Is Your Dorm Room Haunted?

It might sound ridiculous to some to suggest that a dorm room can be haunted, but to others, it makes perfect sense. If you think about it, more has happened in a single dorm room than happens in most apartments or houses. There are too many reports of hauntings in dorm rooms to ignore.

There are some things to consider before you decide if your dormitory is haunted or not. To start with, ask yourself these simple questions.

• Is your dorm building new or has it been around for a while?
• Is your campus historical or newer?
• Is the location of your campus near or located on any historical sites?
• Has any major event happened near or at the location of your dorm?

Let’s dissect each of those questions and why they are vital in determining if your dorm room is truly haunted or if it’s just old plumbing that is causing all of the noises you hear. If your dorm building is older then there is more of a chance for something to have happened where you are staying. Many believe that ghosts or spirits are commonly found in locations where something major has happened before. It might not seem like a life-changing event to you, but if something happened in the past that an apparition considers vital then it is possible you may have a lingering guest.

If your campus is historical then there is also more of a chance that some major event has happened on campus. It makes sense that if your campus is haunted then the ghosts won’t just stay in one place. If you are experiencing a haunting on campus then it is likely that others are too.

If your campus is located near any historical sites that might have not-so-pleasant pasts then it is also likely that some bad energy has ended up on your campus. Lastly, if a major event happened near your dorm that could cause a haunting then you are much more likely to be experiencing a haunting.

If you or anyone else on campus has experienced the following, then it is likely you have a real haunting:

• Hearing strange noises at odd times.
• Hearing someone saying your name or speaking, even though nobody else is around.
• Doors shutting, windows slamming shut, things falling over, even though nobody is around to have done it.
• Floating objects.
• Shadows or movement that is unordinary.
• Strange reflections in mirrors.
• Sudden change in temperature.
• Unusual fog or glowing orbs in photos.
• Flickering lights.
• Abrupt loud noises that don’t seem to have an immediate source.

Reports of hauntings in dorm rooms or on campuses are common, so don’t feel alone when looking into this. Sometimes the strange things that happen can be explained away with simple logic, but in many cases, there are no logical explanations other than to admit that an actual haunting might be occurring. This article is not to give advice on what to do if you have a haunting because every situation is different and might require different action, but rather this is to help you decide if you have an actual haunting or perhaps just live in an old building where old wiring can explain your sightings.

Please take time to let us know your haunted dorm room story in the comments section.

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Choosing Your Career (Career Choices)

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Choosing a career, for the first time, can be scary and difficult! You’re walking into the unknown; not knowing if you would sink or swim. Many things come across your mind, such as “How much money would I make”, “Is that type of business booming today”, and “How do I know if this is really the career for me”? In excitement and eagerness, you outline your SMART goals and begin looking for ways to accomplish those goals. Today, I want to encourage you about career placement and advancement.

Society teaches the average individual to seek booming careers, such as law, medicine, and IT. In these careers, you’ll always find a job because they’re expanding and becoming necessities to the world. The statement is true, but I caution you to choose wisely. A lot of people start out in one career and transition to another; not because they aren’t intelligent or capable of handling their responsibilities, but because they’ve learned that it doesn’t guarantee happiness and self-satisfaction.

When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be a school teacher because I loved the character of the teachers I had. Educating others seemed self-satisfying to me, so I started pursuing a career in Education. I wanted to help others as well as help myself. Teaching benefits the student and the teacher. As I got through the first two semesters, I began noticing how this career did not meet my expectations. Expectations tend to change as we get older and as we experience new things. I couldn’t cope with my studies, so I dropped out of the academy and started seeking all over again.

There are so many people today that have wasted months, even years, trying to find the career that fits them. They go from one career to another and one job to another. The truth is they haven’t taken the time to stop and think about what makes them happy. Happiness increases productivity. If you engage in a career that makes you happy, you’ll do great at it and always look for ways to improve. Computers, coding, and technical stuff make me happy, so I don’t mind learning as much as I can about the IT field. Major and go into a career that makes you happy. Some of you may be saying, “What if I don’t know what makes me happy?”

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Sometimes, people take Undecided majors because they really don’t know what makes them happy and self-satisfied. One thing I’ve learned to do is watch and analyze those already in the career field. There’s no harm in reaching out to professionals in your desired career field and asking them questions about their experiences. Perform an informational interview with them and after reviewing their experiences, make sure it’s something you would be willing to handle. The second thing I’ve learned to do is job tours. Certain companies will allow you to tour the facility and speak to professionals in the company about their day-to-day duties. Google is a good example. They put videos on YouTube of their employees; showing you how they enjoy working for the company. If this doesn’t suffice, you can schedule a tour to meet Google employees; giving you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like. Some people need visuals and if that’s you, seek job tours. Besides job tours and informational interviews, you can test out the career for 90 days. Your career today doesn’t have to be your permanent career. Get a feel of things and take in variety from different companies.

