Friday, August 21, 2020
South Asia Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog
South Asia Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog SIPA student have access to many events each week and most of that has to do with the 20 different regional and functional institutes associated with policy analysis. The South Asia Institute is sponsoring the following event today: South Asia? West Asia? The location and identities of Pakistan A talk by S. Akbar Zaidi (Karachi University) While Pakistans geographical location has not shifted in the last 38 years, there has been a marked shift in terms of its identity and associations. In the past, what is now Pakistan was closer to, and more part of, the larger South Asian or Indian subcontinental identity, but it has now corrected its direction (apna qibla durust kar liya hai). In some ways, the Pakistani identities of the Muslim and the South Asian/Indian are competing identities, often mutually exclusive. A secular India with a Muslim minority would not wish for a stronger Muslim South Asian identity while a Muslim Pakistan may not want to belong to an idea or union, in which it would be marginalised and subservient to a power which it sees as its nemesis. With far greater Islamisation and with petro-dollars playing a critical role in Pakistans political economy, in some ways, it would be fair to say that Pakistan has been excavated out of South Asia and replanted into a wider Islamic Middle East. Dr. S Akbar Zaidi is one of Pakistans best known and most prolific political economists. Apart from his interest in political economy, he also has great interest in development, the social sciences, and increasingly, in history. His forthcoming Political Economy and Development in Pakistan will be his twelfth book. His other books include The New Development Paradigm: Papers on Institutions, NGOs, Gender and Local Government (1999), and Issues in Pakistans Economy (2005). He taught at Karachi University for thirteen years, and was a visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University (2004-05). He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and lives and works in Karachi.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
A Time to Kill the Story of Struggle from Racism
The Struggles with Racism A Time to Kill demonstrates how much racism, inequality, and segregation was going on in the early to mid 1960ââ¬â¢s. The movie shows how African Americans were divided from white people in every circumstance. Inequality was very common for African Americans, and they were shut off from the rest of the public because of the color of their skin. Racism has always been a major conflict and it still remains with us in our society today. A Time to Kill really unfolds how hard it was for people of different races to get along. In the movie, A Time to Kill, a ten year old black girl is raped and almost murdered by two southern, racist white men. The only reason she was attacked and near death was because the twoâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦As a result, she was arrested and this caused uproar with the black people in Montgomery, Alabama (time.com). A bus boycott was deliberated which lasted 381 days. Rosa Parks became a symbol for justice and everyone around the United States l ooked up to her. She later became Deaconess in the AME church in Detroit in 1964 and in 2000 she had the privilege to meet with Pope John-Paul III. During her meeting with the Pope, she read a quote to him asking for racial healing (RosaParks.org). She will always be remembered for her profound act. Rosa Parks is known as the ââ¬Å"mother of modern day civil rights movementâ⬠(RosaParks.org). The KKK is a very radical, racist group who use violence and threats against black people or sympathetic white people. The KKK first emerged in Tennessee in May 1886 (SpartacusEducational). From then on the KKK grew into the biggest racial bigots in the United States. The KKK is still somewhat around today and their biggest target is African Americans. During the 1950ââ¬â¢s through the early 1960ââ¬â¢s the KKK would terrorize the black community by lynching. Lynching is an illegal method used by mobs to kill a person. The KKK would often lynch black people by hanging them from trees. This act was so wicked and it shocked many people in America. Any whites who expressed their feelings about the suffering of blacks would also be attacked and sometimes killed. This wasShow MoreRelatedTo Kill A Mockingbird Theme Essay830 Words à |à 4 PagesLeeââ¬â¢s, To Kill a Mockingbird, touches millions of lives in the form of several themes. Many of the themes, Harper Lee, discusses revolve around Maycombââ¬â¢s usual disease of racism. The storys narrator, Scout, and her brother Jem run into the ââ¬Å"usual diseaseâ⬠of racism many times throughout the book. Essential themes to the story such as, courage, superstition, and prejudice express the views of both Scout and Jem on racism. The first theme that expresses Scout and Jemââ¬â¢s views on racism is courageRead MoreRacism In To Kill A Mockingbird1570 Words à |à 7 Pageshistory, racism has enslaved and segregated many races in