6 Nov 2012

Beautiful PLACES

We live in a world blessed with sights that are beautiful beyond words. Every human being probably dreams of visiting at least one of those places in their lifetime. Living in modern cities with high-rise buildings, we tend to miss out on what Mother Nature has to offer as well as some of the most incredible man-made structures built throughout the course of history.

Look at the places below, and you will see beauty that fills the eye and warms the heart. It wouldn’t be appropriate or humanly possible to just pick a few places from the huge collection of amazing sights around the world and call them the “best.”

They say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and there are perhaps other places that have touched your heart. For this reason, we do not claim the places included in our list are the best, but rather among the vast collection of the most beautiful places of the world.

Skardu Valley – Pakistan

Photo by bogavanterojo


Photo by NotMicroButSoft


Skardu Valley is part of the Baltistan. Baltistan is spread over an area of 26,000 square kilometres – just right below the jagged and glaciated ramparts of the Karakoram. Once part of Laddakh, it was known as Tibet-i-Khurd – Little Tibet. Archaeological exploration has proven that it was encompassed by the Silk Trade Route.

Shangrila – Pakistan

Photo by NotMicroButSoft


Shangrila Resort Skardu, also known as “Heaven on Earth”, is nestled amongst some of the world’s highest peaks. It encircles the heart shaped “Kachura Lake” and is surrounded by fruit laden orchards and flower filled gardens.

Lake Saiful Muluk – Pakistan

Photo by Fahd Murtaza


Lake Saiful Muluk is a lake located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley near Naran. A fairy tale called Saiful Muluk, written by the famous sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, is associated with the lake. It is the story of prince of Persia who fell in love with a fairy princess at the lake. The impact of the lake beauty is of such extent that people believe that fairies come down to lake in full moon.

The Grand Canyon, United States





A steep gorge by the Colorado River, Arizona in the United States, the Grand Canyon has some truly enjoyable scenery. It is 277 miles in length, 4 to 18 miles in width, and about a mile deep. Scientists believe that the canyon was created by the Colorado River over a six million year period.







Native Americans built settlements in the caves within the canyon before the emigration of Europeans. It was also considered to be a site of pilgrimage by the Pueblo people. The first recorded visit to the Grand Canyon by the Europeans was in 1869. Although it is not the deepest canyon in the world, it is known for its extremely large size and beautifully intricate landscape. The Grand Canyon National Park is said to be one of the first national parks in the United States and it attracts more than five million visitors a year. Weather conditions in the Grand Canyon vary greatly between seasons as well as varying at different elevations. While winter snow is experienced by the higher forested rims, the inner gorge has a desert temperature because of the low elevation.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

One of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia is the world’s largest coral reef. It has the distinction of being placed in the World Heritage as well as the National Heritage lists.







With more than 600 islands and coral cays, the reef covers more than 300,000 sq. km. Corals make up the reefs and cays and are responsible for a huge variety of sea life in the reef — green turtles, several varieties of whales and dolphins, the dugong, about 4000 types of mollusks, 1500 different species of fish, as well as beautifully colored bird life encompassing at least 200 species. The Great Reef Marine Park is a huge tourist attraction with millions of tourists visiting the area each year. Sporting activities include reef sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling, amongst others.

Cape Town, South Africa

Aptly called “Heaven on earth,” this beautiful town at the tip of the African continent, with small roads surrounded by huge mountains, makes a person feel small; showing how marvelous and dominating nature can actually be.







The Cape Dutch style buildings depict the architectural heritage of the place. Beauty abounds in the black clouds that seem to pay homage to Table Mountain at all times. Cape Point, Signal Hill, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Robben Island, Rhodes Memorial, and the beaches are some of the famous tourist attractions. Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town is famous for its natural floral kingdom as well as its harbor. This town is one of the most popular tourist attractions of South Africa with its wine tasting day trips, whale watching, and dolphin watching.

Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal in India is one of the wonders of the world and is one of the most beautiful mausoleums constructed by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his favorite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Located in Agra, white marble was used in the construction of this symbol of love, and the Taj Mahal is considered to be the pinnacle of Mughal architecture.







