Advice from Slate's 'Dear Prudence' Unethical fake job reference Joanne, my BFF and coworker, and Melanie, a former coworker, both recently applied for the same exciting awesome job. When she left our company I offered to be a reference for the diligent, talented Melanie. Joanne told me how intense the application process was - her parents divorced at the same time, so she was frazzled - so I expected a call from the hiring company. It never came. Neither Joanne nor Melanie got the job. Emily Yoffe : You've got to step up and try to restore Melanie's reputation.
. – February 06, 2012 1:03 PM My Boyfriend's Surprise Baby I have been dating a coworker for several months. You could send an email saying, "Congratulations! – February 06, 2012 1:05 PM Brother's Bridezilla Problem My brother's fiance is a nightmare of a bride. You have some kind of nerve thinking you're entitled to ruin this wedding -- and the photos! – February 06, 2012 1:14 PM Stepdaughter's Lie Unforgivable? You need to all go to counseling together. Biting dog. So You Want To Be a Writer: Charles Bukowski Debunks the "Tortured Genius" Myth of Creativity.
This Will Make You Smarter: 151 Big Thinkers Each Pick a Concept to Enhance Your Cognitive Toolkit. 30 Indispensable Writing Tips From Famous Authors. Kurt Vonnegut's 8 Tips on How to Write a Great Story. By Maria Popova The year of reading more and writing better is well underway with writing advice the likes of David Ogilvy’s 10 no-bullshit tips, Henry Miller’s 11 commandments, Jack Kerouac’s 30 beliefs and techniques, John Steinbeck’s 6 pointers, and various invaluable insight from other great writers. Now comes Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922–April 11, 2007) — anarchist, Second Life dweller, imaginary interviewer of the dead, sad soul — with eight tips on how to write a good short story, narrated by the author himself.
Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.Every sentence must do one of two things — reveal character or advance the action.Start as close to the end as possible.Be a Sadist.