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John McPhee: His Work

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  As Educator In his role as Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University (a post he has held since 1974), McPhee teaches a writing seminar two out of every three years. It’s one of the most popular and competitive writing programs in the country, and his former students include acclaimed writers such as Richard Preston ( The Hot Zone ), Eric Schlosser ( Fast Food Nation ), and Jennifer Weiner ( Good in Bed ). When he is teaching his seminar, McPhee does no writing at all. His seminar is reportedly focused on craft and tools, to the point where he has been known to pass around the pencils he uses in his own work for students to examine. As such it’s an unusual writing class, a throwback to an era when writing was a profession like any other, with tools, processes, and accepted norms that could earn a respectable if not flashy income. McPhee concentrates on the building of narratives from the raw ingredients of words and facts, not the elegant turning of phrases or other artis

John McPhee: His Life

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  Once called “the best journalist in America” by The Washington Post, John Angus McPhee (born March 8, 1931, in Princeton, New Jersey) is a writer and Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. Regarded as the key figure in the field of creative nonfiction, his book Annals of the Former World won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. Early Life John McPhee was born and raised in Princeton New Jersey. The son of a physician who worked for Princeton University’s athletic department, he attended Princeton High School and then the university itself, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went to Cambridge to study at Magdalene College for a year. While at Princeton, McPhee appeared frequently on an early television game show called “Twenty Questions,” wherein contestants attempted to guess the object of the game by asking yes or no questions. McPhee was one of a group of “whiz kids” appearing on the show. Professional Writing Career From 1957 to

Novel on Holiday

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  You’ve always intended to write a book and yet you’ve never started. For most of us, the culprit is time. Luckily, there’s a solution: book a holiday. 1.  Go somewhere boring Seriously. When it comes to writing, distraction is not your ally. Pick a country cottage or villa with absolutely no tempting local sights or bright lights in proximity. If possible, don’t even take a car to best limit your escape options. 2. Go somewhere nice Boring doesn’t have to mean horrible. Rural scenes can inspire, stirring your writerly senses. On breaks, a country stroll or sleepy village circuit is preferable to laps of housing estates. 3.  Carefully choose your writing spot This is crucial. The two chief criteria are comfort—a healthy chair and desk set-up for your back—and visual encouragement. A lovely, light-filled view can make words flow more easily. 4.  Be vigilant with the web You’ll likely need the internet for fact-checking, or even musical purposes. But consider putting a strict boundary a

Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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  The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was founded way back in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam. They wanted to create a competition that focused on the lighter side of wildlife photography. What’s more, they aimed to promote wildlife conservation through humor. The shortlist is spectacular and we invite you to scroll down and have a look at all the best photos from the competition. Which photos do you personally think deserve to win the most? Which ones made your day brighter? Let us know in the comments. #1  Time For School #2  Monday Morning Mood #3  Mr. Giggles #4  Draw Me Like One Of Your French Bears #5  Operatic Warm UPS #6  Before And After Coffee #7  We’re Too Sexy For This Beach

Don’t Make Any Sense

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  Animals aren’t always as majestic as wildlife photography contests depict them. Sometimes they look as derpy as me and you. And believe me, I wouldn’t be saying such a thing if I didn’t have any proof to back it up. #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7

Completing Your First Draft

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  When I wrote for my college newspaper, I often didn’t know how to organize my ideas and structure. And I was terrible at it, as I soon realized. It is very significant to organize your own ideas when you are writing your paper. If you are facing similar problems, follow these stages of preparation and production to assemble a first draft of written (or spoken) content. 1.  Identify Your Purpose. What is the reason for writing the content? Are you objectively presenting information? If so, is it for educational purposes, or for entertainment — or both? Are you writing to help someone make a decision, or encouraging someone to take action? Identifying your goal for the content will help you shape the piece. 2. Identify Your Readership. Who are your intended readers (and your unintended ones)? What is their level of literacy, and what is their degree of prior knowledge of the topic? Imagining who your readers are will help you decide what voice and tone to adopt, how formal or informal

How Does a Volcano Work?

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  Volcanic activity is a fascinating, frightening, and an absolutely essential feature of our planet. However, we can be less afraid of it if we understand how it works. Volcanoes Are Part of World Building Volcanoes do major work in building up continents and islands, fashioning deep-ocean mountains, and craters. They also resurface landscapes on Earth as they spew out lava and other materials. Earth began its life as a volcanic world, covered with a molten ocean. Not all volcanoes that have flowed since the beginning of time are currently active. Some are long-dead and will never again be active. Others are dormant (meaning they could erupt again in the future). This is true on Mars, particularly, where a few volcanoes exist among the evidence of their active past. Volcanic Eruption Basics Most people are familiar with volcanic explosions like the one that blew apart Mt. St. Helens in Washington State in 1980. That was a dramatic eruption that blew part of the mountain away and showe