As the story goes, the emperor was grief-stricken when he lost his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It took thousands of craftsmen and artisans, and about twenty years to construct it. The masons, stone cutters, carvers, inlayers, calligraphers, painters, and others were brought from throughout the entire empire as well as from Iran and Central Asia. Semi-precious stones were used for inlay ornamentation. It later became the mausoleum of Shah Jahan too. This is a huge tourist attraction with one to two million tourists visiting it every year.

Canadian Rockies, Canada

The majestic Canadian Rockies are the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains. They are a visitor’s wonderland and the playground for western Canada. They are older than the American Rockies and are formed from over thrusting.







The Canadian Rockies house five national parks, and four of those national parks (along with other provincial parks) combine to form a single UNESCO World Heritage Site that consists of beautiful mountain landscapes, lakes, canyons, waterfalls, glaciers, peaks, limestone caves, and fossils. Mount Robson is the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies and climbing it is considered a challenge. These beautiful mountains are a haven for hikers and walkers alike.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu in Peru, which means ‘Old Peak,” is one of the most enigmatic ancient sites in the world. According to legend, Machu Picchu was long ago considered to be a sacred place. The credit for the creation of the extraordinary city goes to the Inca people who have erected many stone structures and turned the place into a work of art.








Two thousand feet above the Urubamba river, these ruins consist of baths, temples, palaces, and about 150 houses, all very well preserved. These gray granite structures, some of which weigh more than 50 tons, are so perfectly sculpted that they are nothing less than works of architectural genius. They were rediscovered by a Yale archaeologist in 1911. The ethereal beauty, workmanship, and history of the place attracts millions of tourists each year.

The Pyramids, Egypt

The Egyptian pyramids are massive monuments with a square base and four triangular sides rising up to a point. There is still a lot of curiosity (and many theories) as to how the pyramids were actually constructed.









It is generally believed that the Egyptians began constructing them after 2700 B.C. and that they were built as tombs for the pharaohs. The most well-known (and the largest) pyramids of Egypt are the Pyramids at Giza which are said to be the largest ever built. It’s said that the Great Pyramid at Giza took 23 years to complete, using a work force of around 30,000 people. About 118 pyramids have been identified, and they are popular and intriguing to tourists and home researchers alike.

Petra, Jordan

Described by the UNESCO as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”, Petra is an archeological site on the slope of Mount Hor. It is one of the new wonders of the world and is famous for its rock-cut architecture.









This site was kept hidden until 1812 when it was discovered by a Swiss explorer. It was said to have been prepared by God for the Jewish people. Petra once flourished under the Roman empire but a rapid decline began with the Arabian trade being taken elsewhere. Then an earthquake caused a great deal of destruction. Tourists frequent the place to get a glimpse of the ruins of this beautiful city.

Great Wall of China, China

One of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China is a man-made structure that was constructed over two thousand years ago and took about 100 years to complete. The vastness of this project brings to light the immense capabilities of man.







The constructions started in the 5th Century B.C. It is actually not a single wall, but rather many walls put together, and it stretches over 4,000 miles. It was constructed to protect the Chinese Empire from the Xiongnu people in the north. The wall was initially built of stone, grass, earth, and wood, but bricks were used once the production started. It is believed that about 2-3 million Chinese died during the construction project.

The Iguazu Waterfalls, Argentina-Brazil Border


Heralded as the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, the Iguazu Waterfalls are a true wonder of nature. They are located at the border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. While the Argentinean side allows visitors to walk right around the water or explore the National Park, the Brazilian side is known for its panoramic views and splendor.







First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is believed to have exclaimed upon seeing these falls, “poor Niagara.” The area surrounding the falls provides ample opportunities for rock climbing as well as water sports. Iguazu has the distinction of having a greater annual flow than any other waterfall in the world.

With all of these, and many more beautiful places that exist in our world, we surrounded by choices. The only way to decide on the places to visit is to follow your heart. While some may love the tranquility of water, others may bury themselves deep in architectural miracles, ancient sites, or the serenity of a small town.

