Free writing 1

Once upon a time there lived a princess and a prince newly wedded and on there way to an adventure they never expected they would have. For a marriage present they received a beautiful castle to start their lives out on a condition that they must give birth to their first grandson within 3 years time. They tried for months doing everything possible including spells and ointments, they didn't work and they were getting worried.

By now the royal couple had allot of stress and frustration between them. The Prince couldn't understand why she wasn't getting pregnant an the Princess was asking herself why she wasn't  pregnant either.The sex was not the best either, for some reason, the princess wasn't enjoying the sex anymore the love was fading and the hopeless was getting stronger by the day.  One day the prince was notified by a messenger  to report for duty to serve his country, it was mandatory. It was assignment that will leave the princess alone for 6 months at least. The princess was heart broken but knew it was the right thing to do. The loving feelings bloomed at that point and they made love like they did on their honeymoon.

Hopeless and lonely the Princess waived her prince goodbye. She thought she is going to leave the castle soon if I don't get pregnant soon. She got extremely lonely after a few days of making herself busy, and wondered off to her local pub. She had a few drinks reuniting with some of her pals from grammar school. One in particular walked her back home and saw that she got to bed. Finding out that her husband was gone for a few more months he decided to offer his kind held and company until he came back, luckily this particular guy was good friend with her husband , which made everything okay. So for two months he kept her company and helped with the house work despite of making a move on her. Suddenly he left and didn't show up again , not knowing why the princess was more relived then concerned because she wanted her prince not some townsman. It was fun company she thought but nothing more.

The week before her husband supposed to arrive the princess started getting really sick throwing up constantly and having larger appetites. She didn't know what was wrong and sent for the queen and doctor to check on her. To her surprise she found out she was pregnant, Good news for all! Very shortly there after, her husband the prince arrived and was kindly greeted by ha whole family announcing the addition his wife's petite stomach.

who's baby is it really?
Who was that guy?
Could it have her guardian angel?
Could the pregnancy be a miracle?

English 50 – Intro to Creative Writing: Exercises for Story Writers

More Exercises:
Write the first 250 words of a short story, but write them in ONE SENTENCE. Make sure that the sentence is grammatically correct and punctuated correctly. This exercise is intended to increase your powers in sentence writing.
Write a dramatic scene between two people in which each has a secret and neither of them reveals the secret to the other OR TO THE READER.
Write a narrative descriptive passage in a vernacular other than your own. Listen to the way people speak in a bar, restaurant, barber shop, or some other public place where folks who speak differently ("He has an accent!") from you, and try to capture that linguistic flavor on the page.
Play with sentences and paragraph structure: Find a descriptive passage you admire, a paragraph or two or three, from published material, and revise all the sentences. Write the passage using all simple sentences (no coordination, no subordination); write the passage using all complex-compound sentences; write the passage using varying sentence structure. The more ways you can think to play with sentence structure, the more you will become aware of how sentence structure helps to create pacing, alter rhythm, offer delight.
Focus on verbs: Find a passage that you admire (about a page of prose) and examine all of the verbs in each sentence. Are the "active," "passive," "linking?" If they are active, are they transitive or intransitive? Are they metaphorical (Mary floated across the floor.)? What effects do verbs have on your reading of the passage?
Take a passage of your own writing and revise all of the verbs in it. Do this once making all the verbs active, once making all the verbs passive. Then try it by making as many verbs as possible metaphorical (embedded metaphors).Characters: There are two types of characters: well rounded and flat.
Create character sketches. This is a good exercise to perform on a regular basis in your journal. Sometimes you can just create characters as they occur to you, at other times it is good to create characters of people you see or meet. Some of the best sketches are inspired by people you don't really know but get a brief view of, like someone sitting in a restaurant or standing by a car that has been in an accident. Ask yourself who they are, what they are about. The fact that you don't really know the person will free you up to make some calculated guesses that ultimately have more to say about your own vision of the world than they do about the real person who inspired the description. That's okay, you are NOT a reporter, and ultimately the story you intend to tell is YOUR story.
Write a character sketch strictly as narrative description, telling your reader who the character is without having the character do or say anything.
Revise the above to deliver the character to the reader strictly through the character's actions.
Revise the above to deliver the character strictly through the character's speech to another character.
Revise the above to deliver the character strictly through the words/actions of another character (the conversation at the water fountain about the boss).
Often when we call a character "flat" we mean that the author has failed in some way; however, many good stories require flat characters. Humor often relies on flat characters, but often minor characters in non-humorous pieces are also flat. These characters usually appear to help move the plot along in some way or to reveal something about the main character. A flat character is one who has only ONE characteristic. You can create whole lists of these and keep them in your journal so that you can call upon them when you need a character to fit into a scene.
Young writers are prone to write autobiographical pieces. Instead of writing about people like yourself, try writing about someone who is drastically different in some way from you. Writing about someone who is a good deal older or younger than you will often free up your imagination. It helps to make sure you are delivering enough information to your reader so that the reader can clearly see the character and understand the character's motives.
Write a scene of about five hundred words in which a character does something while alone in a setting that is extremely significant to that character. Have the character doing something (dishes, laundry, filing taxes, playing a computer game, building a bird house) and make sure that YOU are aware that the character has a problem or issue to work out, but do NOT tell your reader what that is.


Go back to the previous page? Go on to the next page? Go to poetry?
This page created and maintained by Jim Manis; last updated February 10, 2000.

Do It Yourself: Creative Hairstyles

GRANDMAGNUS JULY 27, 2012 0
Send this out to your girlfriend pronto !

Teacher’s Rock Concert 2012

Teacher’s Rock Concert 2012
By Alissa M. Gray

Teacher’s Rock was an extravaganza of appreciation all teachers worldwide. A
concert celebrating teachers and benefiting education programs. It was my first time as
a seat filler and it was an amazing experience, especially honoring the leaders that are
guiding our next generation of future leaders of America. They seated us once in the
center but then moved us to the left side. Luckily we got to stay on our seats the whole
time and not have to move again.

Garth Brooks opened up the show with a whole song with his guitar and black
country hat. He sang in one place around a bunch of children sitting Indian style
forming a circle surround him. The best part is when he made all the teachers stand up
and gave them an amazing standing ovation. He was awesome it just was too bad it was
so short.

The line-up of various celebrities recounting their educational experiences
left me reminiscing about my experience with the teachers that had inspired me the
same way. Many actors and singers came out to Honor the teachers of 2012. Carrie
Underwood shared her experience with her mother who was her teacher growing up. It
was an adorable story entailing how she was treated indifferently on purpose to no
favorites amongst the class. In the end, after Carry confessed to her mother, her teacher
that she was going to be a country singer; her mother then Syd in relief and said to her
back,"We’ll good you weren’t too good at school anyways." David Growl from the Foo
Fighters shared his experience of how grateful he was to have a teacher for a mother.
His experience was quite the opposite as his mother freaked out when he announced to
her he was going to be a rock star but it all worked out for the best. Morgan Freedman
also shared his story and his appreciate to his mother for being a wonderful teacher.
Jennifer Gardner shared that she was different then other kids in high school and would
hang out in the library during lunch and break time. She had a favorite English teacher
that believed in her and used give her writing assignments and projects in the library for
her to do. Jennifer loved all her projects, assignments and appreciated her teacher for
doing that. She said," It is those little things in life that make such big difference in a
child’s life." My favorite dedication was from Meryl Streep and her favorite teacher was
her drama teacher. She talked about how much her teacher beloved in her and would
cast her in the leading role for almost all the plays she was in, in high school. She loved
her teacher so much for making a difference in her life and inspiring her to act.

On a political note I watched through out the concert, the reform agenda being pushed
by the world famous people like Arne Duncan, President Obama, Michelle Rhee,
Wendy Kopp, the Walton Foundation, the Broad Academy, and the Gates Foundation,

Special appearances by Viola Davis from "Won't Back Down," as well as Maggie
Guillinhal, where they play a teachers and friends their self. They showed a couple of
watch clips from the award-winning movie “Won’t Back Down”.