other countries, but in the United States, the African-Americans have especially been victims of racism and segregation based upon their color. In recent history, the struggle to achieve equality and eradicate racism in the United States has been an ongoing battle since the late 1800ââ¬â¢s. In Harper Lee s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses her own experience and draws from events during her childhood to bring to expose racism againstRead MoreBlack Sexual Politics : African Americans, Gender, And The New Racism1542 Words à |à 7 Pagescolonial times through various social constructs, and even though the shackles of slavery are gone the shackles of oppression within our communities, media and racial ideologies continue to feed racism today. According to Collins ââ¬Å "Black Sexual Politics: African Americans, Gender, and the New Racismâ⬠, racism has evolved over the years in different forms producing the ââ¬Å"New Racismâ⬠, Straight Outta Compton and To Kill a Mockingbird are two mainstream films that demonstrate the evolution of racism and illustratesRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird: Mans Inhumanity to Man Essay examples1666 Words à |à 7 PagesA central theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, is man`s inhumanity to man. Many types of inhumanity ââ¬â whether intentional or not ââ¬â can be seen throughout this novel. Scout and Jem Finch as well as Dill treat Boo Radley with a level of inhumanity; however, their intentions are not cruel, merely childish and playful ââ¬â as they are. However some examples of inhumanity found in the novel are not as innocent. An evident struggle that continues throughout the book, is the inhumanity black people suffer at theRead MoreEssay On Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird1561 Words à |à 7 Pagesd isproportionately make up more than half of the prison population. There is indisputable racism in this country, and the world of Harper Leeââ¬â¢s To Kill A Mockingbird displays this in a very obvious light. Racism has been around for centuries, it has changed and reformed itself. Racism cannot not be solved overnight, but it can be solved with positive and immediate steps and actions. Society as a whole is highly capable of overcoming racism. Therefore, the belief that it will never change and that the society willRead MoreMississippi Burning And To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis1335 Words à |à 6 PagesThe novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, set in the 1930s, and the film Mississippi Burning, directed by Alan Parker, set in the 1960s, both focus on the issue of racism in Americaââ¬â¢s South. In this report, connections, similarities and differences between these two texts in relation to form, purpose, context, audience and language, will be explored with reference to e xamples and quotations from both. The strong connection between this novel and this film lies in their strong appeal to the moralRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird And Kindred Essay735 Words à |à 3 Pagesthe novels, ââ¬Å"To Kill A Mockingbirdâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Kindredâ⬠, the authors address important issues like social and racial injustice, racism, and discrimination in our history. In ââ¬Å"To Kill A Mockingbirdâ⬠, we follow young Scout and Jeremy as they began to discover the true meaning of discrimination. In ââ¬Å"Kindredâ⬠, we follow a young woman as she travels back in time as a slave and discovers the true cruelty of racism. Although these novels were set in different time periods, the main characters from both books wentRead MoreScout Finch : The Single Father Of Scout And Jem1313 Words à |à 6 Pagesmain protagonist and the narrator of the story. As the novel progresses you can see how Scout matures and gains a stronger understanding of other people and herself. Jem Finch (Jeremy Atticus Finch): Scoutââ¬â¢s older brother and one of her closest friends. Throughout the entire novel, Jem is by Scoutââ¬â¢s side and helps her make it through the tough times in life, when he isnââ¬â¢t the source of them, himself. Atticus Finch: The single father of Scout and Jem who struggles to provide for them and helps them withRead MoreA Time to Kill and to Kill a Mockingbird1314 Words à |à 6 PagesThe movie based on John Grishams A Time to Kill is a Hollywoodized, modern-day version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Both movies employ many of the same themes and plot elements; but the former movie is one-dimensional and predictable while the latter is innovative and purposeful. The movie version of Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic film, whereas John Grishams adapted novel is merely another example of the money making efforts of Hollywood. Some of the movies moreRead MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird 1030 Words à |à 5 Pages The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is in Maycomb County, which is a unrealistic district in Southern Alabama. The years are in the early 1930s, the time of the Great Depression when poverty and unemployment were a widespread in the U.S. The town of Maycomb is pretty sloppy because streets are not paved and got turned into red slop ( red mud). The people in the town are really nice and had a bunch of old ladies baking delicious cakes and town sheriffs saying folsky things. The courthouse is