3 Nov 2012

Kenapa Bumi Adalah Tempatnya Manusia, 13 Fakta


Ketika efek pemanasan global dan ancaman kehancuran mendera bumi, para ahli astronom berpaling ke tata surya mencari planet baru yang layak huni. Kenyataannya, sejauh ini belum ada planet yang suasananya ‘senyaman’ bumi kita.
Walaupun mungkin ada yang mendekati, jarak tempuhnya terlalu jauh. Alternatif lain, manusia mencoba membentuk peradaban di planet Mars. Tetap saja tak seindah bumi kita.
earth1 Kenapa Bumi Adalah Tempatnya Manusia, 13 Fakta
actualearth.org
Sejujurnya, bumi benar-benar dipersiapkan sebagai tempat tinggal manusia. Para ahli pun mengakui hal ini. Maka, akan aneh dan merupakan ‘keajaiban super’ bila kehidupan timbul secara ‘tak sengaja’ dari ledakan big-bang dan mikro-organisme yang terbawa ke planet Bumi menjadi asal-usul manusia, hewan, serta mahluk hidup lainnya.
Kalau teori tersebut benar, logika yang paling mungkin adalah, tetap ada sebuah kekuatan besar yang mengatur agar proses pembentukan tata surya, terutama bumi, berjalan tepat sesuai perhitungan. Nah, kekuatan besar inilah yang menjadi bukti keberadaan Sang Pencipta.
Ada 13 fakta yang menjadikan bumi sebagai ‘rumah’ untuk manusia, berikut alasannya dikutip dari foxnews.com
1. Orbit bumi terhadap bintangnya, matahari, memiliki jarak yang presisi. Manusia tidak merasa terlalu panas, dan terlalu dingin. Kondisi ini juga membuat air bisa pada bentuknya, cairan dan di beberapa bagian tetap menjadi es. Di Mars dan Venus, ditemukan air juga. Namun, lingkungannya tak memungkinkan air (es) tersebut mencair, mengalir layaknya sungai-sungai di bumi.
2. Hanya bumi yang memiliki satelit paling tepat posisinya, yakni bulan. Dengan keberadaan satu satelit, maka bulan bisa mengatur datangnya air pasang serta air surut. Gravitasi antara bumi dan bulan pun begitu presisi sehingga siklus di bumi menjamin kelangsungan hidup penghuninya.
3. Rotasi bumi terhadap matahari menjadikan pagi dan siang, iklim dingin dan panas, semua terjadi sesuai dengan kondisi mahluk hidup di dalamnya. Kita bisa menikmati matahari 12 jam dan bulan 12 jam, bisa menikmati pergantian musim yang memungkinkan flora  melakukan regenerasinya. Sungguh keseimbangan yang penuh presisi.
4. Gravitasi bumi sangat pas. Kalau kita ke Mars atau bulan, tak ada gravitasi sehingga manusia bisa melompat tinggi hingga puluhan meter. Walau hal tersebut menarik, rasanya susah menjalani kehidupan dalam kondisi demikian. Di mana hewan dan tumbuhan bisa hidup bila tanpa gravitasi?
5. Keberadaan Kutub Utara dan Selatan merupakan medan magnetik yang menjaga kestabilan bumi.
enjoying nature2 Kenapa Bumi Adalah Tempatnya Manusia, 13 Fakta

Sifat Merantau Suku Bugis

Pedagang, saudagar, pengusaha, atau nama apa pun semacam itu dan perantau adalah ciri yang melekat pada kebanyakan orang Bugis dan Makassar, atau suku- suku lain yang ada di Sulsel dan Sulawesi Barat.

Di hampir semua provinsi di Nusantara ini bisa dipastikan ada orang asal Sulsel di situ dengan pekerjaan utama pedagang atau pengusaha. Terbukti saat Pertemuan Saudagar Bugis-Makassar awal November lalu, ratusan perwakilan saudagar Bugis-Makassar yang berasal dari dalam dan luar negeri ikut hadir.

“Sejak zaman dahulu, orang Bugis memang sudah kental dengan sifat perantau. Di perantauan, mereka terkenal punya semangat juang dan semangat hidup lebih besar. Dalam sejarahnya, sejak dulu hingga sekarang, biasanya begitu masuk di suatu daerah mereka langsung menguasai pasar,” kata Ima Kesuma, Kepala Museum Kota Makassar yang banyak melakukan penelitian tentang orang Bugis.

