Leadership Development...
is the key to 21st. Century Success in business. Harness the power of your peers to help you develop your employees, managers & successors!
| D-I-Y Strategic Planning...
allows you to make strategic decisions about your company's direction every time - all with the help of your peers!
| You'll Make Better Decisions...
when your ideas are challenged and your assumptions tested, continually and strategically - by a caring group of your peers!
|
|
Write Novel's First Line To Guarantee Sales
By Martha
Start your writing with conflict if you want to guarantee sales, grab an agent or publisher, get paid a big advance. Your protagonist wants something and your antagonist wants to block it. If you want to be the publisher’s star-of-the-month, just hand out a strong dose of conflict right up front. Bold like. Then, they’re wrapped up in your story and it’s too late for them to escape. Trust me, readers, agents and publishers are going to consider writing with a strong dose of conflict as good fortune for their company. Readers will not want to put it down. The big boys just might pat you on the head and pay you a six-figure advance.
As conflict is so essential to good writing, whether it’s fiction, or nonfiction, children’s books or memoir, it will aid your attention-getting cause. I suggest you start practicing the art of writing conflict right now for your openings. Read the examples and write your own:
· James walked in ready to crash and that’s when he saw the monster. (Antagonist wants to take protagonist's calm time away)
· When I walked in, Emily had on my favorite blouse I was going to wear tonight. She stood there trying to apologize for tearing it.(Antagonist has blocked protagonist from wearing her favorite blouse tonight.)
· Jimmy worked ten hours at ten dollars an hour, and now John was saying he was worthless, he wasn’t going to pay. (John wants to take Jimmy’s earning away).
The sentences are off the top of my head and I don’t consider them profound or anything. But remember, my job is to make all of the big, foreign sounding things simple. My sentences clearly show characters in conflict. You can “feel” the tension. Your protagonist wants something and your antagonist wants to take it away. Your antagonist may not even be a person. It may be
Our articles continue...
|
a rock against the door, keeping your protagonist from escaping the bad guy. In my novel, The Mayor’s Wife Wore Sapphires, the mayor’s young wife wants to change the image of an inner city by making it the Black Camelot; her antagonists want to destroy the incubator idea that could make that happen. It is conflict that grabs the reader’s attention. Eighty percent of all readers continue to read because of conflict. If there is no conflict, the story lies flat on the page, it falls apart and loses the reader’s interest. It’s yawning-kind-of dull. When conflict is present, readers perk up and wade through bad syntax, misspelled words, structure flaws, and bland dialogue to find out how the conflict ends. I’m not suggesting that you neglect any part of the writing craft, though. It’s just that conflict is one of the strongest elements of good writing, and all too often we lose the reader’s attention because we neglect that writing tool. So, when you want to grab an editor, an agent, or a publisher’s favor, just allow them to feast on gripping conflict from the very first line and see your story rises through the slush pile to increased sales. In the Mayor’s Wife Wore Sapphires, the story opens with two unknown characters, whispering in what seems like a clandestine place. The host balls the newspaper in rage and throws it on the dark wood table. We see that it states: Council Upset Rumored. Now the guest thrust his head out of the shadows and says that “In my country, his kind disappears without a trace.” He wants to take out the mayor; his opposition wants to fix the situation before the council meeting. In The End Justifies The Means, the protagonist, Jalen, is trying to sleep; his mother and father are having a violent argument. He wants them to stop it; they get louder. In the Color Purple, Celie’s baby is happy for giving birth to her baby; the antagonist, her father, is taking the baby to give her away. She is screaming, “No!” The father is already gone. Agents and publishers are trained to recognize conflict, and they look for it. So take advantage of that now. Write conflict in your first line for practice. THE END Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com Martha Tucker is an author, story editor, publisher, and speaker. The Mayor’s Wife Wore Sapphires is a breakthrough romantic urban thriller. www.urbanclassicbooks.com/ FREE NEWSLETTER: The bestseller-kind-of-novel Sign up today: BestSellerCircle@zinester.com
Here are some more mediation articles...