Thursday, May 14, 2020
What Is the Law of Demand
A common definition of the law of demand is given in the article The Economics of Demand: The law of demand states that ceteribus paribus (latin for assuming all else is held constant), the quantity demand for a good rise as the price falls. In other words, the quantity demanded and the price is inversely related. The law of demand implies a downward sloping demand curve, with quantity demanded to increase as price decreases. There are theoretical cases where the law of demand does not hold, such as Giffen goods, but empirical examples of such goods are few and far between. As such, the law of demand is a useful generalization for how the vast majority of goods and services behave. Intuitively, the law of demand makes a lot of sense- if individuals consumption is determined by some sort of cost-benefit analysis, a reduction in cost (i.e. price) should lower a number of benefits a good or service needs to bring a consumer in order to be worth purchasing. This, in turn, implies that price reductions increase the number of goods for which consumption is worth the price paid, so demand increases. Terms Related to Law of Demand DemandAggregate Demand Resources on Law of Demand Price Elasticity of DemandCost-Push Inflation vs. Demand-Pull InflationWould Marijuana Legalization Increase the Demand for Marijuana?
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The 5-Minute Rule for Student Personal Essay Samples
The 5-Minute Rule for Student Personal Essay Samples But What About Student Personal Essay Samples? Student writing helps students think critically, particularly when it regards the topic available. Today, most college students find it difficult to compose an essay on a specific topic. You're able to easily buy unique college essays and don't neglect to tell friends and family about it. Your college essay ought to be a succinct essay about who you are and what you plan to study at the academic institution of your choice. Essay you get started working again. Writing your own personal statement may be the most daunting portion of your fellowship application approach. Regardless of what genre you would like Business Studies, Microeconomics, Business Management and Financial Accounting, we're here to serve your needs. Writing is a present that comes naturally. The essay offers you a chance to reveal how effectively you are able to read and comprehend a passage and compose an essay analyzing the passage. What's a personal essay. What's a persuasive essay. No matter the quantity or kind of research involved, argumentative essays must set a very clear thesis and follow sound reasoning. This takes a high level of self-reflection on your part. Thus, State University isn't only the ideal spot for me, it is the sole location for me. So should you need to employ college essay writer online, we're just the people that you want to contact. While it's true that there are a few excellent writers in college some find it extremely tricky to write. Facts, Fiction and Student Personal Essay Samples Professor Mitchell obtained a grant to have a category of students to Belgium so as to study the EU. Students lead busy lives and frequently forget about a coming deadline. Inside this section you will locate samples of essays belonging to several essay types and manners of formatting. You may use the links below to return to any prior pages. Attempt not to just insert words that you think they wish to hear. Take a look at the best examples here! What Does Student Personal Essay Samples Mean? EssayEdge is the top application essay editing service on earth. Now you can get genuine college essay online, one that is going to fit your financial plan and get your work done too. The actual men and women highly praise our essay help site. Explain the vehicle connection better. Every college application form is going to have a section that permits you to explain why. It's the details that actually make this little experience come alive. We work day and night to provide you with a service which exceeds your expectations. Allow it to sit for a couple days untouched. The 5-Minute Rule for Student Personal Essay Samples The entire experience enabled me to learn that you must be calm in scary situations even when you aren't calm at heart. Another benefit of our website is the quickness. The reason colleges request a personal statement is to place a face to the otherwise dry elements of a university application. Is an obstacle to inform you will demonstrate some. It's very useful to take writing apart to be able to see just the way that it accomplishes its objectives. Keep in mind, an admission essay sample may be good way to find out more about the writing procedure and understand the task better. In your own personal essay, communicate why you believe the award or program you're applying to is important in the world today. Your experiences and unique to bring a guide. Argumentative essays are also called position papers due to their justification of the side of the issue they are written in support of. Once you have decided on a personal story to highlight, ensure you tell it in your words. This may be a wonderful tactic, but you have to be sure you use essay samples the right way. The author starts with a rather in depth story of an event or description of an individual or place. It is having the ability to permit the reader see the way the subject looks or feels like. It is essential that your reader will be in a position to picture exactly how you would like them to picture your subject.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