Miranda Cosgrove, from the infamous movie School of Rock, with costar Jack Black
presented the host of the concert Walmart giving back $90,00 Walmart gift cards
back to teachers every where throughout the USA. The camera crew a second take
on Miranda because she first announced $19,000 instead or $90,000. There was a
few hecklers it was funny, something you don’t get to see on TV. I appreciate Josh
Hutcherson, Miranda Cosgrove, Pauley Perrette, Roshon Fegan and other actors
putting the spotlight on many teachers, some even got to meet the President himself,
who dedicated their life whichever means possible to make sure these kids get their
education and succeed in their life.



Pauley Perrette, NCIS introduced the band Fun. who was performing with a high school
sentential marching band. The band played out the definition of fun with a few hits one
in particular I sang my heart out to.

Everyone swooned over Country singer Dierks Bently as he sang a few amazing songs
and talked a little bit about how he married into a family of teachers. His wife and the
rest was his in laws are all teachers, and he loves them all.

The best part was Grammy-award winning singer Josh Groban stole the show with
a dash of the high school quire singing behind him. His breathtaking voice and
extraordinary piano playing concluded the concert with a heart melting performance.
I enjoyed this concert thoroughly and suggest to watch it on Friday Aug 17th, 2012 on

CBS. You might see me.

What is Sociology?

What is Sociology?


Sociology is the “study of human society.” For the examination, you need to know a number of concepts and terms used in the subject. There are three main areas you need to consider;
Social structures (e.g. the family, education, social stratification, etc.)
Social systems (e.g. culture and identity, agents of social control, etc.)
Social issues (e.g. the causes of crime, the impact of unemployment, etc.)

As you might expect of a social science, there are several explanations as to how we can best understand human society. The main theoretical perspectives covered in GCSE Sociology are;
Functionalism
Marxism
Feminism
The New Right
Functionalism

Functionalists believe that society can best be compared to a living organ, in which institutions and people all have a function to play with society. For example, the function of the family is to socialise children. Functionalist theorists include Talcott Parsons and Emile Durkheim.
Marxism

Marxists believe that a capitalist society is characterised by a class conflict between the bourgeoisie (the owners of capital) and the proletariat (the working-class). In a capitalist economic system such as the UK, the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat. Marxist theorists include Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx.
Feminism

Feminists argue that society is dominated by men. In this patriarchal society men discriminate against women in order to prevent males and females gaining equal rights. There are various strands of belief within feminism; such as radical feminism, liberal feminism and Marxist feminism. Feminist theorists include Germaine Greer and Ann Oakley.
The New RightSociologists who take a New Right perspective believe that traditional roles within society have been undermined by the permissive values of the 1960s and 1970s. They argue that the nuclear family is the bedrock of society, and that the welfare state creates a dependency culture. New Right theorists include Charles Murray and Sir Keith Joseph


What is Sociology?
Sociology is defined as the scientific study of society and human behavior. Sociology is a part of social sciences. The study of sociology aims at analyzing the patterns of human behavior, deriving their causes and speculating the future of the behavioral patterns in society.

Importance of Sociology
The various disciplines of sociology include the study of social interaction between people. The areas covered by sociology include the analysis of social contacts between members of a society as also the interactions between different people around the world. Sociology attempts to study how and why people are organized as a society. It analyzes the structure of society and studies the factors that contribute to the creation of social groups.

Sociology includes the study of the behavioral patterns, interactions and relationships among the individuals of society. This field tries to examine the organizational structure of society and the influence it has on the social, political and religious ideas of the members. It encompasses the study of the organization of families and businesses. It attempts to analyze the creation and management of social groups as well as the factors, which lead to their breakdown. The disciplines of sociology are concerned with the effects of social behavior on the formation of social traits. It also includes the ethical and moral values of society.

Sociology is regarded as a branch of social sciences. It deals with the analysis of social behavior that shapes society and thus, is a field that covers a very broad knowledge base.

Writing Samples

Sometimes employers request writing samples with the application materials or want them brought to an interview. Writing samples allow employers to evaluate your writing skills, communication style, and ability to express yourself.

Any employer whose position requires writing skills may want samples, but writing samples are more common in publishing, public relations, advertising, media, research, and law.

Content of the Sample
The employer may identify the desired topic. If not, choose a subject that you are interested in and that is related to the job or field to which you are applying. Avoid controversial or politically based topics. You want the employer to focus on your style and skill as a writer, not judge what you write.

Appropriate Writing Samples
Just like your resume and cover letter, tailor your sample to fit the job if possible. Follow the instructions provided by the employer or in the job description. If the requirements are not specified, use the following guidelines to help you choose an appropriate sample:
Use the job posting to guide your choice and show the employer you possess the required skills. For example, if the position is research-based, provide an example of research work from your college career or for a previous employer.
Newspaper article, story for a newsletter, press release, policy brief, or research report or any other published piece. When submitting a previously published piece to an employer, be sure to indicate where the piece was published. Provide a clean copy, not pieces taken directly from the original source.
Reports or presentations from past jobs or internships. Samples from related employment are best, but you may still use a sample if you do not have relevant experience.
Class projects, papers, presentations, or speeches, free of instructor comments, are acceptable. If longer than two to five pages, select a portion of the document so it is shorter and write an introductory paragraph to put the work in context.
Group papers and projects or heavily edited works are NOT a good idea, unless the section submitted is clearly your work only. Creative pieces such as short stories or poems should not be used unless the employer requests them.
Occasionally, an employer asks the interviewee to write something during the interview process. Why? So, they know how YOU write, not your friend, the English major, who edited and proofed the document. So be mentally prepared.


Tips for Choosing and Submitting Writing Samples
Do not send a writing sample unless specifically asked.
When in doubt, ask the employer what type of writing sample is wanted.
All samples should be completely free of grammatical and typographical errors. Do not rely on spell check or grammar check programs. Ask a friend, current or previous employer, instructor, or mentor to read it and give you feedback. You may also make a Career Assistance appointment for a career counselor review. If you have one, bring in a copy of the job description.
Make sure to attribute the sources you use to inform your writing. Different fields use different formats, such Chicago, APA, or MLA style. Familiarize yourself with the relevant style and use it correctly.
Never plagiarize or fail to credit your sources.
Make sure the piece is clearly written and free of technical jargon.
Remove confidential or identifying information such as names of individuals or clients.
Work created at a previous job is most likely considered company property. Ask your previous employer's permission to submit writing created at a job before submitting it in an application. If a past employer will not allow you to use original work, you may create new samples based off previous work. Use your own words.
Indicate in your cover letter the origin of your writing samples and label each piece.
Upload your samples to Careers4Terps so you can easily submit them with other application materials.
Have some writing samples on hand in case an employer asks for them unexpectedly.
Consider how your writing samples are presented. Create a professional page header and include your name on each page. If providing an employer with a hard copy, use clean, high-grade paper. Use a manila folder or pocket folder as opposed to a binder. Binders are cumbersome if collecting materials from several applicants. The writing sample is an indication of the quality of work you do, so the content, style, and formatting professional.

The Dreaded Writing Sample

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

The Dreaded Writing Sample
Poor writing samples trip up many a job seeker.
Published on June 23, 2009 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions


Strong writing and communication skills are highly sought after by most employers. Whether crafting short emails or lengthy annual reports, many workers use their writing skills every day. And for an employer seeking proof behind that ubiquitous candidate phrase, "excellent communication skills", a required writing sample is invaluable.


Writing samples need the same care and attention given to cover letters and resumes. Candidates with otherwise impeccable credentials are routinely eliminated by a poorly chosen writing sample. Notice I said "poorly chosen" not "poorly written." Because that's the rub: a writing sample not only reveals the individual's writing skills, it also offers a peek into what they consider important or relevant for the position. If you miss that mark with your writing sample, don't expect to get a call for an interview.