All in all, invest in and pick a career that brings you happiness and self-satisfaction. If you do, you’ll find yourself active in the career for a long time rather than becoming burned out after five to ten years. Once you’re placed in your career, be respectful, obedient, and mannerly towards leadership. Take the “baby” approach and learn as much as you can about the business’ overall objectives as well as your annual to-dos from management. Over-accomplish and don’t worry about rewards and compensation at first. It’ll find its way to your lap after a while. Be the sparkle, example, and role-model your team and its members need.

Status Quo for Indie Authors

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What’s an Indie author? The word “indie” comes from the root word individual. An Indie author is an individual author who has self-published a book without help from other entities. A lot of people may find this to be uncommon, but it’s not at all. Hundreds of years ago, every author had to go through a press in order to get noticed and published. Times change, people change. Today, media and technology is advertising a lot of indie authors and supporting them through countless interviews and book blurbs.

So, what’s the status quo, Carl? It’s been predicted by many researchers that Indie authors will become more prevalent and presses will become nonexistent by 2020. Yeah, 2020! Perfect vision, perfect writing! Why? The root reason is Indie authors are taking the time to learn all of the loops in getting a book published. Recently, I wrote a blog post about Book Publishing 101. Myself, as well as others, have had these experiences and going through a press for an agent and/or editor becomes unnecessary. Many presses of today do not publish certain books because of their content, theme, and the notion of them not making an abundance of purchases. It’s vital for Indie authors to understand how to maneuver through the hidden fees they encounter. To conclude, Indie authors must build up a network of readers and writers, as well as doing freebies to draw a bigger audience. The bigger your network, the more successful you become in advertising your book!

Book Publishing 101

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1. Grammar & Editing – As you are constructing your book, make sure you do a Spell Check on the final manuscript. Check the sentence fragments and word tense. Make sure your document has 1-inch margins (Top, Bottom, Left, and Right). Set your manuscript size to the book size you desire (i.e. 5×7, 6×10, 8×10).

2. ISBN – In order to effectively market your book without being rejected from bookstores and online agents, you will need to purchase an ISBN. Bowker ISBN Agency handles the regulation of ISBNs. If you decide to purchase one through them, it will cost $125. Book publishers may offer you a discounted rate. If so, take the advantage.

3. Copyrights – No author is prone or vulnerable to theft. Protect your works by registering your claim/title with the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. You can purchase your copyright for $35 online through ECO or by printing out the forms under their local repository. Inside your book, do include a copyright page informing readers of copyright protection and infringement if they decide to steal your works.

4. Book Binding – The type of binding you choose for your book is very important. If you decide to choose paperback plastic cover, the cost will be cheaper. However, there is an advantage to hardcover. The binding doesn’t rip the pages and the book doesn’t become damaged by water, sunlight, or dust. Some authors choose to add the dust jacket inside and this also protects the pages inside of the book. One has to keep in mind that books are shipped and you never know what the machines could do to your books if they are plastic covers.

5. Cover Images – The front and back cover of your book is worth a thousand! Just one look could give the reader the wrong look. Personally, I choose to pick images that deal with the morale and main idea of the book. Get creative with your cover images and not have them plain. Make your book so appealing that when a person scrolls down the aisle, they stop to look at your book.

6. Wording on Back Cover – Many interested readers want a synopsis of your book and it’s important that you persuade them with the things written on the back. Place some testimonials of your book on the back cover and main quotes that are enticing.

7. Number of Pages – When I first started writing books, I did not take this into consideration. The amount of pages draws readers as well as repels them. If your book is too huge, a person may disregard it because of their busy schedule. Adversely, a person may enjoy a book with a small number of pages because they can read it in one setting. If you write poetry, consider the format of your book. Should it be done in volumes and collections? If you write fiction and creative stories, should they be split into characters or segregated by topical categories? Should there be a plot with suspense or a dry-cut informative message from the story?

8. Marketing – You are never in the business just to publish a book! You’re in the business to market your book! It’s an accomplishment to publish your book and receive the self-satisfaction of doing so. Yet, you want to sell your book and make royalties. You want money for your hard work and labor! It’s an expectation for authors and readers are also aware. Get into the habit of marketing your book and requesting your readers to rate and review it. Ratings and reviews carry the author a long way and establishes a fine connection between buying a book of worth and a plain old book.