M.C. Escher Essay Example For Students
M.C. Escher Essay The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher (1898-1972) was a draftsman, book illustrator, tapestry designer, and muralist, but his primary work was as a printmaker. Born in Leeuwarden, Holland, the son of a civil engineer, Escher spent most of his childhood in Arnhem. Aspiring to be an architect, Escher enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Harlem. While studying there from 1919 to 1922, his emphasis shifted from architecture to drawing and printmaking upon the encouragement of his teacher Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. In 1924 Escher married Jetta Umiker, and the couple settled in Rome to raise a family. They resided in Italy until 1935, when growing political turmoil forced them to move first to Switzerland, then to Belgium. In 1941, with World War II under way and German troops occupying Brussels, Escher returned to Holland and settled in Baarn, where he lived and worked until shortly before his death. The main subjects of Eschers early art are Rome and the Italian countryside. While living in Italy from 1922 to 1935, he spent the spring and summer months traveling throughout the country to make drawings. Later, in his studio in Rome, Escher developed these into prints. Whether depicting the winding roads of the Italian countryside, the dense architecture of small hillside towns, or details of massive buildings in Rome, Escher often created enigmatic spatial effects by combining various often conflicting vantage points, for instance, looking up and down at the same time. He frequently made such effects more dramatic through his treatment of light, using vivid contrasts of black and white. After Escher left Italy in 1935, his interest shifted from landscape to something he described as mental imagery, often based on theoretical premises. The lavish tile work adorning the Moorish architecture suggested new directions in the use of color and the flattened patterning of interlocking forms. Replacing the abstract patterns of Moorish tiles with recognizable figures, in the late 1930s Escher developed the regular division of the plane. The artist also used this concept in creating his Metamorphosis prints. Starting in the 1920s, the idea of metamorphosis one shape or object turning into something completely different became one of Eschers favorite themes. After 1935, Escher also increasingly explored complex architectural mazes involving perspective games and the representation of impossible spaces. In 1934 he left Italy, spent two years in Switzerland and five years in Brussels before settling in Baarn (Holland) in 1941, where he died on march 27, 1972, at the age of 73 y ears. Many mathematical concepts play a role in Eschers later work the relation between a three-dimensional object and its depiction on a two-dimensional surface. M.C. Escher was a man who definitely was before his time. Some argue that he was a mathematician rather than an artist by the way he dissected the normal thinking on spatial relationships.
Friday, April 3, 2020
PayPal Donations with WordPress - How to Allow Them
Looking for a new way to monetize a WordPress blog? Then why not accept PayPal donations with WordPress, so that your audience can show their appreciation for your efforts. Its super-easy to setup, plus everyone has PayPal.Admittedly, this approach probably wont make you rich overnight. However, if your website doesnt naturally lend itself to generating ad revenues, selling products, and you have no services to offer, donations could be the best monetization option you have or, if you run a non-profit, donations naturally align with your sites goals.And even if you do have other monetization strategies, you still shouldnt turn your nose up at donations its more money in your pocket, with no extra effort on your part. Even if visitor contributions only cover your sites running costs, every little helps, right?Donations can also strengthen your bond with your audience. Every donation you receive means someone has dipped into their pockets to compliment the job youre doing and the exc ellent, actionable content you write so expect a warm, fuzzy glow with every one. Visitors who donate are likely to feel like theyve contributed to your website, too, so expect them to become loyal followers.Today, I want to show you how to add PayPal donation buttons to any WordPress website, and thus collect PayPal donations with