So how do you tackle that writing sample request? Here are 5 tips to make sure your writing sample doesn't end your chances of getting the job:


1. Know that a lot of people don't send a sample-- so if you send one, your chances of scoring an interview just improved. Requiring a writing sample usually drops the candidate pool in half-- only about 50% of candidates will take the time to send one. That makes it easier for the recruiter-- fewer applicants to consider. (Oh-- and if you're thinking you can ignore the request for the writing sample and still remain in contention for the position, think again.)

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2. Make sure your sample is perfect and contains no spelling or grammatical errors. Employers aren't seeking writing samples for the fun of it. Most of us have learned that resumes and cover letters are not always written by the candidate. Short of plagiarism (which is never recommended!), candidates usually submit their "true" work in a writing sample. I work in a higher education setting, for example, and good writing skills are important. I can't afford to have staff members sending poor quality emails to faculty or employers, so I carefully read writing samples for obvious problems.

3. Understand that a writing sample request is another form of test. How well does the candidate understand the position and/or the field to which they are applying? Sending a sample educational report on a student to an advertising firm or a report about pregnant teenagers to a nonprofit environmental agency quickly demonstrates that the candidate hasn't thought about the position and the type of writing involved. Don't waste time wishing that the employer would give you more information about the writing sample: sorry, folks, that's part of the test. If the employer doesn't specify what they're seeking, perhaps that's because they expect you to know. If a length is not specified, generally speaking, one or two pages should be fine.

4. Always consider the audience and the position/job description. Who will likely read your writing sample? What field are they in? What type of writing would a person in the position you're seeking likely produce? (Hint: if you don't know, then you don't know the position well enough to apply for it. Time for more research.) If, for example, you're applying for a public relations job, sending sample press releases would make sense. If you're applying for a job as a counselor you might create a fake client progress report such as what you would send to an insurance company to ensure continued coverage. Or if the agency has a website, you might create a fake "Dear Abby" type letter where you present a common client question and answer it.

5. What should you not send? The list is endless. I've received everything from poetry to 20-page research papers (complete with the professor's comments and grade) to self-serving essays describing why the candidate is the best person for the position. Don't do that-- and don't just pick the first Word document on your computer. Unless requested, avoid writing an essay-- few jobs require you to write essays. Remember, the key word for all writing is relevance. Is what you're sending relevant to the job at hand? If not, why are you sending it? Don't include a sample that clearly states a political or religious agenda (unless you're applying to a political or religious organization) or a sample which disparages any person or groups. Avoid writing samples which contain humor, particularly if the humor is sarcastic and subject to misinterpretation (unless of course you're applying to be a joke writer or a cynical newspaper columnist).

The opportunity to send a writing sample doesn't have to strike fear in the heart of a candidate. Carefully choosing your sample and making sure that it actually sells your "excellent communication skills" can place you far ahead of other candidates who submitted equally strong cover letters and resumes. Bottom-line: if you can't send a good writing sample either find a job that doesn't require writing skills or build up your skills. Good writers are hard to find and strong writing skills can propel your career in a variety of directions.

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Turning chaos into careers.

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

Writing Anxiety and the Job Search
Conquer your writing fears before they sabotage your job search.
Published on July 30, 2010 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions



Every now and then I pause when reviewing cover letters and resumes from my clients, students, or job candidates, and wonder: have they ever read an article, website, or book about how to write a cover letter or resume? The mistakes they make are so elementary, so basic, that they defy common sense.



You would think that someone who really wants a job would take the time to make sure they spell the company's name correctly, not start their letter "Dear Sir", or lead with inappropriate personal information such as "I've been teaching Sunday school for the past five years" for a position which has nothing to do with teaching, church, or working with children.

Even in a higher education setting where many job candidates have advanced degrees, and presumably some experience with writing and research, I can easily eliminate 80% of the candidates for positions in my office due to poorly written cover letters and resumes.

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I thought about writing a post about what should be in a good cover letter or resume, but do we really need that? Good advice abounds. Go here for some great advice: Quint Careers and JobStar.

So what's the deal? Are people too lazy to look up the proper way to write a resume or cover letter? Don't they care about finding a job? Don't they think good writing is important in the job search? That may describe some people, but I've worked with enough committed career seekers to know that this isn't the issue. I spoke with a career coach in my office, Neil Johnson, who works every day with job seekers who stumble in the writing process. He said he sees a lot of fear holding people back. Fear of rejection. Fear of not doing a good job. Fear of writing in general. And I think he's right.

So what is writing anxiety and how does it show up in the job search? Writing anxiety is simply a fear of writing-- which can take on many behaviors and attitudes including:
Procrastinating or putting off writing a cover letter or resume
Fear of or avoiding researching information about cover letter writing or the place to which you're applying
Rushing through the process too quickly to get away from thestress
Fear of rejection or other negative outcome
Lack of confidence in your writing ability
Writer's block-- that dreaded blank computer screen or paper
Fear of writer's block that keeps you from even sitting down at the computer
A pessimistic attitude about the value of writing ("what's the use-- I won't get hired anyway")

If any of these traits sound like you, you might just have discovered a key challenge you're facing in the job search. Because, let's face it: if you're afraid of a task you're less likely to do it-- and certainly less likely to do it well. Even after you face the avoidance demon and sit down to write a cover letter, if you have writing anxiety you are more likely to do it with a "just get this over with" attitude. And that's what I see in a lot of cover letters that tank someone's job search.

Writing anxiety related to the job search may be situational in nature: you may be perfectly comfortable writing in other settings or for other purposes, but you just don't know the special rules and techniques that apply to cover letters and resumes. You might just be inexperienced at writing cover letters: I have noticed that the some of the weakest cover letters tend to come from people who haven't had to search for a job in awhile.

So consider your feelings about writing. Is writing something that is comfortable for you? Are you confident in your writing abilities generally? Have you received positive feedback about your writing in other settings? In that case, your anxiety may simply be based on a lack of knowledge about writing for the job search. This could be an issue easily resolved by doing some basic research and following the tips in this blog post.

On the other hand, is writing generally something you avoid? Have you found it challenging in the past? Have you received negative feedback from previous writing attempts? Do you find writing boring or too hard? Do you have strong perfectionistic standards that you apply to writing? Are you fearful of rejection? In this case, you may have developed writing anxiety which will require more steps to overcome. And overcoming your writing anxiety is essential to a good job search, because strong writing skills are invaluable in the job search. I think they're so important I devoted two chapters in my book to the topic.

A little anxiety in the job search process can be a good thing. It can give you the energy and the motivation needed to move forward in the process. It can push you to prepare better for interviews, take more time to proofread your writing, and otherwise help you be your best. In a way, anxiety says that you care. You care about the outcome; that is, you want to write a good letter. You would like to get the job. And you can use that aspect of anxiety to motivate yourself.

On the other hand, too much anxiety can wear you down, leading toprocrastination, perfectionism, and other habits that will prevent you from making the best effort.

So start by examining your level of anxiety particularly as it relates to writing a cover letter or resume. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no fears at all, to 10 being paralyzed by fear--- where would rank your writing anxiety? Do you think your level of anxiety is helping or hurting you? Is it providing motivation and keeping you diligent in the writing process or is it immobilizing you? Bottom line: are you avoiding writing tasks because of it?

One common myth about writing is that it's a special skill or talent limited to the highly creative, the very smart, or the uniquely gifted person. While there are many gifted writers out there, they would be the first to tell you that mostly writing is a craft and hard work. It is a skill that anyone can learn and anyone can improve through simple practice and desire. A friend of mine volunteers at local prisons conducting writing sessions. The prisoners are not professional writers by any stretch of the imagination: many have very little education and no writing training. And yet, given the opportunity and some good writing prompts, they write compelling and moving stories about their lives.