“Menguasai dalam arti berdagang. Biasanya dari berdagang di pasar, mereka kemudian berdagang hasil bumi, bahkan membeli tanah dan bertani atau berkebun. Setelah itu mereka mulai ke usaha lain-lain,” ungkapnya.

Menurut Ima, satu hal yang membuat orang Bugis bisa diterima di mana-mana dan akhirnya cukup mencolok jika sudah berhasil di perantauan adalah semboyan “di mana tanah dipijak di situ langit dijunjung”.

“Kalau orang Bugis sukses di perantauan, mereka akan kaya dan membelanjakan uangnya di perantauan. Mereka membangun rumahnya juga di rantau dan bukan di kampung. Kalaupun mereka menginvestasi di kampung, biasanya hanya sedikit. Itu pun biasanya dalam bentuk membangun masjid, membangun rumah orangtua, atau semacam itu. Orang Bugis biasanya berprinsip di mana mereka merasa tenang dan nyaman hidup sekaligus berusaha, itulah yang dianggap tanah mereka,” papar Ima.

Kesemua itu pula agaknya yang membuat Christian Pelras, seorang Perancis, akhirnya meneliti orang Bugis, bahkan membuat buku The Bugis. Padahal, awalnya Pelras mau melakukan penelitian tentang budaya Melayu di Malaysia.

“Orang Bugis sebenarnya bukan pelaut, tetapi pedagang. Yang lebih pantas disebut pelaut adalah orang Mandar (suku di Sulawesi Barat). Namun, yang kemudian membuat orang Bugis terkenal sebagai pelaut karena dalam berdagang, mereka banyak menggunakan jalur laut. Mau tidak mau agar sukses sebagai pedagang, mereka juga harus menguasai jalur laut. Makanya mereka juga terkenal tangguh di laut,” papar Pelras.

Itu dibenarkan Edward Poelinggomang, pakar sejarah dari Universitas Hasanuddin. Menurut dia, berbagai laporan dan catatan maupun dokumen di Belanda banyak menyebut kehebatan perdagangan maritim dan Pelabuhan Makassar abad ke-19.

Kata Edward, pada abad ke-17 saudagar-saudagar Bugis/Makassar sudah memiliki Loji (tempat untuk tinggal, berdagang, gudang, dan agen perwakilan) di Manila dan Makau. Dalam catatan sejarah, pedagang Bugis ternyata juga punya andil dalam kemajuan Singapura. Buktinya, kampung pertama yang dibangun di pulau itu adalah Kampung Bugis di daerah Gelam.

Menurut Edward, sebenarnya jika Indonesia dan rakyatnya ingin maju, bercermin pada sejarah dan pengalaman masa lalu, terutama semangat juang dan kegigihan para pendahulu, bukanlah sesuatu yang bodoh. Sayangnya, banyak keteladanan masa lalu yang kini mulai pupus.

Tips Cara Mengecilkan Perut dengan Mudah

Ada masalah dengan perut buncit yang mengganggu hari-hari anda, apalagi adalah masalah yang tidak sepele pada wanita, tubuh yang langsing menjadi impian para kaum hawa untuk menampilkan kesan istimewa dan tentunya menggait para pria, dan perut buncit adalah salah satu penyebab timbulnya penyakit dalam tubuh kita, yang akan menuju tahap serius bila tidak di atasi. Ini semua menjadikan kepercayaan diri kita menurun saat perut kita buncit, masalah yang satu ini bisa di cegah apabila mendapat penanggulangan yang baik agar tubuh kita menjadi proporsional atau dengan mengetahui cara mengecilkan perut dengan mudah, salah satu penyebab masalah perut buncit adalah pola hidup yang kurang baik dan terlalu banyak mengkonsumsi junk food atau makanan siap saji, dan kurangnya aktifitas yang semakin mempercepat untuk menggendutkan tubuh.

