resulting in the first class-action lawsuit filed against Author Solutions in the summer of 2013, by several authors who charged the company with fraud. The Author Solutions model of gouging and exploiting authors (often new writers) was denounced in a second lawsuit alleging deceptive practices and the exploitation of seniors. The cases were dismissed in 2015.A rigorous education for authorsTIPM archives trace the exciting evolution of independent publishing and offer the website user a rigorous ed ucation. Authors turn to The Independent Publishing Magazine for extensive knowledge of all aspects of self-publishing, for consistency, and for passion on the part of its Editor-in-Chief.In the November 2018 Publishing Service Index, Mick Rooney stated:I rarely now review new companies in the full-service provider arena and even updating existing provider reviews takes a significant amount of time and effort. I continue to have a backlog of reviews that need updating or a complete rewrite. I appreciate that companies keep me up-to-date on their development plans, but if I am brutally honest (and you know I often am!), I dont see the innovation in publishing I experienced going back over the past five years. Also, bear in mind that TIPM is no longer a full-time occupation for me and Im very grateful to our many guest posters.IPM Editor-in-Chief Mick RooneyWith this admission, its fair to ask if TIPM will continue to provide the timely and critical decision-making information credite d with by this review, and that serious indie authors have come to rely upon. It is certainly feasible for the Magazine to continue with quality, efficient delivery of industry news on the strength of its guest posters, because we need a lot of perspectives to really see the field of indie publishing.As it stands today, the blog can have a huge, positive impact on your self-publishing success by serving as at least one guidepost to help you find the most fitting service, and saving you from falling into the hands of scammers and companies not keeping their promises.You worked hard to write that book. You deserve to profit from its sale. Transform yourself from a dreamy creative into a savvy indie publisher in the time it takes to thoroughly study The Independent Publishing Magazine and its archives.

Road Workouts for Truck Drivers Part 2

Road Workouts for Truck Drivers Part 2 If you missed our last post, be sure you go back for Part 1 of Road Workouts- it covered some preparation steps you shouldn’t skip before launching into a new regimen. This post will focus more on specific exercises and muscle groups as suggested by the folks at Roadmaster.com. This list of exercises should provide you with about two weeks worth of regular workouts–if you move from one exercise to another quickly, you can also score some cardio benefits! ShouldersFor many of these exercises, you’ll need only very light (if any) weights–shoulders are delicate, so go easy until you know you won’t be in danger of tearing or  too sore the next day.Swimmers: Laying on your stomach, lift your arms out to the side a few inches and move them forward in unison as though swimming. Optional extension: Make small circles and slide your shoulder blades down your back.Lateral Extensions: While sitting upright or standing, bend your elbows so your hands point f orward and your elbows are tucked in at your waist. Raise your elbows until they’re almost even with your shoulders, then back down–almost like you’re imitating a chicken. Use moderate weights if you’d like.Delt Extensions: (Front) With your arms held straight at your sides, thumbs facing forward, raise your hands straight out in front and back down. (Rear) Reach back and out while raising your arms behind you in the same motion. This exercise may benefit from appropriate use of weights–just make sure you’re not locking your knees.Shrugs: Easy to do even while stopped in traffic, â€Å"shrug† with exaggerated motions. Raise your shoulders all the way to your ears and drop them back down, seeing how far you can slide your shoulder blades down your spine. Holding tension in the shoulders is very common, and shrugging and releasing can help you realize when you’re unconsciously clenching, which can contribute to upper and lower ba ck pain, and even headaches.ArmsOne temptation to avoid with arm exercises is using your torso to gain momentum or rock towards the weight being lifted. Instead, remain still and focus on the specific muscles you’re trying to flex.Bicep curls: Just like it sounds.Overhead Tricep Extensions: Stretching up and over your head to either side–if you practice this stretch against a resistant surface it can be a great side and back stretch too.Dips: Supporting your weight on your arms, raise and lower your body from a variety of angles.Forearm Curls: Same as with your bicep, just emphasizing the wrists.Grips: Think of it as arm wrestling prep–and don’t burn out your joints so it’s too hard to steer.ChestForm is especially crucial with chest work because it can lead to working arms or shoulders instead–when attempting any kind of push-up, make sure to also flex your core so you don’t strain your back muscles.Push-ups: Make this classic more c hallenging by moving your hands closer together (even attempt a diamond formation!) or further apart. Try having toes or knees on the floor, or clapping between each push.Incline push-ups: Place your hands on a surface that’s higher than your feet, so even on the â€Å"down† of the pushup, your upper body is at an upward angle from the ground.Decline push-ups: The opposite of the last version–put your feet up higher than your head and hands. Stand up gradually after this one so the blood doesn’t drain out of your head all at once and leave you dizzy.Uneven Pushups: Put one hand on a raised surface or platform and the other on the ground–make sure you even back out by swapping sides halfway through.BackSuperman: Similar to the swimmer, while laying on your stomach reach forward and up, and back and up, so your limbs are off the ground while flexing your torso. Extend past the ends of your fingertips and toes, and straighten your neck by looking at t he ground and reaching through the top of your head.Pull-Ups: Full disclosure I have never done a pull up in my life or a flex-and-hang for longer than a few seconds, but I do know they make portable bars you can install and easily take down, if you’re into that sort of thing.AbsIf you have a chance to take a pilates class (great for men especially, since they often don’t get the same kind of training that isolates abdominal muscles), focus especially on how to contract your core. Essentially you want to keep your lower back on the floor and contract your abs in order to â€Å"sit up† with your ribcage and upper torso.Sit-ups/Crunches: Practice holding your hands behind your head or straight up in the air (try holding a ball or other small weight), bringing your elbow to your opposite knee for an oblique crunch, or pulling your legs up to a 90 degree angle while you crunch toward your knees.Planks: With your hands planted on the ground or bracing on your elbows, planks are great for stretching after crunches–check out some beginners yoga online or in a studio near you for how to embellish with twists or stretch into upward-facing dog to counter all the crunching.Holds/Flexes: This one is great because you can do it sitting down, while driving or while standing around. Keep your abs flexed while you inhale, or make a game out of it while you’re behind the wheel.LegsBuild on the legwork that occurs during your cardio exercise with these additional stretchesWall-sits: With your back against a stable surface, slide down until your knees are over your toes (don’t let them go past!). See how long you can hold it, or for a more intense stretch, step away from the wall and bring your arms over your head.Lunges: Hands on hips, step forward and bend one knee to get both a leg and a groin stretch. Don’t forget to pay attention to the back leg–come onto your back toes and straighten that leg too.Calf raises: This is a great quick rest-stop stretch–find a curb and step on to it, then move your heels back gradually until they touch the ground. Lean forward into the stretch.Step-ups: Use the step of your truck or that   same study curb–raise your knees higher for an extra boost, and match it by moving your arms together in a large circle beginning to the right, raising over your head and coming down on the left, then reversing. Alternate which foot you start with for each repetition.Squats: Make sure your knee doesn’t bend in front of your toes–if it does, you’re going too far down and can start damaging your knee cartilage.As always, don’t forget to stretch out before and after every workout session, and rehydrate regularly. Pick an area to focus on each day, take a day off in between, and soon you’ll be feeling better on the road, and off.