WordPress.Ill be using the PayPal Donations plugin, which you can download for free from the WordPress repository: PayPal Donations Author(s): Tips and Tricks HQ, Johan SteenCurrent Version: 1.9.5Last Updated: May 1, 2019paypal-donations.zip 100%Ratings 655,874Downloads WP 3.0+Requires How to accept PayPal donations with WordPressTo start, we need to install the plugin. Access the WordPress dashboard, then head to Plugins / Add New. From here, search for PayPal Donations and hit enter. Youre looking for the first plugin returned hint: its the one by Tips and Tricks HQ and Johan Steen.Found it? Now press Install Now / Activate Plugin.Now you need to navigate to Settings / PayPal Donations to configure the plugin and design your donation button. This is the general settings screen you will see:The first field, PayPal Account, is by far the most important. Its here that you need to input your PayPal email address or your Secure Merchant ID (found by logging into PayPal, then navigating to Profile / Profile and Settings). Double check you typed this field correctly, as this is where all donations are sent!Directly below, you can choose your preferred currency. Again, make sure this field is correct, as PayPal can apply some pretty hefty fees for any transactions not in your default currency.The next step on your way to allowing PayPal donations with WordPress is to setup your page style, which is done via the PayPal dashboard. Log into PayPal, then head to Profile / Profile and Settings / My Selling Preferences. Find the Payment Pages option, then hit Update. (The route to this page may vary depending on what country your PayP al account was registered.)Here, youll be able to customize the default payment page, or create a new one from scratch by selecting Add. You can upload your own logo, add a header image, and change background images and colors. The design will still be relatively basic, but it will at least reflect your branding.When youre done, return to the PayPal Donations settings screen, and paste the name of your custom payment page. Directly below, you can also select where customers are returned post-donation I recommend creating a dedicated Thank You page.Next, we have another important section: choosing the default deposit amount. The amount chosen will have a significant psychological impact on your visitors, so choose wisely pitch too high and you will appear greedy and put potential donators off; too low, and youre leaving money on the table.I think the price of a cup of coffee is about the right amount, possibly reaching as high as $10. Or, if you dont want to influence your readersh ip in any shape or form, you can leave this field blank.At the bottom of this screen, youll be able to select your button style. The screenshot below displays the three options available to you, all instantly recognizable as PayPal buttons. If youd prefer to flex your creative muscles, you can also upload a custom image to act as your donation button.When youre done, hit Save Changes.There is a second tab, Advanced, with several optional fields for you to configure including disabling PayPal statistics, opening PayPal in a new tab, and enabling sandbox mode for testing purposes. Each option is activated by ticking the relevant checkbox, then clicking Save Changes.At this point, we have a fully configured plugin! Now its time for the fun part: adding PayPal donations buttons to your website.The PayPal Donations plugin offers two options: widget or shortcode.The widget option lets you add a donate button to any dedicated widget space such as a footer or sidebar section. This is perf ect for achieving maximum visibility, as your donation button will be seen on every page.To add a donation button in this way, navigate to Appearance / Widgets. Find the PayPal Donations widget, then using drag-and-drop, place it into the relevant widget space:Now, youll be able to add a title for the widget, plus some text to encourage PayPal donations with WordPress:Once youve placed the widget, it will look something like this on your website:Tip: most themes will automatically left-align the donate button, which can look a little clumsy. If youd like to center-align the button, navigate to Settings / PayPal Donations / Advanced and tick the Theme CSS Override: Center Button option.The alternative is copying and pasting a simple shortcode [paypal-donation]. This will create a donation button using the settings you configured earlier. However, you can modify the shortcode to alter the default settings for several parameters, including the amount, button_url, and return_page for example: [paypal-donation amount:"5"]This is the more flexible of the two options, as it allows you to dot donation buttons throughout your content and anywhere else on your site.Final thoughtsAnd that concludes todays tutorial on how to allow PayPal donations with WordPress through simple buttons. If you want to diversify your revenue streams, give it a go!Have you had any success accepting PayPal donations from your visitors? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Sunday, March 8, 2020
How to Outline a Novel the Master Guide (With Template!)