In future posts, I will offer some specific cover letter writing advice as well as share my SWOTmapping system for outlining and preparing a cover letter. In the meantime, here are 8 tips for working with and overcoming your writing anxiety:

1. Know that cover letters and resumes are a unique style of writing. It's normal to find them challenging at first. Don't assume that you should know how to write them just because you're a good writer otherwise. You aren't expected to be an expert on them-- but you need to be if you want a job. Seek out great examples and emulate them. Note: do not copy sentences word-for-word from templates or books-- employers can spot those fake sentences a mile away. And they see them on every other cover letter they receive.

2. Instead of avoiding writing, seek out opportunities to improve your writing generally. Look for local writing groups, job search clubs, informal classes or writing institutes, and other ways to develop your skills. This will build your confidence-- and as your confidence grows your anxiety will decrease.

3. Notice the thoughts running through your mind as you try to write. Focus on the thoughts that are comforting and helpful and move you forward-- not the ones that hold you back. Worrying holds you back. Researching cover letter writing moves you forward. One of my favorite books for helping to calm your writer's mind is Eric Maisel's "Write Mind." Also, If mild/moderate anxiety or depression is an issue for you, check out Self-Coaching: The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety & Depression by Joseph J. Luciani for some great ideas for overcoming your worrying habit. It's an excellent guide for changing your way of thinking.

Turning chaos into careers.

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

Using Twitter in Your Job Search
A tweet can be worth a thousand words.
Published on January 31, 2011 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions



Who knew that 140 characters could have so much power?



With TweetMyJobs listing over one-and-a-half million job tweets in the past 30 days, there's no question that Twitter is rapidly becoming a must-use social media resource for job seekers. More and more companies are using Twitter to seek employees, with many Tweets looking like an online version of the classified ads of the past. Developing an effective and efficient Twitter strategy for your job search is a smart idea.

Twitter can be helpful to your career on several levels, but the most obvious help comes in the form of up-to-the-minute job leads. It's a great way to start a connection that can lead to a career.

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Keep in mind as you get started on Twitter that, like other social media, Twitter is a conversation-- not a one-way communication where you only promote yourself. Provide information and resources that potential readers (and employers) might find helpful or interesting. Keep your tweets professional and related to your ideal audience. Focus first on what your message is, and whom you're trying to reach.

Here are some steps to get started:

1. Create a Twitter account and get familiar with Twitter's format and system. If possible, use your name for your account. Post a professional picture and describe the employment you're seeking in your Twitter bio (unless, of course, you are already employed). Spend some time reading other postings; learn your way around the site. If you're looking for a good resource, check out The Twitter Book by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein.

2. Twitter allows you to link to a website; if you don't have a professional website, link to your LinkedIn profile so that employers who want to learn more about you will be able see your experience and education. Don't have a LinkedIn profile? See my post on the value of LinkedIn for the job seeker.

3. Follow leaders in your field, potential employers, your college career center, your college alumni office, career coaches, career advice sites, etc. Twitter makes this easy through the search function, and with recommendations for related sites. Use Twitter's advanced search feature to find job-related tweets. Here's a YouTube video to get started: Use hashtags to find job listings and industry-related tweets.

4. Establish yourself as knowledgeable in your area of interest by tweeting about the latest articles, news, or research related to your field. Tweet about interesting items related to the job search as well.

5. Connect with TweetMyJobs and sign up for the free services. You can indicate the cities and job titles you're most interested in, and these will be tweeted to you as they appear. The postings are immediate, so you'll hear about a job before other social platforms will likely have it.

That's it. Twitter is pretty simple. Just remember: Twitter is a starting point. You will have to take your job search offline at some point to interview, network, or otherwise meet your potential employer. But Twitter is another great tool in the growing toolkit of a job seeker.

Find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Copyright 2011 Katharine Brooks

Planning Multiple Careers to Survive the Poor Economy These days one career plan isn't enough.

Career Transitions
Turning chaos into careers.
by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.

Planning Multiple Careers to Survive the Poor Economy
These days one career plan isn't enough.
Published on December 13, 2010 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions



These days one career plan isn't enough. Even two career plans might not be enough. The chaos of today's job market means job seekers must be flexible and adapt their talents to a variety of settings. But how do you organize and make sense of all the possible career options you need to consider?



Start with a concept: Possible Lives. Add a strategy: Post-it Notes.

My liberal arts students, often accused of being clueless in the job search, aren't really clueless at all: they're just open-minded and interested in everything. Many of them find it hard to select a career because they don't have one in mind-- they have ten. They dislike the notion of limiting themselves to one career for their lives. This is a good thing-- because in this economy, you really can't focus on just one job or career plan. You need to consider Plans B, C, and maybe even D, simultaneously. You need to consider a variety of Possible Lives.

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It's helpful to remember the wonderful Spanish saying, "La vida es corta, pero ancha": Life is short, but it's wide. You can, and likely will, have many careers and/or jobs in your future. What you decide to do first (or next, if you're a career changer) is just what you decide to do at the moment. You can transition to another career later when the economy improves-- or pursue several options simultaneously.

So how do you organize multiple career paths? How do you keep from getting stuck or overwhelmed?

Post-it Notes are the perfect job-search companion: they are cheap, plentiful, flexible, and ultimately expendable. No one stresses about throwing them away when they've outlived their usefulness. They are also great for jotting down motivational quotes, jokes, funny Tweets, etc. (See my post about the value of quotes for job seekers.)

A Carl Sandburg quote occupies today's top spot on my Post-it board: "I am an idealist. I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way." It is the perfect quote for this exercise designed to help you organize your thoughts and give you the steps needed to move forward-- even when you aren't sure where you're headed. You can find more details about this exercise, including illustrations, in my book, You Majored in What?, but here are the basic steps that will get you started:

1. Start by determining the many "Possible Lives" you would like to live. I recommend you brainstorm this on a piece of blank paper-- just write down all the careers you've considered, would like to learn more about, might be interested in moving into, might relate to your primary field of interest, etc. Don't worry yet about income or your education-- the point is to get your ideas down first. Think about careers that could use the skills you have, but don't worry if they don't seem related.

2. Once you make your list, determine the ones that interest you the most, or that you consider the most viable (by your definition-- you are the only one who knows your situation). Don't hesitate to put down some desirable, yet risky choices that may not work out. For instance, "starting a band" or "professional blogger" are ideas you can test out in your non-working time.

3. Get a white board or piece of poster board. Write your top career/job choices (as well as significant life/hobby choices) on Post-its-- one for each title, activity or employer. For instance, you might select "TV Reporter", "Blogger", "Freelance Writer", "Lawyer" and "Teach for America"-- representing the top future plans that interest you the most.

4. Then using a stack of Post-it notes, quickly jot down one step toward one of those jobs and place it below the job title. For instance, under "Blogger" you might put "Read blogs for ideas", "Decide on blog title", "Create blogging plan", "Determine blog focus", "Learn WordPress" and so on. Some steps may be similar: you might have "research job opptys" or "write targeted resume" under each one of your job titles. By the end, you will have several columns filled with the steps to move toward your chosen areas. If you're having trouble identifying the steps, just ask yourself, "Could I do this job tomorrow?" If you answer is "no"-- then what steps need to happen first?

5. Start taking action on the various steps you've identified. Start with the steps that are most interesting. Which ones give you the most energy? Are you moving faster on the steps related to one specific career? Maybe that's the one to focus on or pursue first. When you lose interest in one (or it doesn't pan out) just take down the Post-its.

6. Combine steps for efficient time management. For instance, if "research" is an action step for all your choices, plan to spend an afternoon online or in the library researching all your career choices. Again, notice when what you learn gives you energy and makes you excited and when it takes away your energy.

