Keeping All you Need in a Folder
When you're just starting out, things can get a little overwhelming. You're not sure what you need to do or where to start. There's a lot of ideas and plans flying around in your head, but you don't know how to organize it all yet and make it accessible. Here are some things that might help:
* Keep all the important documents (like contracts, tax records, etc.) and notes in one folder on your computer or device.
* Create a new folder for each year that goes back as far as possible (just make sure everything is saved there.)
* Use another folder for each research project you're working on.
* Create a folder to hold web addresses (URLs) of pages that interest you. Organize them by topic, name, description and/or location.
* Keep a folder for self-study materials, including books, articles and websites.
* Make sure your folders are in one place and easy to remember or access. You can e-mail yourself links to the folders and files you want to keep track of instead of copying them onto other devices.
The point is that if you spend some time now organizing things logically into logical places, it will pay off later when you can locate specific information quickly at any time or place. You can keep adding to the folders as new ideas occur to you or as new information becomes available.
* One way you can organize your different projects is to take a look at their goals. You can create subfolders for each goal. For example, one of my goals was to collect all the ways to get free stuff and I put them into a folder called Freebies. The next time I came across something related to that topic, I would just put it in the same folder.
* And then there are the straight forward ones like Work, Personal, Diary (for personal experiences), Finances, Quotes, etc.
Try making a little time for organization, it can really pay off.
There are tons of folders and folders, but if you stick with the basic ones, you'll get the hang of things quickly.
* The final point is that all your files should have descriptive names and you should not just keep them together on your device, but keep them together in one location that's easy to access and folder-ized .
I hope this helps! I also made a video on keeping all your notes in one place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqz3UFp69mE
It would be great if you guys could share this article! Thank You! :) -Tina
P.S. I have also edited this article to ensure that the information is correct :)
posted by Tina M. at 10:48 AM 0 comments
This morning, when I was doing my usual round of internet browsing and checking my social networks, I saw an article by Brain Pickings which talked about a study by a professor in Harvard University that explained how messages tend to be unconsciously influenced by the music in the background . It's not just the mood or atmosphere of the music, but even its lyrics can make our perception of what we are reading harder or easier. On one hand it's good because you can make your message more persuasive with matching music (that is if you're writing a persuasive piece). On the other hand it can affect your perception of the message.
#1: Music
Whether you're writing a social message or persuasive piece, the use of music in your background can trigger different emotions and moods that people receive when they read. If you are writing a social, I would recommend using soft music because it can make people feel at peace and calm. But if you are writing an article that needs to set a serious tone, use slow and melancholy song as they will make people more susceptible to what they will read. If you are not so concerned about the mood of your reader, then play with different genres to see which one gets their attention better (funny videos work well).
#2: Writing styles and structure
happens. If you are writing a social message, it is best to write your first draft in simple words and sentences. For persuasive pieces, the opposite is true. You should use big complex words with complex structures to make your message comes across as more persuasive. Think of the book "1984" by George Orwell. It was written in very complex language and so was difficult for people to read before they understood the message behind it ("Big Brother" is not a real person who watches you).
#3: NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming)
NLP basically tells how our brain functions. It is a study of the human thought process and how our brain works with what we read. In NLP, people use a lot of jargon that they probably don't understand as much as they think they do. If you are not into it and would just like to learn the basics, read "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg . He just explains enough about the human thought process for you to better your writing and take it in stride when various critics give their point of view. Without learning about the way our brain works, you won't know how to deal with readers whose perceptions have been influenced (for better or worse) by your choice of music playlist or writing style.
posted by Tina M. at 11:22 AM 0 comments
The other day my friend asked me for some advice about writing a personal statement for college. It was due yesterday but she was having trouble getting started. I thought it could be a great opportunity to share some of the things I've learned over the years.
posted by Tina M. at 12:58 PM 0 comments
// "The title was not good enough." //
There were many times when I thought I did everything according to the instructions and still got rejected from contests or publications. Sometimes it felt like they didn't even read what I wrote! If you think that you're doing everything right, but still getting rejected, there are a few reasons for this: 1).
Conclusion: If you're writing a contest entry or an essay, always follow the instructions to the letter. And if you're working on something more creative, always make sure that there's an element of surprise at the end.
posted by Tina M. at 1:59 PM 0 comments
If you've ever been to Japan and traveled around the country, then you would have noticed that they use different types of toilets in different places. There are even "squat toilets" which are also called "Japanese Toilets".