Anda ingin Tips TERDASYAT Mengecilkan Perut tanpa Olahraga dan benar benar MANJUR , Terus baca artikel dibawah ini pasti akan menemukan solusinya.

Pola hidup yang kurang sehat demikianlah yang menimbulkan perut buncit “akibat negatif” terhadap kesehatan kita. Perut yang buncit menimbulakan bibit-bibit penyakit yang bisa membuat kita terganggu untuk menjalani hari-hari kita, contohnya bila kita terkena penyakit itu akan menyetop pekerjaan kita dan bila kita tidak bisa bekerja itu akan menambah masalah dalam hidup kita. Tentunya anda tidak ingin mengalami masalah seperti itu. Tenang bikin betahakan memberi tips mengecilkan perut untuk anda.

Cara Mengecilkan Perut

Cara Mengecilkan Perut
Cara Mengecilkan Perut

Berikut adalah tips-tips cara mengecilkan perut dengan mudah:

  1. Makan jangan terburu-buru : 
    Hindari makan dengan terburu buru, karena ketika Anda menelan makanan terlalu cepat, setidaknya udara yang masuk ke dalam tubuh tertahan dalam usus dan membentuk gas yang dapat memicu penggelembungan perut. Selalu duduk saat makan dan kunyah makan secara perlahan-lahan. Makanan yang tidak di kunyah dengan benar akan menjadi bagian-bagian yang kecil yang menyebabkan penggelembungan dalam tubuh kiita.
  2. Makan makanan yang berserat : 
    Makan-makanan yang berserat akan melancarkan pencernaan agar tidak menumpuk dalam tubuh kita yang akan menimbylkan penyakit.
  3. Hindari sembelit : Terjadinya sembelit adalah kita tidak teratur dalam membuang air besar tidak teratur. Itu membuat kotoran menumpuk dan penggelembungan gas semakin banyak.
  4. Kurangi mengkonsumsi obat-obatan : 
    Perut yang mengembang adalah efek samping dari mengkonsumsi obat. Aspirin kadang-kadang menyebabkan masalah perut yang memicu sembelit dan penggelembungan, termasuk pil kontrasepsi yang sering diminum untuk mengurangi pembuahan.
  5. Mengonsumsi banyak garam : 
    Tips cara mengecilkan perut dengan mudah dengan banyak mengkonsumsi garam dalam diet menambah ektra sodium terhadap cairan tubuh yang memperlambat mekanisme sehingga mendorong air keluar dari sel. Akibatnya perut terasa menggelembung dan penuh.
  6. Banyak mengkonsumsi air : 
    Jika perut anda terasa penuh. Anda sebenarnya dapat mengurangi masalah tersebut dengan minum air lebih banyak. Hal ini akan mencairkan konsentrasi sodium dalam tubuh sehingga meningkatkan jumlah air yang keluar dari sistem. Minum lebih banyak air juga menjamin fungsi empedu efektif untuk mengeluarkan produk sampah. Jangan merubah konsumsi air saat diet karena banyak bahan yang sulit dicerna apalagi kurang minum air dan dapat menyebabkan penggelembungan dalam tubuh.
  7. Olah raga yang teratur : 
    Olah raga yang teratur adalah musuh si buncit dan wajib dilakukan untuk melangsingkan perut, bila tubuh kita bekerja keras tentunya akan membuang banyak kalori dan akan menjadikan lemak dalam tubuh menjadi tenaga, membuat cairan tubuh mengalir dalam tubuh menjadi keringat atau dibawa ke empedu di jadikan sebagai urine.

Itulah tips cara mengecilkan perut dengan Mudah untuk melangsingkan perut buncit yang menjadi masalah besar bagi para wanita, segera praktekan cara-cara ini agar membuat tubh anda langsing dan menambah kepercayaan diri anda, semoga ini menjadi manfaat bagi anda dan terus jalankan pola hidup yang sehat agar terhindar dari masalah perut buncit dan menumbuhkan berbagai penyakit.

2 Nov 2012

HOW to writing

People have always said you're a good writer, and you've thought about becoming one yourself. Perhaps the next Annie Proulx, or the next David Foster Wallace? To get there, you want to be great, not just good.