The advantage of this system is that by writing down your choices and the steps, you have organized (and hopefully eliminated) all the clutter in yourbrain. You can now visualize the steps-- and adjust as needed. You can add deadlines to them if you want, or just make a deal with yourself that you will tackle one Post-it a day according to your mood.

The combination of Possible Lives thinking with Post-it organization can be just the ticket to get you on your way.

Find me on Facebook and Twitter. Copyright 2010 Katharine Brooks

Photo credit: Viernest

Tips to Get Your Writing Sample Right for a Job Application

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Tips to Get Your Writing Sample Right for a Job Application
By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer

In today’s competitive job market, applicants for many positions -- even those not related directly to writing -- are required to submit writing samples at some point during the interview process.

Don’t let this request stress you out -- even if you’re not a strong writer. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about writing samples for a job that will help you develop and/or select just the right samples.

What Kind of Writing Sample Should I Submit?

Follow any instructions the employer provides -- that’s part of the assessment process, says Diane Samuels, a career coach and image consultant in New York City. “If you have any concerns, it’s best to ask questions,” she says. “It shows that you are proactive in seeking advice before moving too far ahead with an assignment, which in a real-life job situation can save time, money and energy.”

If the company doesn’t say what it’s looking for, whenever possible, send something “drafted specifically for this job opportunity so the subject matter and writing style closely match what you might be asked to write once on board,” says Sally Haver, a senior vice president at The Ayers Group/Career Partners International, an HR consultancy in New York City. For instance, if you’re going for a sales job, you might submit sales proposals or customer profiles. If you’re applying for an administrative gig, sample memos would be appropriate. Management applicants might consider submitting samples of competitive analyses, reports or HR plans.

If you have no work experience or are applying for an entry-level job, submit a school assignment. It’s also permissible to send schoolwork “if you have applied for a position where the style of writing will be similar to something you would have prepared for school,” Samuels says. A lab report would work for a scientific research gig. An assignment from a business writing class would be appropriate for a management-trainee job.

Are Certain Types of Writing Samples Inappropriate?

It’s a bad idea to turn in a paper from school if you have been out of school several years. “It says, ‘I haven’t written for years,’” says Thom Singer, a business-development consultant in Austin.

Singer also cautions against sending blog posts (unless your blog is professional and addresses business or industry issues), as well as “creative writing or a letter to grandma.” These forms are ill-advised because they’re not cogent to the type of work you’ll be doing if hired.

How Long Should a Writing Sample Be?

Most employers seek employees who can synthesize large amounts of information into a short, concise, actionable summary. “Often a one-page memo is a more compelling example than a long term paper,” says Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration. That’s because reviewers generally read just a page or two of a long paper, and are not concerned with the specific content, she says.

Can I Submit a Sample I Co-Authored?

A sample written with someone else may be appropriate if writing will be a collaborative effort at the job you’re applying for. Just make sure you list yourself as a co-author. But even then, a team-written piece shouldn’t be the only example you submit. “The employer is seeking samples of your work, and can’t assume your role in a co-authored piece,” says Nancy DeCrescenzo, director of career services at Eastern Connecticut State University.

What About Getting a Little Help with a Writing Sample?

It’s considered OK to have someone else review your submission for basic errors and clarity. Beyond that, though, and many employers feel the work is no longer representative of your skills and knowledge. “If you’re really not much of a writer but your sample is great, that’s what they’ll expect of you when hired,” Haver says. “Unless you can keep your ghostwriter handy, that stratagem can boomerang.”

Should I Take Any Special Precautions with My Samples?

When submitting a writing sample from a previous job, take extra care to keep confidential information confidential. “Mask or delete names, numbers and any other identifying markers from writing samples so the prospective employer will still be able to see the quality of your writing and thought processes but without learning privy information,” Haver says. Alternatively, you could make up a company name and change the type of business and geographic location, she says.

Sarikas offers one final angst-reducing tip: “Have a couple of samples prepared in advance so you don’t have to scramble to find or create something at the last minute.”



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Improve Your Writing SkillsBrowse Related Articles

Writing Samples

guidelines


When do you need a writing sample?


Potential employers may occasionally ask for a writing sample to be included with the cover letter and resume, typically for jobs in research, the media, or advertising and public relations.


How long should it be?


Unless otherwise specified by the employer, choose a writing sample that is two to five pages in length.

If you wish to use a longer piece of writing, extract a two to five page section of the larger work and introduce it with a paragraph which puts the selection in context (i.e. that explains what the larger work is about and how the section you've provided fits in to that larger work).

How should you choose your sample?


Quality: This should always be your first consideration, before any criteria that follow below. Choose a piece that you feel is well-written over a piece that covers a topic related to the job but about which you have reservations.

Writing style: This is almost as important as the quality of the writing. For virtually any job, choose a piece which reflects the elements of good business writing.
Based in reality and concrete terminology (versus abstractions).
Concise, conveying meaning in as few words as possible.
Does not require the reader to have any special knowledge of your topic.

Topic/Method of analysis: If you have written something which relates to the job in some way (be it content or the manner of analysis) and it is of good quality, choose that piece as your sample. For example, a case study from a business-related course would serve as a good writing sample for most management or business analyst positions. A research paper would be a good choice for virtually any research-oriented position.

Special cases:
Journalism and advertising copy writing -- often require a "portfolio," a specialized collection of writing samples. Career Resource Library staff can provide you with publications that show you how to produce these.
Public relations -- PR firms may want to see samples of press releases you have written, even if you need to make them up.
Using "creative" samples -- Conveying the ability to think creatively can be important in certain fields. But even in "creative" fields, such as advertising or television, employers want to know that you can convey ideas clearly and succinctly. Seek advice from a career counselor before submitting a creative piece as a sample.




Updated: August 2, 2010
Maintained by: Career Center

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© 2012 The Trustees of Boston College. Lega

THE ASTROLOGY OF LOST (The First Season)

All information contained herein is written by and the property of Lynn Hayes. You may include a portion of this information on your website without permission, but you must include a link back to the article and clearly indicate the author of the information.

THE ASTROLOGY OF LOST (The First Season)
December 2005

All of the astrological signs are represented in the TV program Lost. Our astrological makeup is much more complex than just one astrological sign, but just for fun let's take a look at these fascinating characters. Many of them are wounded souls on a healing journey, so we tend to see the shadow side of the signs but we can also see the direction they are headed in their evolution:

Aries - Sawyer is our Aries character. Primarily concerned with self-preservation, he is headstrong like the Ram and doesn't work well in a group. Aries has to be a leader, and if he can't be a leader he will want to operate alone. Sawyer originally set up his own camp and supplied himself with everything he would need. He is direct and not always tactful, and is not a good liar. He is passionate when stimulated, but can be cold as ice. As we see him begin to evolve we will see him take on more of the positive Aries characteristics: he may take on a greater leadership role in the group, and a possible relationship with Kate may soften his hard edges.

Taurus - we don't know Mr. Eko very well yet, but he is a classic Taurus with his strong bull neck and deep rich voice. His comment "don't confuse coincidence with fate" is representative of Taurus's desire for a practical experience of reality, unfettered by confusion. Eko has in his brief appearance on the scene demonstrated the famous stubborn quality of Taurus and also the ability to remain calm and unruffled during a crisis. He makes decisions deliberately and is not impetuous, but once he's decided on a course of action it will be impossible to change his mind.

Gemini - Moving like quicksilver, darting from here to there and with a youthful look and demeanor, Kate is our Gemini. Gemini is the twins, and there are always two personalities: one light and one dark. Kate is the unhappy girl who has murdered at least two people that we know of, yet she has a smile as bright and sunny as a spring morning. Geminis are impatient and versatile, they can dig a ditch and sing in a choir and the next minute they are cooking a ten course meal. But they have a tendency to hide from themselves--rather, the dark side and the light side will hide from each other. The quest for Gemini is to integrate and become a whole individual and this is Kate's challenge.