25 FREE Audible copies of “Poetic Expressions”

Hey There! It’s that time again! Hope each of you are enjoying your National Poetry Month and enjoyed Tax Day yesterday! Today, I have a new offer for you.

It’s a first come, first serve basis! I give away 25 downloadable Audible copies of my first book written, “Poetic Expressions”. Adam Meggs is a famous auditor and has voiced this book for you to listen to rather than read. Instructions and discount codes are included below.

1. Visit http://www.audible.com/at/redeem

2. Enter the download code into the “Redeem Your Promotional Code” field
and click “Redeem”.

3. If you’re not an Audible customer, you’ll need to create a new Audible.com account. Don’t worry, you can use your Amazon account to do this.

4. Follow the instructions. You’ll have 1 credit applied to your account.

5. Go to my book’s listing and add the book “Poetic Expressions” to your cart. When you check out, you will see a free credit applied to your book.

Discount Codes:
7M8LCWD3SYJWU – PL6C5K5KYNSQL – TMEF8J3M5X8NQ – 8X55X6M727XHA – KG6YSGQ9RTHBR – FW6UWHSDYS3H9 – N2KU6QESJLZYS – F22U2MWUCRZPF – 74C8SCLCC9UH6 – 2MP7Q723FNFTQ – 2EB2RUKZ2UY7W – 3BCNMKRCMEE5B – 6E52PG5GEGLQS – 686H7X4A9E65K – JCHT7EBJPLWTW – UJ9KN97MRFELT – MXJPBEHXC3626 – A68SN44C4C9LM – E29GREPATKQSM – ZS9KTN4FQBANT – KEW69PZ9F69NE – BU6MTFCDHCPJS – SFKN6XBHWJ4Q7 – T6QWWRDYWXH5B – N2JP5PWTB3GXL

How to Write a Book Review

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Being a book reviewer for the last two weeks and having many of my books reviewed by others, I tend to see a lot of commonality in reviews. Mistakes, gestures, and things that are just inappropriate for a book review. It is one thing to tell someone that their book is great and others should read it. It’s practically a cliché at this point. Reviewers have to make prospective readers thirsty and energized in interest to the point where they want to purchase the book. Book reviews have the same flavor and sensitivity as a sales pitch.

How do I write a book review? Where do I start? How long should it be? Common questions with various answers! I only speak, in this blog post, from personal experiences as a book reviewer. When you begin writing a book review, start off by thanking the author for their publication. You can include if you won the book through a giveaway, but know that this is a necessary evil. After being complimentary, start addressing the overall design of the book. What feeling did you get when you looked at the front cover? Does the title give off the main idea? Are the designs on the front and back covers an act of symbolism? Does the small wording on the back cover heighten your interest to open the book? These are the things prospective readers want to know.

The next portion of your book review should address the grammar and punctuation. Yes, something not often placed in reviews. It’s imperative that you get someone else to check your grammar and punctuation. Go through an editor or agent, if you have to. You’ve read the book. So, did you have to stop and almost stutter because the fragments were not revised properly in the sentences? Did the author wean off-topic for a long time without reeling you back into his/her main purpose? Prospective readers and book reviewers look for the author’s purpose, focus, and moral in every story. At this point, you can begin considering the format and layout of the book. Was the table of contents outlined correctly? Were page numbers included? Was the book entirely too long with unnecessary information in chapters? Was the font and alignment of each page hard to conceptualize? Think about this when writing your book review.

These pieces to a book review are great, but the most crucial and last component of the book review should be recommendations. Make the sales pitch! State the type of audience who should be reading the book and address any internal/external feelings they may run into. Is the book full of adventure and suspense? Is it religious? Are profane words and derogatory remarks made in the book? Why is this so important? The prospective reader wants to know if they’re the right audience! For instance, I’m a poet and when I read reviews for poetry books, I want to know if the books are centered on the same themes I write about and read about. If I was a counselor and the book is full of adventure, but doesn’t hold a dramatic event requiring counseling for someone, this may not be the book for me. Make your recommendations and state why such audiences are the right candidates.

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In closing, have fun with your book reviews! Don’t make it into an assignment or required duty. Don’t treat it as some book report or an exhausting activity one does when finishing a book. Write your review while you’re in a happy mood and when you think and concentrate on the interesting pieces of the book. Even if the book is terrible, don’t come right out and say, “This is the worst book to buy.” Mention the author’s weaknesses and give suggestions on how they could become strengths. Don’t tear down your author publicly, but address horrible matters through private communications.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing some of your book reviews out there!