How to Outline a Novel the Master Guide (With Template!) How to Outline a Novel: an Author's Guide (with Template) Are your eyes tired of staring at a blank Word document? Are you sick of crashing and burning every time you try and start a novel? Well, we have the not-so-secret key to success right here: it involves learning how to outline a novel.Book outlines have saved the neck of many a bestselling writer - but the process behind them is mysterious at best. In this post, we pull back the curtain and show you (step-by-step) how to create a story outline. If youââ¬â¢re looking for some additional inspiration, skip to the appropriate section below to download a book outline template.The argument for outliningDonââ¬â¢t let the naysayers fool you: a story outline is the closest thing to a ââ¬Å"get out of jail freeâ⬠card in the long game of novel-writing.Time invested in a story outline is foresight gained for your novel. Imagine youââ¬â¢re a rock climber looking up at a tall cliff, for instance. You could just leap onto the rock and see what happens. You might reach the top this way - but thereââ¬â¢s a bigger chance that youââ¬â¢ll fall face-first or hit a dead-end along the way. Or: you could stay on the ground a little longer to read the route. This would enable you to climb faster, more fluidly, and with greater confidence in the near future.What is Plot? An Author's Guide to Storytelling Read post Identify the right novel outlineLike we mentioned, thereââ¬â¢s no one-size-fit-all for a novel outline. Think of it as a way of organizing your room - everyone tidies up differently.So if youââ¬â¢ve had trouble outlining in the past, you may be dealing with a classic case of square peg meets round hole. Trust that thereââ¬â¢s a story outline for every writer: itââ¬â¢s just a question of finding the right one to fit your mindset, personality, and writing style. Here we list a few ways that you can plan a work.ðŸâ" ºÃ¯ ¸ Mind Map A visual approach to outlining that shows the spatial relationships between your plot points, characters, themes, conflicts, chapters - you name it.ðŸââ Synopsis A holistic story outline that gives a brief overview of the storyââ¬â¢s plot, characters, conflicts, and themes in a two- to three-page paper.âš « The Beat Sheet Documents the beats of the story in shorthand. Each individual ââ¬Ëbeatââ¬â¢ gets a bullet (or a number). Examples of beat sheets are here and here.ðŸâ⬠The Skeleton Constructs the spine of the novel, or the key plot points. Imagine a roadmap with only big-name destinations marked in red - the road to get there is up to you.ðŸ⠥ Characters First A character-led novel outline. Prioritizes character development, character arcs, and character beats over planning of the plot.âž ¡Ã¯ ¸ Scenes and Sequences Details all the scenes and sequences - in other words, the large set pieces of the novel.When you have an idea of the novel outline that you want to produce, it's time to arm yourself with the right tools to execute it.What kind of writer are you?Letââ¬â¢s head to the armory, where your choice of outlining software will probably depend on your style of writing. Weââ¬â¢ve suggested some for you below - though old-fashioned pen and paper work perfectly fine, too.The Gardener In George R. R. Martinââ¬â¢s own words: ââ¬Å"Gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed, and water it. They kind of know what seed it is. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don't know how many branches it's going to have. They find out as it grows.â⬠Since this kind of writer engages in organic world-building and character-building, a traditional novel outline probably wonââ¬â¢t be a natural fit for them - though a mind map might be useful.ðŸ⠨à Tools to consider if youââ¬â¢re a Gardener: Coggle, SimplenoteThe Architect Architects need to plan everything before they can get going. This kind of writer will know how many rooms are going into the house, where the sinkââ¬â¢s going to be, and what kind of wallpaper theyââ¬â¢re going to use.ðŸ⠨à Tools to consider if youââ¬â¢re an Architect: Scrivener, WorkflowyThe Designer Designers are somewhere in-between: they have a pencil sketch in place and like to have a good idea of what the painting will look like. However, they might not yet know what precise colors theyââ¬â¢re going to use. Theyââ¬â¢ll figure that out as they work.Though they might not rely on a strictly detailed novel outline, they may want to sketch out a skeleton of plot points.ðŸ⠨à Tools to consider if youââ¬â¢re a Designer: Scrivener, yWriterThe Knitter Knitters sit down and write scenes as they pop into their head. Theyââ¬â¢ll then go back and ââ¬Å"knitâ⬠the sequences together later. Since they might randomly have Scenes 2, 10, 11, and 27 down on paper, it becomes a question of ââ¬Å"filling in the blanks.â⬠To them, a novel outline will be helpful as long as it gives them freedom to move scenes around. (Think notecards or a corkboard.)