Cancer - Sun may be our Cancerian. Devoted to her family and husband, she is a homebody and doesn't like to stray far from her camp. We often find her in the garden, where she creates herbal mixtures to help cure the ailments of her fellow castaways. Cancer is the nurturer, the keeper of family histories, the geneaologist. Like the crab, they are shy with a soft and vulnerable inner shell that they seek to protect. In the past she sacrificed herself for the sake of her father and her husband. We are beginning to see her come into her own and begin to nurture herself as well.

Leo - Charlie embodies many traits that we associate with Leo. Seeking to express himself creatively with his music, he has a sunny disposition and is generally available to be helpful to the castaways. Leo longs to be admired and respected, and Charlie lives in the past when he basked in the adulation of his groupies and fans. He cares for Claire's child, but demands recognition for his abilities. The challenge for Leo is to begin to do good works for their sake and begin to let go of the egocentric desire for fame. However, like Charlie, Leos have big hearts and demonstrate kindness, and can always be counted on in an emergency.

Virgo - Meticulous, cautious and adept with machinery, Sayid is our Virgo. Virgos are famously perfectionists, and their detail-oriented natures make them excellent travel companions. They always have just the right tools for the job, and if they don't they can improvise with items they find on the beach. Like Sayid, Virgos seek to help others and must have a job to do. They make excellent employees and are loyal to a fault, which will explain how Sayid could perform the tasks required of him in the Iraqi Republican Guard. They are not good at relaxing or vacations because something always needs to be done, and on the island Sayid rarely takes a break from the task of finding someone to rescue the castaways. In romance, a Virgo will often seek out a partner who needs their help; Sayid was the only one to see past Shannon's self-centered exterior into her wounded center.

Libra - The departed Boone was our Libra. We didn't get to know him very well, and this is a characteristic of Libra. Libra is focused on the "other," and often loses the self in the process. Boone's focus was on pleasing those around him - what did Shannon need from him? What did Locke need? Libra is the Scales, and in seeking the famous Libra balance, they often tip from one end of the scale to the other in the effort to strike a balance and achieve personal harmony. Libras are focused on partnerships, and you will rarely find them alone. At the end of his life, with Locke's assistance, his Libra challenge was to balance his need to please those around him with a new strength in caring for himself.

Scorpio - Michael is our Scorpio. Passionate and emotional, he embodies the fiery water of the Scorpio man. Scorpio doesn't flinch from intense emotions, and doesn't really care what others think. The intensity of their nature can be off-putting, but they make the best and most loyal friends and lovers. They have a smoldering sensuality that is very attractive to women as we saw with Sun's potential attraction to Michael. Scorpios can be strict disciplinarians as they have a tremendous respect for power and want to instill that in our children. Michael's challenge will be to channel his frustration into a sense of empowerment, and begin to learn to let go and trust that life will take care of him.

Sagittarius - With her sunny disposition, Claire is our Sagittarian. Sagittarians are warm, generally optimistic, and typically liked by everyone. They generally have a great trust in life, unlike Scorpios, and this can make them naive in the face of danger. They typically dislike confrontation and prefer to approach life from a more superficial viewpoint, which can create problems as they ignore signals that warn of danger. Claire has great trust in Charlie, but may tend to prefer to remain unaware of some of the traits that have been bothering her about him.

Capricorn - Hard-working Jack is our Capricorn. Capricorns tend to be serious and focused on a goal, they seek to build something lasting in the world and make their mark on society. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn which often represents the father, and Jack's complex relationship with his father makes him want to both please his father and surpass him. Capricorn privately yearns for joy, for happiness, but he is relentlessly driven from within and tends to feel responsible for everything and everyone. Jack takes his role as patriarch seriously, and rarely lets his secret desire for a personal life get in the way. His challenge in the healing process will be to learn to accept himself for who he is rather than what he can accomplish.

Aquarius - The Aquarian embrace of oddity is embodied in John Locke. Aquarians seek a change to the status quo; they are not content to live life the way it's been lived before. The mystery of the island is not terrifying to Locke, he welcomes the opportunity to become transformed and sees more than anyone the healing properties that the island offers. He dislikes the hierarchy of power that puts Jack at the top rung of the ladder, and like all Aquarians prefers equality and brotherhood to a rigid social structure. "I love mankind, it's people I can't stand" is a common feeling among Aquarians. However, his ability to stand alone and allow himself to be transformed serves as a catalyst for the entire group of characters.

Pisces - Hurley is our Pisces, the Fish. Pisces is a chameleon, like water, they take the shape of the container they find themselves in. They are supremely adaptable to all situations. Like Hurley, who faced with endless days of boredom created a golf course. It is easy for Pisces people to slip into an unconscious approach to living their life, and this can often bring a string of bad luck and as we saw. Hurley's winning of the lottery brought him nothing but misfortune. Pisces is creative, imaginative and romantic, and their challenge is to keep both feet on the grounds while they live in the clouds. Life on the Lost Island is teaching Hurley to do just that.

How to spot a Virgo

Virgo appearance
How to spot a Virgo

Alertness, precision, humility. If you are looking specifically for Virgo characteristics, it's unlikely that you will feel certain beyond doubt. But this is actually part of the Virgo quintessence - not to have anything too prominent about their appearance dominating at the cost of balance and temperance. Many Virgos try to counteract their innate "properness" by projecting an image of easygoing bohemianism or general eccentricity, but this kind of charade is easily unmasked. Virgo eyes always have the unmistakable glow of sobriety and reason. People with Virgo prominent care a lot about how people perceive them. They are intent on creating a suitable mode of expression for themselves, and they cannot come to terms with spontaneity; in fact they need clear guidelines and a sense of daily routine to feel comfortable and secure. It is true that the evolved Virgo-types often are great "personalities", but theirs is a very aware, calculated sort of individuality. Almost as if their efforts at crystallizing their personality and gaining a real sense of integrity blows over into caricature. Virgos are known for their readiness to serve and help, but with a certain coldness of response. It is as if they're saying: "I'll be of assistance with anything, no strings attached, but please don't get personal or emotional with me".

Recognize a Virgo by picturing a finely tuned instrument. Or by watching for alertness, attentiveness and a fondness for straight facts. A nervous or shy tendency to chatter away about exactly everything but what people are interested to hear is common. If this seems to insinuate that strong Virgo influence creates a rather dull and unfavourable outer image, the truth is that Virgos are sympathetic, and usually prove to be possessed of much more than meets the eye. Their carefully measured walk, symmetrical bodies and typically youthful, innocent features are telling. There is often something "petite" and spare about the physical appearance, especially the face, of Virgo.

A typical example of the everyday man, whose ordinariness somehow borders on the unearthly is Keanu Reeves (a stellium of Sun, Ascendant, Mercury, Uranus and Pluto in Virgo). Reeves seems to me to represent a cross section of the human race, devoid of any very distinct quality, yet extremely personable in a quiet Virgoan way. Many mysterious and feminine actresses were born with Virgo prominent. The compassionate, delicate and somewhat subdued image projected by Ingrid Bergman (Sun, Mercury and Venus in Virgo) is prototype, as is Sophia Loren's earthy yet detached beauty. Michael Jackson represents the eccentric side of Virgo - a highly developed individuality bordering on the plain strange, hypersensitivity and obsession with details people would normally not consider. Amongst all of this is of course great talent and intelligence, and shrewdness in business.

