Imagine that you are stuck on an island , if you can bring just five items, what would you bring? I've always hated this question. I am such an indecisive person, so this could take me a while. But one thing for sure that I would bring is a book. As a child, reading was my safe place. I read as much as I could and loved every second of it. But something changed once I got to high school. By then, it felt more like a chore rather than for pleasure. Of the array of novels that I was required to read, only a few stuck out. Those few shaped my thinking and writing. My writing strengths decline as I read less. Was it a coincidence? No, I believe that in my case, it was a strong correlation.
When I read, I became a better writer. It's that simple. My suggestion to all writers? Read, read, read! Your vocabulary, syntax, and overall writing will improve. What should you read? Anything and everything is my answer. By reading a variety of text, you delve into different worlds, cultures, and ways of life. You brain is introduced to different ways of speaking and writing. Reading magazines, short stories, novels and even cereal boxes will expand your gift of writing. Everyone has the gift to write, so don't feel discourage. Don't be afraid to grab that book that's been on the kitchen counter for three months now. If you want to be a better writer, then read. Here is a (small) list of books you should give a go: - Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - 1984 by George Orwell - Animal Farm by George Orwell - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech - Candide by Voltaire - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
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Monte Burke, a feature-writer for Forbes, said it best with this quote. What makes great writing so sexy or just appealing? Burke compiles a list of his favorite examples of sports writing. One that got my attention was David Foster Wallace's "Federer as Religious Experience" (2006). As a tennis fan, Wallace evokes every sentiment one feels when they see Fed play. Wallace perfects the language when talking about sports. Sports writing is a different ball game compared to News or Magazine writing. It can be difficult to describe the way a player runs down the field or just how perfect a baseball player leaps in the air to catch the ball in the outfield. Writers who paint the picture to the tee are the ones who succeed best. It takes patience and a special kind of talent to be a great sports writer. Click here for the full article.
So all of my blogs have been about my wonderful summer in Europe. Well I'm going to use this platform to talk about another love of my life, soccer. I will focus primarily on my two favorite teams Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain. Away we go. Real Madrid came back from the international break with style. Although the FIFA curse struck the men in white, with James and Danilo out with injuries for a few weeks, Madrid did what they do best, score. Saturday's game against Espanyol proved to be promising after a 5-0 home win during gameweek two. The attacking trio, the BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) punished the catalan-based club at Estadi Cornella-El Prat. After being under fire the past few weeks for not scoring, it did not take long for Cristiano Ronaldo to silence his critics. After a nice long ball by Luka Modric, Ronaldo found the back of the net in the 7th minute. It all went downhill for Espanyol after that. Gareth Bale was brought down in the 17th minute which led Ronaldo to score the penalty. Only three minutes later, a feisty Bale ran down the left flank and crosses a gorgeous ball into the box only for Ronaldo to stab home his third of the night. Ronaldo turned provider in the 28th minute when he crosses the ball from the left flank for Benzema to tap it in. A busy Bale shredded the catalan club's defense before he squares it off to Ronaldo to score his fourth in the 61st minute. Lucas Vasquez, who replaced Benzema, showed off some great footwork to shake off defenders to slot Ronaldo an assist to his fifth goal of the night in the 81st minute. The 6-0 win for Real Madrid gives them three important points and new confidence for their upcoming games. The Spanish club now looks forward to the start of the coveted Champions League tournament on Tuesday, September 15. Real Madrid will begin their Champion League bid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu against the Ukrainian club, Shakhtar Donetsk in Group A. The question for head coach, Rafa Benitez, is who will he want between the sticks? Does he continue to play Keylor Navas or will he give Kiko Casilla a chance? Only a few more hours and we will have our answer. Hala Madrid! |
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