It takes a great deal of practice, of course, but there are ways you can improve and become the writer you want to be. We'll share some tips with you, and perhaps someday somebody will aspire to be the next you!

Improve Your Writing Skills

STEP


Method One: Consume the Written Word Voraciously

  1. 1
    Pick up a good book. "How will that make me a better writer?" you wonder. By immersing yourself in the worlds and words of writers who have given us some of the most compelling stories and characters, you will develop a sense of what is possible.

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    • You will become more aware of the world around you—both the real world, and the worlds that exist only in your mind's eye, thanks to the author's gifts.
    • You will be exposed to thoughts and ideas that may not have otherwise occurred to you, sending your mind on new paths to explore.
    • You will learn new ways of presenting narrative descriptions through use of symbolism or literalism. Try comparing different author's approaches to the same subject to see how they are alike, and how they differ. For example, Tolstoy's Death of Ivan Ilych, and Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro.
    • You will see opening lines that make it crystal clear why "It was a dark and stormy night" is such a horrible cliché. Compare these similar weather-related opening lines:
      • “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”—1984, by George Orwell. It's not dark, nor stormy, nor night. But you can tell right from the start something's not quite right in 1984.
      • “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”—Neuromancer, by William Gibson, in the same book that gave us the word "cyberspace." This not only gives you the weather report, it does so in such a way that you are immediately placed into his dystopian world.
      • “It was the day my grandmother exploded.”— The Crow Road, by Iain Banks. OK, it's not about the weather, unless we're talking about raining grandma bits, but as an opening line it really grabs your attention.
      • "“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”—A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Weather, emotion, damnation, and despair—Dickens covered it all with an opening line that leaves the reader ready for anything.
  2. 2
    Attend local theatre regularly. Yes, watching a play is passive—like television or the movies—and there's not a bit of reading involved. But it will fire your imagination in ways you might not expect.
    • More than a movie ever can be, a theatrical performance is like words come to life, with only the director's interpretation and the actor's delivery as filters between the author's pen and your ears.
    • The play's the thing, delivered by real people only feet in front of you, and you will be exposed to the writer's ideas in much more intimate and immediate ways.