Virgo

The Virgin

August 23 - September 22
The sixth sign of the zodiac is concerned with:
* self-perfection, critical faculties
* altruism, honesty, responsibility
* cleanliness, hygiene, health, healing
* efficiency, daily routines, reliability
* strength of character, veiled sensuality
* service, hard work, passivity, modesty
* incisive communication, shrewd logical thought

Elemental Quality

Virgo is the mutable earth sign of the zodiac, indicating adaptable practicality. It can be likened to a semi-shaded patio which has been adapted to make a garden filled with a great variety of plants, climbers, and an arbor. Half-hidden, here and there, are garden chaise longues with rich patchwork covers, bottles of homemade organic wines, and other unexpected practical delights.
Spiritual Goal

To learn to discriminate between destructive criticism and simple wisdom.
The Virgoan Personality

These are the general personality traits found in people who are typical of Virgo. An unhappy or frustrated Virgo may display some of the not-so-attractive traits.


Positive Negative
* Gentleness with the helpless * Scathing criticism of the lazy
* Sympathetic * Cranky and irritable
* Humane and helpful * Dogmatic
* Organized * Untidy
* Knowledgeable about good health * Tendency to be a hypochondriac
* Witty and charming * Nervous and worried
* Physically sensual * Prudish
* Painstaking * Eccentric
* Emotionally warm * Undemonstrative
* Dedicated * Overdemanding

Secret Virgo

Inside anyone who has strong Virgo influences is a person who worries too much about every personal imperfection and is never satisfied with his or her own standards. Virgo may appear to know it all and be a compulsive worker; both these behaviors hide a deep fear that he or she cannot be good enough for, say, the job or the partner.

Virgos crave the opportunity to serve others and take charge of many apparently mundane matters that, collectively, are the bedrock of success.

One of the least expected aspects of a Virgo personality is a strong, almost volcanic sexuality that can lie hidden and dormant for years until the right partner comes along.
Ruling Planet and Its Effect

Mercury rules the zodiac sign of Virgo, so anyone whose birthchart has a strong Virgo influence will have a good and quick mind.

In astrology, Mercury is the planet of the mind and communication. Being more concerned with practicalities than ideas (Gemini, the ideas sign, is also ruled by Mercury), Virgo is usually interested in acquiring information and in communicating by writing.

The other traditional ruler of Virgo is the mythological Vulcan, the lame god of thunder, who has a confident and brilliant mind.

Virgoan Lucky Connections
Colors: yellow-green, brown, cream
Plants: narcissus, vervain, herbs
Perfume: narcissus
Gemstones: peridot, opal, agate
Metal: mercury
Tarot Card: the hermit
Animals: bat, porcupine, mink

The Virgoan Look

People who exhibit the physical characteristics distinctive of the sign of Virgo look neat and fastidious and have a pleasant, often quietly beautiful face. Many Virgos look like loners and are not usually noisy people.
Physical Appearance

* High forehead

* Cranium may seem too big in comparison with the face

* Eyelids are often veiled

* Nose is straight

* Jaw is broad
The Virgo Male

If a man behaves in a way typical of the personality associated with the zodiac sign of Virgo, he will have a tendency toward the characteristics listed below, unless there are influences in his personal birthchart that are stronger than that of his Virgo sun sign.


Appearance
The typical Virgo man:
* has a straight, wedge-shaped nose
* has an extremely large forehead
* has a high hairline
* is upright and has a straight body
* may be quite tall
* often has one foot turned in more than the other
Behavior and Personality Traits
* is practical and unsentimental
* instinctively has a love of work
* will be devoted to serving those less fortunate than himself
* may relax by working a little less hard than usual
* takes responsibilities seriously
* is subtle and rarely obvious about his intentions
* notices and remembers details

The Virgoan Female

If a woman behaves in a way that is distinctive of the personality associated with the zodiac sign of Virgo, she will have a tendency toward the characteristics listed below, providing there are no influences in her personal birthchart that are stronger than that of her Virgo sun sign.


Appearance
The typical Virgo woman:
* has a pointed chin and a face in repose
* the eyes are often soft and very beautiful
* the hair may be long or short but is normally impeccably groomed
* the mouth and lips are well formed
* is typically clean and very neatly dressed
Behavior and Personality Traits
* can analyze situations in detail
* is devoted to her work, usually serving others in some way
* is basically shy
* has incredible strength of purpose
* will pursue happiness wherever it leads
* is pure of mind but not naive
* thinks of herself as more orderly and efficient than other people
* has a delightful, straightforward personality
* does not express her feelings easily
* can be soothing one moment and critical the next

Young Virgo

If a child behaves in a way that is distinctive of the personality associated with Virgo, he or she will have a tendency toward the characteristics listed below.


Behavior and Personality Traits
The typical Virgo child:
* is quick, alert, and an excellent mimic, and so can learn many things in a short time
* gets upset if he or she forgets something that has been learned by heart
* rarely questions authority but frequently questions facts
* is honest and reliable
* is usually shy among strangers
* loves to do jobs around the home imitating an adult
* is sometimes a fussy eater
* is usually tidy, with occasional bouts of disorganization
* gets very upset if teased
* is often an early talker and reader

Bringing Up Young Virgo

Young Virgos will try very hard to please, as long as they know what is expected.

As they grow up they will often find close relationships with the opposite sex very difficult.

Virgos take a lot of convincing that they are attractive people. Lots of genuine praise and encouragement early in life will help to smooth the path to true love in teenage and early adulthood.

Parents should never interfere when their young Virgo begins to notice the opposite sex. Even the slightest hint of criticism or teasing may cause Virgos to withdraw and choose the single life.


Young Virgo's Needs

Young Virgo must have physical affection, in the form of hugs, and sincere compliments every day in order to build the self-confidence that every typical Virgo child lacks.
What To Teach Young Virgo

Myths, fairy tales, make-believe, daydreams, and how to use imagination should all be taught to young Virgos so they have plenty of magical moments to remember in their adult years when they often feel lonely.

On the whole, young Virgos aim for good grades at school, are helpful around the house, and are usually tidy about their own things, almost to a fault. An untidy Virgo will have some other strong influence in the astrological birth chart.

Virgos can be exacting about time, orderliness, and food. They also have a tendency to be critical about everyone else in the family, especially when asked an opinion. They, therefore, need to be taught to accept the little foibles of other people and not to get upset when someone else leaves the top off the toothpaste.
Virgo At Home

If a person has the personality that is typical of those born with a Virgo sun sign, home is a place to thrive, and he or she will have a tendency toward the characteristics listed below.


Typical Behavior and Abilities
When at home, a Virgo man or woman:
* enjoys being head of the household
* is domesticated in most areas, such as cooking, managing the household finances, general maintenance, health, hygiene, and gardening
* will always be doing or making something
* is usually at his or her most relaxed
* pursues several hobbies at or from home
Virgo as a Parent
* encourages children to ask questions
* supports practical activities during free time
* worries about the children's health
* is helpful, especially about detailed work
* can adapt to almost any practical demand
* may find it hard to express affection warmly
* gets upset by children's dirt and untidiness
* will explain demands he or she makes
* will do anything to help their children

Two Virgos in the Same Family

Married to each other, or as members of the same family, Virgos can get along very well. But difficulties will arise if they become too critical of each other and undermine each other's confidence.

On the whole, however, Virgos are made of sterner stuff and can adapt their practical arrangements to accommodate any serious differences. Normally their mutual need for cleanliness and tidiness works very well. The Virgo tendency to worry, especially about matters of health, could lead to an air of hypochondria in the home. However, Virgo quick thinking and wit can usually overcome these disadvantages.
Virgo At Work

At work, the person who has a typical Virgo personality will exhibit the following characteristics.