ðŸ⠨à Tools to consider if youââ¬â¢re a Knitter: Trello, yWriterNow that youââ¬â¢re equipped, we can ask the million-dollar question: how do you outline a novel? Are you a Gardener or an Architect when you write? Double-check in this post How to outline a novel in 3 steps To make it easy for yourself, you can break the entire outlining process down into three stages:Step 1: Setting the stageStep 2: Organizing scenesStarting scenesBuilding scenesStep 3: Troubleshooting your story outlineIf youââ¬â¢ve already made progress with your story, donââ¬â¢t hesitate to hop to whichever step you need. How to create a book outline (and more tips) in three easy steps Step 1: Setting the stageWithout groundwork, your scenes (and story) will collapse in on itself. Thatââ¬â¢s why you first need to set the stage for your novel outline. Pick and structure your story outline based on what you think is key to your storytelling. If youââ¬â¢re writing a story with a huge cast of characters, you may want to include a column that tells you where each character is in every scene. If youââ¬â¢re juggling a lot of subplots and character arcs, use your novel outline to trace that.To give you some inspiration, we created a few different novel outline templates. Feel free to download them for your use and alter them however you need!Book Outline Template #1: A basic story outline that includes all of the common variables.Book Outline Template #2: A plot-oriented story outline that tracks each sceneââ¬â¢s relationship with your plots and subplotsà (inspired by J.K. Rowling's novel outline).Book Outline Template #3: A simple scene list.Step 3: Troubleshooting your story outlineDonââ¬â¢t worry if your story isnââ¬â¢t perfect yet. Thatââ¬â¢s one of the magical things about story outlines: itââ¬â¢s designed to let you spot your blind spots ahead of time.To troubleshoot your novel outline, first step back so that you can view your story through fresh eyes. Then bring out your highlighter - and be ready to be as ruthless as a cranky teacher wielding a red pen. Highlight wherever:An idea is left hanging in a sceneTwo scenes need a bridgeA scene is redundant or gratuitousA wild plot hole appearsIf you find yourself struggling while you plan your book, that might indicate an underlying weakness in your story that youââ¬â¢ll want to address. To give you an idea of what we mean, weââ¬â¢ve listed a couple of common symptoms (and potential treatments) below.Your story doesnââ¬â¢t really go anywhere. ðŸ⠡ The problem here may be a weak premise. Consider going back and perfecting it to a T. Whatââ¬â¢s the story question that will compel readers to flip the pages? (For instance: Is Katniss going to survive the Hunger Games?)Your pacing is uneven throughout the novel outline. ðŸ⠡ Mapping your story directly onto the structure of a story arc is one way to fix awkward scene placement and order. Hereââ¬â¢s a free 10-part course on the 3-Act Story Structure if youââ¬â¢d like to learn more about it.You donââ¬â¢t know what should come next. ðŸ⠡ Try to return to your characters to drive the plot. What would they do next if this happened? Where would that then take the story? If this is a persistent problem, itââ¬â¢ll probably be worth it to re-visit the character development phase and hone your understanding of your characters. Here's a free course on character development if you'd like to dive into it.Examples of story outlinesYou didnââ¬â¢t think that youââ¬â¢re the only writer out there whoââ¬â¢s outlining, did you? Many bestselling authors depend on story outlines to organize their thoughts and map out their books. Whether itââ¬â¢s J.K. Rowling or Joseph Heller, whatââ¬â¢s interesting is how they chose to plan their stories. To see even more examples of book outlines, check out this post over at Flavorwire. Check out J.K. Rowling's book outline for Order of the Phoenix - and more This story outline that James Salters created for Light Years sketches the sequences of the book, with choice character notes and dialogue inserted at random.TEMPLATE:à How to create a novel outline Get a free book outline template! "How to create a story outline in three steps" As a parting gift, here are the three book outline templates again. Feel free to change any particular book outline template to match your needsà - and if you have any suggestions or updates for them, please do feel free to drop us your thoughts in the comments. We hope that they're useful.Book Outline Template #1: A basic story outline that includes all of the common variables.Book Outline Template #2: A plot-oriented story outline that tracks each sceneââ¬â¢s relationship with your plots and subplots (inspired by J.K. Rowling's novel outline).Book Outline Template #3: A simple scene list.What kind of writer are you? Are you a Gardener or an Architect? If the former, what process do you use when you're outlining? Let us know in the comments.
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