Method Two: Write Voluminously

  1. 1
    Buy a notebook. Not just any notebook, but a good sturdy one you can take with you almost anywhere, at any time, because ideas happen anywhere, at any time, and you want to be able to capture those ideas, fleeting as they be, before they escape you like that dream you had the other night about...um...it was...uh...well it was really good at the time!
    • Write down any ideas that come to you: subtitles, topics, characters, situations—anything that will spark your imagination later when you're ready.
    • Keep this notebook (and a pen or pencil) around at all times, and dedicate this one notebook for ideas only, even if you prefer to write your stories out in longhand first, as some writers are wont to do. If that's the case, get another notebook for your story. If you have multiple stories, have one notebook for each.
    • Having an idea book filled with inspiration will be invaluable, both in the near future, and someday, down the road, when you need a creative kick in the pants. When you fill it up, put a label on it with the date range and any general notes, so you can refer back to it as needed.
  2. 2
    Pick a topic and start writing. The topic itself doesn't matter—the idea is to write. And write. And write some more.
    • Lay out the general arc of the story. It doesn't have to be complex, just a way to get your head around the direction of the plot. For example, that classic Hollywood story line: boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back again. (The chase scenes are added later.)
  3. 3
    Write an outline. Expand on your basic arc, by section so you can begin to flesh out your story, populating it with at least the main characters, locations, time period, and mood.
    • For example, using our "Hollywood" arc, you might have an outline like this (pardon the clichés—this is only an example):
      • Boy meets girl. Mid-20s. They're seated together an airplane, international flight, going to Paris. He is conventional, a little dull, smart, but not worldly. He planned this trip for a year. She is pretty, but tough and street-smart, and very witty. Planned this trip this morning.
      • Boy gets girl. In Paris, they decide to spend the day getting over jetlag and seeing the sights. She convinces him to follow her. They tour around sipping coffee, eating baguettes and cheese, window shop. She talks about how her dad has fallen on hard times because of an unscrupulous venture capitalist who is closing her dad's business. Boy says nothing about his father, but knows that his dad is the guy who ruined her father's life. Later, they decide to have dinner, where they realize they're attracted to each other, and romance ensues.
      • Boy loses girl. Over a romantic breakfast, girl finds out boy's father is the guy who put her father out of business. Angry at being used by the boy, she tosses him off the balcony in his underwear (1st floor—no damage), tosses his open suitcase after him.
      • This all happens in the first quarter of the story.
      • Boy gets girl back. Girl is kidnapped, boy braves bullets and barroom brawls to rescue her. In the meantime, his dad is arrested on corruption charges, and the board awards control of the company to the boy. Boy also rescues her dad's business by canceling the foreclosure. The two fly off into the sunset together, back to America and their new life.
    • Note that in an outline like this, you discover that of the 4 sections, the last one will take up the bulk of the story. When when you have part of an outline that will take more than a few words to describe, create a sub-outline to break that section into manageable parts.
  4. 4
    Write the first draft. You're now ready to start your "sloppy copy," otherwise known as your first draft! Using your outline, flesh out the characters and the narrative.
    • You'll find yourself creating new characters as you write. Keep some space in your story notebook to add characters, and what makes them who they are. Give each of them a little story of their own, and even if you don't add that info into your story, it will give a sense of how your character might act in a given situation.
    • Don't be afraid to hop around. If you suddenly have a brilliant idea about how to resolve a situation near the end, but you're still on Chapter 1, write it down! Never let an idea go to waste.
  5. 5
    Let your story guide you. Remember, this is the first draft. Let your story have its say, and you may find yourself heading in unexpected, but very interesting directions. You're still the director, but stay open to inspiration.
    • When you're stuck, ask yourself: "What would Kurt Vonnegut (or your favorite author) do?"
  6. 6
    Finish your first draft. Don't get caught up in fine tuning things yet, just let the story play out on paper. If you realize, 2/3 of the way through the story, that she's really the Ambassador to Dubai, make a note, and finish the story with her as the Ambassador, but don't go back and start re-writing her part till you're done with the first draft.
  7. 7
    Write it again. First draft, remember? Now you get to write it from the beginning, this time knowing all the details of your story that will make your characters much more real and believable. Now you know why he's on that airplane, and why she is dressed like a punk. They're both running away from something about their lives, and it's what draws them together.
    • Write it through to the end. By the time you are done with the second draft, you will have all the information about your story, your characters, the main plot, and the subplot defined.
  8. 8
    Read your story. Now that you've finished the second draft, it's time to read it. Dispassionately, if possible, so that you can at least try and be objective. Share it with a couple trusted friends whose opinion you respect.
  9. 9
    Write the final draft. Armed with notes from your reading the story, plus notes of your friends or publishers, go through your story one more time, finalizing as you go. Tie up loose ends, resolve conflicts, eliminate any characters that do not add to the story.
  10. 10
    Buy a notebook. Yes, you just finished an epic novel, and you're feeling flush with success. Now's the time to write the next novel, because you're "in the zone," and getting better with every word.
  11. TIPS
    • Good writers read a lot. Read all the time: magazines, novels, the paper, anything. Reading a wide range of material increases your vocabulary and gives you a sense of what you're trying to achieve.
    • Not all writing is fiction. Contribute to newspapers or online blogs, sharing your opinions and thoughts—always written well, of course.
    • Make a mnemonic device to help you remember things you often forget.
    • Similes and metaphors are fun to use! When done well, they are like the scent of a rose, and make you look smart as a whip.
    • Read books, newspapers, and magazines to help you find interesting facts you could use in your writing.
    • The info sources are for finding info about a "knowledge essay."
    • Teachers admire people who work hard instead of racing to finish the essay at the last minute.
    • If you are going to use a computer, write out your story or essay by hand first, then type it on a computer. Writing by hand prepares you for essay tests. It also encourages very different ways of thinking; computers can tend to make work look more "finished" or "official" than it really is.
    • Use complete words and sentences. An essay or story is not a chatroom.
    • Just have fun while writing. Writing shouldn't be torture, it is a skill.