Writer’s Block: Re-fuel Your Passion!

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Writers write in different stages and with different moods. Sometimes, we have a gratifying, uncontrollable passion that keeps us up in the late nights and wee hours of the morning. You could look at our hands and see calluses on the back upper portion of our fingers. Our eyes look weary from staring at a monitor or a notepad for countless hours. The cups of coffee and slices of pie diminish; being used to invigorate the creative passion that lies trapped inside of us. This is the good mood, the good times as a writer.

Unfortunately, writers run into a stagnant mood called writer’s block. Writer’s block, to me, is the inability to think and the loss of passion in writing. It’s impossible for a writer to say their passion for writing is high while they face the excruciating battle of writer’s block. So, how does one refuel their passion? How long does this phase last? What caused writer’s block, anyways? These are questions I am willing to ask based off of pure experience.

The biggest cause of writer’s block is becoming dissatisfied with your own work. Time progresses, writings increase, but the satisfaction of the things we write about doesn’t increase. Each writing piece should give us a fresh dosage of satisfaction and encouragement. Another cause is running out of things to write about. Let me tell you … I run into this one a lot. To conquer this, change your atmospheric surroundings. Walk somewhere new, travel, carry a notebook in places you haven’t before, Internet research the latest poetry trends with poetry associations, and network with other poets who write for the same cause as you. Two is better than one! Change the time of day that you write. If you have been writing late at night, start trying it in the morning before the day gets busy. Personally, I love writing as soon as I arise from bed; when my thoughts are freshly anew and I’m not tired or weighed down from life’s burdens.

A person facing writer’s block remains in this phase until they realize they don’t have to. I learned this the hard way; waiting for others to pat me on the back and pump me up. You have to encourage yourself as a writer and write for others while building your very own self up. Rejection is another reason that leads writers into writer’s block. I do understand how one feels that wries constantly and is not recognized nor appreciated for any of their writings. Yes, it’s a terrible feeling. Yet, when this feeling comes, you have to ask yourself, “Why do I write? Who am I writing for? Is writing to heal and/or motivate me? Is writing all about others?” These questions will help you reinvent your passion and reasoning for becoming a writer. To conclude, overlook your past failures and rejections. It’s a new season, it’s a new day, and it’s a new you; waiting to write away!

Tutoring is SmarThinking

 

Tutoring is a smart idea if you’re struggling at a particular subject in school. The personal interaction and guidance of a teacher or more competent student can make study and homework sessions very productive. A tutoring service that’s available anytime and anyplace is SmarThinking. It’s used by many colleges and universities, particularly to provide academic assistance when and where they can’t.  This “virtual teaching assistant” is easy to use and caters to every subject. SmarThinking gives many options for interaction: you can immediately contact a tutor with drop-in tutoring, or schedule to meet one at a later date, or submit a question offline. (They try to answer within 24 hours) You can even get writing help for any subject or a resume and cover letter. The service is prompt and personable, and the program even saves your activity so you can refer to it again later. Having difficulty in a class? Smart students take advantage of tutoring, and its SmarThinking to use a good service online. You might get me as your tutor if you leave an essay! 

Power Through With PROBAR

Great food that’s good for you is somewhat hard to come by, but PROBAR is making that a very accessible reality. There are four main types of products made by PROBAR that all taste amazing and have some fantastic benefits, were going to tell you about three of them!

The first is the all new PROBAR Core. The PROBAR Core is a protein bar that provides 20grams of protein per a bar, that’s a crazy amount of protein for an all natural bar! These things now only have great health benefits, but they taste great. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t worry, they have you covered. There are four delicious flavors to choose from: Brownie Crisp, Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Chocolate. Finally, a company that makes protein taste great!

The second type of product that they make is the PROBAR Meal Bar. The name says it all, these bars are packed with nutrients and all natural ingredients that supplement a meal for you. This means that you don’t have to stress over missing a meal anymore, just have a  PROBAR and you will be ready to go! These also come in some really tasty flavors: Chocolate Coconut, Double Chocolate, Koka Mocha, Mint Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Original Blend, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Superberry & Greens, Superfood Slam, Superfruit Slam, and Wholeberry Blast! If you can’t find a flavor that you absolutely love then we would be surprised! They all taste great and will keep you running at full power until your next meal!

The third, the PROBAR Bolt is also a new addition to the PROBAR family of products. These are yummy gummy chews that will give you an extra boost of energy. They come in the following flavors: Berry Blast, Orange, Raspberry, and Strawberry. If you have a sweet tooth, these will be the perfect healthy snack!

The folks at PROBAR are so awesome that they are giving you 40% off your first order! All you have to do is use the code “BLOGGER” and you will get a huge 40% discount on your first order! You can check out their super cool shop or learn more about them at ThePROBAR.com, oh and don’t forget to like them on Facebook for future news and promotions! College students, business people, teachers, trainers, everyone, can enjoy the benefits of eating fantastic food that is good for your body and taste great.

How To Make Money In College

Every college student has been at the point where they could use a little extra cash at one time or another. The problem that most college students face is figuring out how to make money. Fortunately, there are lots of ways that college students can make money, in person and online. We have gathered some of our favorite and most proven ways to make money as a college student all here in one place, just for you!

First, let’s cover the ways that you can make money in person as a college student, while these methods require a little extra effort on your part, they are often times the most rewarding when it comes time to get paid!

Check With your College or University’s Career Office

Most all colleges and universities have an office or some place on campus or online where students can view open job listings or get in touch with someone who can help them get started with work study or an on campus job. If you live on campus this can be a great way to make some extra cash without having to leave the campus.

Make Use Of Bulletin Boards

Every college has bulletin boards around campus, chances are you find yourself stopping at them frequently to check out what’s new! Use this to your advantage. Post flyers selling old textbooks, dorm appliances, etc. If you offer a service, post it here too! For instance, if you offer tutoring or are looking for a roommate to split the cost of living on or off campus, post those here! Just make sure it complies with your college’s rules about posting stuff around campus.

Tutor

This may not be useful if you are the person needing tutoring, but generally everyone has a subject or two that they are really good at. You don’t have to tutor in every subject, but if you rock at Math, by all means, tutor people in it! Make some extra cash while keeping the gears in your brain going.

Now that we’ve covered a few really cool ways to make money in person on or around campus, let’s get into the odd jobs and internet jobs that are for the student seeking some extra cash who doesn’t want to commit to any strict hours, like with a regular job. The pay is going to be a little less predictable, but these are ways of making cash that we know work!

eBay

Yes, we’re serious. You would be surprised how much your unwanted books, games, and DVD’s are worth. Get creative and do some buying and selling with friends, buy cheap and resell it online for a profit. If this doesn’t sound like your thing, that’s fine, it isn’t everyone’s, but you can make some serious cash if you learn to use eBay to your advantage!

Fiverr

You may or may not know about this website by now, but if you don’t and you’re a college student, you need to! All you need is a PayPal account to get started, that’s it. Basically you post a listing known as a “gig” on Fiverr for what you will do in exchange for $5. Now it doesn’t sound like a lot of cash, but trust us, it adds up fast! You can do anything from read over papers and check for spelling errors, take a picture of yourself holding a fan sign, distribute flyers around town or campus, etc. the possibilities are endless, and there are some super odd things people do for $5 on that website! Now, keep in mind that you only get to keep $4 for every “gig” you sell, Fiverr keeps a dollar from each sale you make. You also have to wait 14 days for each payment to clear, but this allows your amount to add up, so no worries.

Yardsellr

Much like eBay, you can sell things from around the house that you don’t need, and if you choose to have the cash deposited in your bank account there are no fees, nice huh?!

Make YouTube Videos

This may sound a little “out there” for some people, but believe it or not, some people make hundreds of thousands of dollars making YouTube videos every month. Now we’re not saying that you will, but you can make some decent extra cash if you monetize your videos and get an AdSense account. Just keep in mind that you will need to pay taxes on your earnings.

Write A Book

You may think we’re joking, but you can make some really good extra cash if you write a book and publish it to the Kindle or in paperback using CreateSpace. You get a percentage from every sale, and this is something that a lot of college students like to do. Advertise your book on campus, if you have a large campus you may find yourself a local star! Do book signings on campus with your school or a groups permission. It’s a fun and creative way to make some extra cash.

There are a million ways to make money as a college student, you may even want to try a combination of the suggestions we gave. Just do what works best for you, we know it’s tough being a student sometimes, but with perseverance you can find a way to make cash that works great for you!

Get A Student Discover Card & Refer Friends

This is perhaps our favorite way to make cash as a student. Apply for a Student Discover Card by clicking the header. You will get $50 for using our link when you sign up to use same as cash on Amazon.com or for rewards and cool things like that, then each friend that you refer to get a card, you will get $50 more! Discover only gives you like a $1,000 limit to start so don’t worry about going too crazy. It’s also a brilliant way to build up your credit while in college! Use it responsibility and refer friends like crazy! You will be surprised how fast it adds up!