Real Estate Negotiating - 4 Steps To Success
By Cheryl Shank
“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” (American 35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963) Even the most famous recognize the need for the art of negotiation. To be Read more...
|
Can Conflict Nurture Relationships?
By Sue Plumtree
My parents’ experience of war and their enforced dependence on other people’s goodwill caused them to instil into me the importance of getting people to like me. My very survival might depend on it, Read more...
|
Your Irs Tax Appeal Rights
By Richard A. Chapo
Are you in the middle of a disagreement with the IRS? One of the guaranteed rights for all taxpayers is the right to appeal. If you disagree with the IRS about the amount of your tax liability or Read more...
|
Credit Card Debt Settlement
By Peter Serelli
Credit Card Debt Settlement/Debt Negotiation is something you could probably do by yourself, however in most cases hiring professional help is the best way to go.If you get professional help Read more...
|
| business houston mediator news: |
At NATO summit, warm welcome for most leaders, but not Pakistan's - Los Angeles Times
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG6p-RJnx19r_ucfB9MLC29osX-uw&url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canada-to-offer-afghanistan-cash-but-no-troops/article2438843/?utm_medium%3DFeeds%253A%2520RSS%252FAtom%26utm_source%3DHome%26utm_content%3D2438843"><img src="//nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/Q6Cs7j33W--J1M/6.jpg" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80" /><br /><font size="-2">Globe and Mail</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br /><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1" /></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHMONJw8u73H26syqWHN0WScMs7LA&url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nato-summit-20120521,0,3696577.story"><b>At NATO summit, warm welcome for most leaders, but not Pakistan's</b></a><br /><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Los Angeles Times</font></b></font><br /><font size="-1">President Obama won't meet with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. US officials are furious over Pakistan's refusal to reopen supply routes to Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, left, and President Obama shake hands at the NATO summit in <b>...</b></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEzfKTUERrcgQ8GfZvgiliZ_Q-ypA&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWbyIWuRqt5GxqzivwhsmJgAtgFw?docId%3D9083d2351248436f88e74742db897a56">NATO shifts to help an elusive Afghanistan peace</a><link rel="syndication-source" href="www.ap.org/9083d2351248436f88e74742db897a56" /><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>The Associated Press</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHAaS5C1xzf58tiJw8oM6IEWifgSw&url=http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_20670062/two-critical-ties-play-obama-at-nato-meeting">Two critical ties in play for Obama at NATO meeting</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>San Jose Mercury News</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE2XeIb7ysJ0yhPvLKcyJhXDyXuOA&url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/obama-says-nato-focus-is-on-support-for-afghanistan-636837/">Obama says NATO focus is on support for Afghanistan</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Pittsburgh Post Gazette</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1" class="p"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHswk1EENRR9I9_wh1vZWcwFqvq5w&url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-nato-chicago-protests-0521-20120521,0,2691509.story"><nobr>Chicago Tribune</nobr></a> -<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGnFD2FaDPfYNjtgxmM0FBDun78kw&url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/12654223-418/nato-protesters-bloodied-in-clashes-with-police.html"><nobr>Chicago Sun-Times</nobr></a> -<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHArJ9-Kj9jJ-OnzL7Ifx1Mx9uMQg&url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/spontaneous-nato-protest-flares-up-in-chicago/article_1f488f4e-75b6-54e7-921b-6993f4c7544d.html"><nobr>STLtoday.com</nobr></a></font><br /><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dS8WSNu_fgya1iMRek4xbg8BGfB9M&topic=h"><nobr><b>all 9,560 news articles »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>Millions looked to the sky for 'ring of fire' solar eclipse - Los Angeles Times
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFP1i3k95XEH8k7BPEHLf-zTkIDuA&url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/9278854/Millions-of-stargazers-watch-eclipse.html"><img src="//nt0.ggpht.com/news/tbn/SMKUI3iEZ4rDbM/6.jpg" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80" /><br /><font size="-2">Telegraph.co.uk</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br /><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1" /></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHUWeStk1rjKa_nKV1QDCNwdlW2pQ&url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/ring-of-fire-solar-eclipse.html"><b>Millions looked to the sky for 'ring of fire' solar eclipse</b></a><br /><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Los Angeles Times</font></b></font><br /><font size="-1">Millions of people from Japan to Redding, Calif., went out of their way to look at the "ring of fire" solar eclipse Sunday. The eclipse was met with a festive atmosphere: People held viewing parties and converged at parks and on rooftops.</font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEgOem06n7AF_zKeMmOjfaEjnncTQ&url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/tech/solar-eclipse/?hpt%3Dhp_c4">Solar eclipse projects 'ring of fire' across Asia, Pacific</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>CNN International</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE8zU0L81crnY_3UGh0Yagt5Cp5eA&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hacGmt1N4XYCtsdi16NglRz6hiaQ?docId%3DCNG.d967343b724bfe40d1eabf592dba7777.d1">Eclipse 'ring of fire' wows Asian, US sky-gazers</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>AFP</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFqqaC0ZOsO4FCFiJeqwaOjzASwHQ&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxVUBwxMfY54eeauKM_10oxpAbZQ?docId%3Dfa6622be287c421eb4ec4ea51bab648f">Millions look skyward as eclipse crosses Asia, US</a><link rel="syndication-source" href="www.ap.org/fa6622be287c421eb4ec4ea51bab648f" /><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>The Associated Press</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1" class="p"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGHBjkqAnvf7-JBiPuUHrGMjDtCKQ&url=http://www.space.com/15781-solar-eclipse-may20-skywatcher-photos.html"><nobr>Space.com</nobr></a> -<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFvUXGX3SgyIUw08Z8ynm--USU1vg&url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57437991-76/annular-solar-eclipse-goes-global-social/"><nobr>CNET</nobr></a> -<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE7IHjhnFBxT5sgqJ9UjgIvSto6pw&url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/millions-turn-out-to-watch-as-rare-eclipse-crosses-skies-of-asia-and-western-us/2012/05/20/gIQAuojFeU_story.html"><nobr>Washington Post</nobr></a></font><br /><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=d-tuTJDrvZOg3eMnxmxtEWZaRECpM&topic=h"><nobr><b>all 2,867 news articles »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>Robin Gibb Mourned By Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood - MTV.com
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFM8OPRIiWpykl6q6OCov4WmUzLtQ&url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1685467/robin-gibb-bee-gees-remembered-justin-bieber-carrie-underwood.jhtml"><img src="//nt0.ggpht.com/news/tbn/nLVgqUK-6F5WfM/6.jpg" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80" /><br /><font size="-2">MTV.com</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br /><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1" /></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFM8OPRIiWpykl6q6OCov4WmUzLtQ&url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1685467/robin-gibb-bee-gees-remembered-justin-bieber-carrie-underwood.jhtml"><b>Robin Gibb Mourned By Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood</b></a><br /><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">MTV.com</font></b></font><br /><font size="-1">At Billboard Music Awards, Jordin Sparks recalls paying tribute to the Bee Gees during her time on 'American Idol.' By Kara Warner (@karawarner) The news was met with sadness and shock from the celeb attendees at Sunday's Billboard Music Awards.</font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFdYht8y72R38WiUXmrPH4_wKNhzA&url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/20/bee-gees-robin-gibb-dies-after-long-cancer-battle/">Bee Gees' Robin Gibb dies after long cancer battle</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Fox News</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFnrlIAf8_n6zLX8-vjrev6mqq1qw&url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/05/robin-gibb-and-the-bee-gees.html">Robin Gibb and the Bee Gees: More than disco kings [video]</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Los Angeles Times</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG5iyA5WDabNncxqN0sKqhqxIvczw&url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/18140795">Bee Gee Robin Gibb: Your memories</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>BBC News</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1" class="p"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGu8PSeWM1Drsxsv-zwndfX4d90Vg&url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303610504577416973101200102.html?mod%3Dgooglenews_wsj"><nobr>Wall Street Journal</nobr></a></font><br /><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=d1WnrAb49hBcEwM0m4QGDeeyC09RM&topic=h"><nobr><b>all 2,089 news articles »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>
Baseball Fires Arbitrator Who Overturned Braun Ban
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/sports/baseball/baseball-fires-arbitrator-who-overturned-braun-ban.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/05/15/sports/baseball/15base-pic/15base-pic-thumbStandard.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"></a>Shyam Das, who overturned Ryan Braun’s 50-game suspension for a positive drug test, was fired, according to a person in baseball with knowledge of the decision.Class Actions Face Hurdle in 2011 Supreme Court Ruling
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/your-money/class-actions-face-hurdle-in-2011-supreme-court-ruling.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/05/06/business/6Haggler/6Haggler-thumbStandard.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"></a>Last year, the Supreme Court said that corporations could write contracts that blocked class-action lawsuits. Now we are seeing that ruling’s effects.Australia’s Richest Woman to Battle Children in Open Court
Gina Rinehart lost an appeal seeking private arbitration for the dispute over her family trust, which three of her children charge she is mishandling.Teacher Argued Double Standard in Successful 2010 Fight to Keep Job
In his defense, an educator in Washington Heights showed a picture of the schools chancellor at the time in a similarly affectionate pose with students.Found to Have Misbehaved, but Still Teaching in New York City
The city wanted to fire more than a dozen teachers accused of inappropriate behavior, but in most cases it has been overruled by an arbitrator who opted for a milder penalty.JPMorgan Discloses It Lost In Arbitration to American Century
JPMorgan Chase paid $384 million to American Century Investment Management for apparent breaches of a contractual agreement, but the payout remained confidential until now.Resolving Disputes Through Arbitration
Readers take issue with an Op-Ed article critical of arbitration.Stuck in Arbitration
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/opinion/stuck-in-arbitration.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/03/07/opinion/0307OPEDbrainard/0307OPEDbrainard-thumbStandard.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"></a>Many consumers and job seekers are discovering that they unknowingly must submit to arbitration.Stockton, Calif., Moves Closer to Bankruptcy
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/us/stockton-calif-moves-closer-to-bankruptcy.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/03/01/us/STOCKTON/STOCKTON-thumbStandard-v2.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"></a>Stockton’s City Council decided to begin mediation in a last-ditch effort to avoid having the city become the nation’s largest to declare bankruptcy.An Investment Wipeout That Didn’t Have to Happen
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/business/an-investment-wipeout-that-didnt-have-to-happen.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/04/19/business/morgenson/morgenson-thumbStandard.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"></a>An investor won an arbitration case over money lost in a complex security. But he’s still angry at financial institutions.DEALBOOK; Former Catcher for Red Sox Wins Case Against Merrill Lynch Adviser
Arbitration panel awards former Boston Red Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli and his wife more than $1.2 million in damages and fees in his dispute with Phil Scott, one of Bank of America Merrill Lynch's financial advisors. Photo (M)/Venezuela to Quit World Bank Arbitration Body
Venezuela’s decision to leave the World Bank’s arbitration body would affect more than a dozen foreign companies that have unsettled disputes with the government.In Citigroup Case, a Risk Rating Investors Didn’t See — Fair Game
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/business/in-citigroup-case-a-risk-rating-investors-didnt-see-fair-game.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/04/19/business/morgenson/morgenson-thumbStandard.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"></a>Citigroup didn’t succeed in a challenge of an arbitration panel’s decision in favor of two investors. But in the process, the bank laid bare some of its inner workings.Rights in the Workplace
In a sound ruling, the National Labor Relations Board concluded that employees’ federal right to engage in concerted action trumps any arbitration agreement that bars group claims.Venezuela Vows to Reject Arbitration Ruling in Exxon Case
Exxon sought as much as $12 billion in compensation after President Hugo Ch?vez ordered the nationalization of the Cerro Negro oil project in 2007.
|
An intervention in dispute negotiations by an impartial third party. The purpose of which is helping the parties to reach their own solution without going to litigation.
|
|