Typical Behavior and Abilities
A typical Virgo at work:
* is best in a supporting role
* is meticulous and self-disciplined
* offers others a sense of stability
* is very helpful to other people
* can enjoy complicated, routine work
Virgo as Employer
A typical Virgo boss (male or female):
* is excellent as boss of a small company
* can see the details very clearly
* will call a spade a spade
* expects honesty in all matters
* is kindhearted, honest, and fair
* expects good grooming, good manners, and good habits
* can handle extremely complicated projects
* will reward good work with pay not perks
Virgo as Employee
A typical Virgo employee (male or female):
* is good in service work and research, rather than manufacturing
* will become an excellent assistant to the boss
* does good work and expects to be paid well
* is courteous, reliable, and thorough
* is quick-thinking, analytical, and intelligent
* will be cautious, critical, and methodical
Working Environment
The workplace of a typical Virgo man or woman:
* will not be noisy
* will have the most up-to-date equipment
* is best decorated with subtle, neutral colors
* is organized so that work can have a regular routine

Typical Occupations

Any occupation which enables the Virgoan to give service and handle complicated or difficult details will suit most Virgoans.
Virgo and Love

To Virgo, love is not dramatic, emotional, or sentimental. A Virgo's love is devotion and will include love of family, friends, and those less fortunate than he or she.

Virgo in love with another person will have many of the characteristics listed below.


Behavior When In Love
The typical Virgo:
* looks for quality
* is frightened by overt romance
* may wait years for the right person
* once in love, loves warmly and steadily
* is devoted to the loved one
* will rarely give cause for any jealousy
* will do anything to avoid breaking up
Expectations
The typical Virgo expects:
* devotion from the partner
* a sense of decency
* to enjoy platonic flirtation
* to be fussed over when feeling down
* personal matters to be kept private
* feelings to be handled with great care

The End of An Affair

Virgos are typically loyal and will avoid ending a marriage or other permanent relationship whenever possible. However, in the long run, Virgos are sensible, practical people. If the Virgoan sense of fair play has been outraged, the Virgo will make a quick and final break, legally and in every other way.

It is rare for a typical Virgo to linger in a fading marriage. If sensible, intelligent discussion does not solve the problems, the Virgo soon makes up his or her mind to end it.

Reconciliation is not typical of Virgoan behavior. Pleading, tears, sentimentality, or a more aggressive approach will have no effect. Because the Virgoan has good self-discipline, the past is soon put aside.

However, if children are involved, the divorced Virgo will want to ensure that the children receive good educations.
Virgo and Sex

When a typical Virgo makes love it is a pure-minded, natural, healthy act. Virgo only enjoys sex when it is with someone who has gained Virgo's confidence.

Celibacy, for short or long periods, is not usually difficult for Virgo. In general, Virgoan's are looking for a spouse, not a one-night stand or an affair.

A Virgo who has not had his or her fragile sense of self undermined in youth will enjoy sex. The bedside library may include informative books on sex, because Virgos like to understand the finer details.

Virgo (male or female) tends to seduce with finesse, charm, and subtlety.

The fact that typical Virgoan instincts are chaste does not mean that Virgos are virgins. The Virgin of astrology is a symbol of self- improvement and fertility.
Virgo and Partner

The person who contemplates becoming the marriage or business partner of a typical Virgo must realize that Virgo will regard the union as permanent, although the finer details can be flexible.

Given this, the person who partners Virgo can expect absolute loyalty. Virgos make strong commitments because they combine duty with devotion.

The Virgo will approach a proposal with great caution and will analyze the pros and cons throughly before getting involved. This is an excellent approach to any long-term partnership but may sound rather cold and clinical in the case of a proposed marriage.
Virgo Man As A Partner

He will be thoughtful, considerate, and honest. He will remember dates, anniversaries, and agreements.

He can be a wizard when it comes to the sensible balancing of the budget. He will love, honor, and criticize, but will not expect to be obeyed, waited on, or be dazzled by sexy make-up and clothes.

However, he will want cleanliness and a lot of warmth and sincere respect.
Virgo Woman As A Partner

She is shy but as tough as nails when the need arises. In business, she will be cool, intelligent, and fully commited.

Slow to love, Virgo woman is not interested in anything less than true love. When it happens, she will love intensely. She will only break a partnership if there has been hypocrisy. She is the most practical romantic in the zodiac.
Opposite Sign

Pisces is the complementary opposite sign to Virgo. From Pisces, Virgo can learn to get a little and float with the tide, giving imagination a chance to develop. In this way, Virgo can begin to accept human imperfections, especially his or her own.
Virgo and Friends

In general, Virgo likes a friend who is tidy, clean, and intelligent with a broad range of interests. They prefer people who are not given to big shows of emotion and are attracted to those who offer a sense of peace and serenity.
Positive Factors

Virgos love any pagentry that gives them an outlet for their tightly controlled emotions. Hence they are delightful companions at these events.

Virgos are discriminating and have a fine artistic taste and a wealth of information on many subjects.

They are not coarse and do not waste money.

Virgos are loyal to their friends and will be extremely kind, considerate, and helpful.
Negative Factors

Virgos are nervous worriers, and a friend who in some way feeds the worries will reduce Virgo to a nervous heap.

Virgos can be cold and critical, so a friend who softens the barbed remarks with caring laughter will bring out the Virgo wit.

Most Virgos find it almost impossible to admit they are occasionally wrong.

A compatibility chart, below, lists those with whom Virgo is likely to have the most satisfactory relationships.
Compatibility

In general, if people are typical of their zodiac sign, relationships between Virgo and other signs (including the complementary opposite sign, Pisces) are as shown below.


Virgo with Virgo: Harmonious
Virgo with Libra: Harmonious
Virgo with Scorpio: Harmonious
Virgo with Sagittarius: Difficult
Virgo with Capricorn: Harmonious
Virgo with Aquarius: Turbulent
Virgo with Pisces: Difficult
Virgo with Aries: Turbulent
Virgo with Taurus: Harmonious
Virgo with Gemini: Difficult
Virgo with Cancer: Harmonious
Virgo with Leo: Harmonious

Virgoan Leisure Interests

Most Virgos enjoy intellectual and practical pursuits. While many will take regular exercise for the sake of their health, they are not natural sportsmen and sportswomen.

On the whole, typical Virgos pursue the following leisure interests:

* theater, concerts, plays, pageants

* books, magazines, dictionaries, encyclopedias

* detailed crafts, especially weaving

* alternative medicines, psychology

* gardening, health foods, flowers

* computers with all the paraphernalia
Virgoan Likes and Dislikes
Likes
* making lists
* a well-stocked medicine cabinet
* self-improvement courses
* punctuality
* mimicking others
* grooming self, taking showers, using nice soaps
* dealing with details
* tiny animals
* helping others
* wearing well-tailored clothes in muted colors and textures
Dislikes
* crowds and noise; brash people
* slang, vulgarity, slovenliness, and dirt
* people who whine and complain a lot
* sitting still for a long time
* disrupted schedules
* lids left off boxes, or tops off toothpaste
* being obligated to others
* people who move Virgo's personal things
* hypocrisy and deceit
* any admission of weekness or failure
*bright, bold, primary colors

Virgoan Health

Typical Virgos are healthy although, if very worried or unhappy, they may succumb to the Virgoan tendency toward hypochondria.
Types of Sickness

Diseases most usually associated with Virgo are disturbances of the lymph system, or the digestive system such as appendicitis, malnutrition, diarrhea, indigestion, hernia, etc. Normally Virgos look after themselves well, so avoid many upsets.

When Virgo is sick, he or she needs to have a little fuss made while being encouraged to get well.
Virgo at Rest

Extending the metaphor of Virgo as the mutable earth sign, it follows that adaptability (the mutable quality) can sometimes work for Virgo, who finds it easy to change position if the body or mind are under stress. However, Virgo is also nervously restless, so Virgo needs plenty of interesting, practical things to keep him or her occupied. Making detailed models or doing needlework can be very soothing and relaxing.
Famous Virgos

Leonard Bernstein (Composer, Conductor), Sean Connery (Actor), Peter Sellers (Actor), D.H. Lawrence (Novelist and Poet), Lauren Bacall (Actress), Anne Bancroft (Actress), Greta Garbo (Actress), Twiggy (Model and Actress), Sophia Loren (Actress)

| Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo |
| Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces |