THE WRITER’S EYES - 2

The eyes are valuable assets to any writer. Yet many of us tend to take them for granted. I have had some problems with my eyes in the past because I didn’t pay adequate attention to taking care of them. But with knowledge came a change in the way I take care of them and I just want them to last my life time, so help me God!

In the concluding part of Dr. Oma’s article, she shared some valuable tips on how you can make your eyes last your lifetime. If you missed the first part, please click on here

Enjoy!

Grace Greatman

THE WRITER’S EYES  - 2

Dr. (Mrs.) Oma Ulu [Optometrist]

I emphasized in the last edition that the environment in which you work must be properly lit. Straining to see or read in a poorly illuminated place is one of the ways to weaken your eyes. Proper eye care especially from childhood can prevent long-term vision loss and blindness. When eye problems go undetected, they can lead to learning disabilities and other behavioral problems. Poor vision and eyestrain can cause frustration and physical pain such as headaches, and inability to write and learn.

So AVOID:

Rubbing The Eyes

Eyes are what age the most on our faces. This is because the skin around the eyes is seven times thinner than the skin on the rest or our face; so it is more dry and brittle. Rubbing, pulling and pressing on them creates a loss of elasticity in the skin, which causes wrinkles.

Rubbing can also cause the eyelid and eye area to appear temporarily swollen. It can break capillaries and make blood clots form. In addition, it can tear the eye lens and cause the retina to detach if it is rubbed hard enough to cause excessive pressure.

Traditional Medicine And Practices

Some of the practices used by traditional healers or untrained people can result in vision impairment. These practices include instilling into the eyes sugar or salt solutions and herbs in treating conjunctivitis or dissolving cataracts, cough, etc. These can cause corneal scars and opacity, lens opacity (cataract) and even blindness.

Poor Hygiene And Lack Of Adequate Treatment

Poor hygiene is not only a major cause of some eye diseases; it also leads to its widespread. And some of these diseases if not properly treated can become more complicated leading to blindness.

CARE OF THE EYES

To make your eyes last your lifetime especially as writers; do the following:

1. Maintain a good personal and environmental hygiene in order to reduce the risk of infection and diseases

2. A good nutrition particularly diets rich in vitamin A will go a long way to help vision.

3. Abstain from traditional practices and do not patronize quacks. Use only glasses recommended by professionals.

4. Avoid reading and writing, working on the computer and watching television in a poorly lit place

Visit an eye doctor for routine eye examinations especially when there is a noticeable change.

Enjoy God's Exceeding Grace!

THE WRITER’S EYES

Writers have the tendency to neglect their health as they dig for writing  ideas, task the mind on the choice of words and expressions, race to meet  deadlines etc. if you are passionate about writing, you must have subjected your body to some unhealthy practices. Well, as the year round off, we must decide to take care of ourselves, so we can continue to write.

Here is an article a dear friend of mine contributed to my Writers’ Digest a few years ago. It’s titled, The Writer’s Eyes. You don’t have to be a writer to read this.

Enjoy!

Grace Greatman

THE WRITER’S EYES

Dr. (Mrs.) Oma Ulu –Optometrist

Image courtesy of Google Images

The writer’s eyes are a vital asset to him. Without them, he will be utterly limited. Every seeing writer fears to go blind. Yet many do not know how to give adequate care and attention to these organs that facilitates the writing passion. The eyes are a part of the body, the two organs that you see with. This organ of vision measures just 24mm and weighs 7.5 grams. Our eyes allow us to perceive light, dark and color in astonishing detail, revealing the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

The human eye is remarkable. It accommodates to changing lighting conditions and focuses light rays originating from various distances on the eye. When all the components of the eye function properly, light is converted to impulses and conveyed to the brain where an image is perceived. However, some common practices engaged by people are harmful to the eyes and may eventually leave a permanent damage.

Here are some activities you should not engage in when you are in the dark or in a place that is poorly lit.

Image courtesy of Google Images

      1. Reading and writing

      2.   Working on the computer

      3.   Watching television

Doing these three things in an environment that is poorly illuminated result into headache, strain and pain in the eyes. 

Image courtesy of Graur Razvan Ionut/freedigitalphotos.net
  

These discomforting symptoms may cause you to stop reading or working on the computer, thereby reducing your productivity. Although, these effects are just temporary discomforts that go away once you sleep or take a break, the strain they cause may degenerate your eyesight as you become old.

WHAT TO DO

1. Ensure adequate illumination of your environment.

2. Don’t work with the computer in the dark. This is because the contrast between computer-generated light and lack of background light strains the eye.

3. Task light should be positioned to provide direct light for reading and other office work, but not to shine directly on the computer or in your eyes.

I will discuss some other harmful practices to the eyes in the next edition.

Meanwhile visit an eye doctor for routine eye examinations especially when there is a noticeable change in the eyes.

Compliments of the Season

Enjoy God’s Exceeding Grace!

WHY ON EARTH SHOULD I WRITE?

What? Did I hear you right?

I’m surprised someone is still asking this question when we can hardly do anything these days without putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Where don’t we write and why won’t we write, should be the appropriate questions.

     However, I’m not talking about all the academic, professional or business writings we must do every day; what I’m talking about is you choosing to be a writer… and why not?

Image courtesy of Domdeen/freedigitalphotos.net

    Here are ten good reasons you must consider having your name printed on a written work.  
                  

      1.       EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Virtually everything human beings do these days requires writing. Apart from talking, it remains the most popular mode of communication in this information age. Writing affords you the chance to express yourself in your own way and reach an unpredictable number of people spread all over the world. 

      2.     PRESERVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES

We are still reading Shakespeare, John Wesley, Albert Brown, James Fausset Brown, George Bernard Shaw, Williams Woodsworth, Henry Miller, George Elliot, Kenneth E. Hagin, and many other great minds that passed through this world. Their works still speak. They continue to teach, inspire, and influence people and this will continue for as long as the earth remains.

What are you leaving for posterity?

     Why not record your thoughts and those valuable experiences for now and the future. Your writings immortalize you whether you become a bestseller or not. 

      
      3.     AIR YOUR VIEWS

You have opinions and thoughts that are worth sharing. Why keep it to yourself or to your circle of friends? Write and publish them. You never can tell the immediate or future impact.

We all have experiences in our lives from which others can learn. These experiences come from day to day encounters with people and our environment. Our family, relationships, faith, profession, etc provide us with unlimited writing ideas from which people will enjoy reading and learning.

      4.     PUBLICIZE YOUR BUSINESS OR WORK

I always say, “If you don’t promote your products and services, Who Will? No one knows your business better than you do. No one can write about it better than you will.

     Write about what you do, why you do what you do, how you do what you do and where you do it. Writing exposes you to potential customers in a way that few other marketing tools do.

      5.       LEARN MORE

A good writer is a good reader.

Writing keeps you mentally alert because you are always searching for knowledge to share. Many times, clients have asked me to write on subjects I don’t know much about. I have done reports and summaries on professional topics that are unfamiliar. Nevertheless, I’m able to deliver by doing lots of research on the topic. I read books, search for relevant content on the internet and sometimes interview people. By the time I’m through, I’ve learnt a whole lot and become more enlightened.

     Writing motivates you to do more research about all kinds of things; processes, technologies, discoveries, countries, histories, cultures, etc. You are always learning about things you would otherwise never consider. 

      

       6.     SHARE KNOWLEDGE

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles by it.” -Fuller

This is a good enough reason to write. Teaching others what you know is a great investment that will yield lasting dividends, not only for you but also for the society. The beauty of Knowledge is seen only when it is shared. After all, what you know, you gathered from thoughts and experiences of others.

Whatever you share, multiplies. Teach others what you know by writing about it and you will soon grow into a well of wisdom.

        7.     A GREAT THERAPY

Writing about traumatic, stressful or emotional events has been found to result in improvements in both physical and psychological health. Psychiatrists call it “Expressive writing.” They ask survivors of trauma in psychiatric settings to write about such events for 15–20 minutes on 3–5 occasions.

Psychiatrist Kay Wilhelm wrote that over the past 20 years, a growing body of literature has demonstrated the beneficial effects that writing about traumatic or stressful events has on physical and emotional health. “Writing has helped people to resolve longstanding issues about relationships at home and work, and to put into words feelings that have been too sensitive to describe face to face.”

Writing is therapeutic. It relieves stress and anxiety and gives you a sense of fulfillment.

You can only prove this by trying it.

      8.     BECOME A REFERENCE

When you author and publish a book, report or article, someone who reads you will most likely quote you. Writing makes you a source of reliable information on a subject.

      9.     BOOST YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Writing distinguishes you. The truth is, we all rate writers high. We assume they know better about what they write than the rest in their field. Writing confers on you a star status in your area of expertise. Even if there are others who are more proficient and experienced, people who have read you will choose you because they know you.

      10.  MAKE MONEY

Writing has become a money-spinner in this information age. Apart from writing your own books or articles, you can write for people or websites and make lots of money. Many people are getting rich through online writing. It’s big business if you are serious about it. The more professional and versatile you are as a writer, the more opportunities you will have.

Take a chance and write.

Your book may even win an award or become a bestseller; you just cannot tell. Many of those who wrote bestsellers didn’t plan it. They just wrote, giving it their best shot and made it.

Michael Martel, the author of the Green Beret Series says, “Don’t bother about getting it perfect, just get it started.”

Writing is one of the most enlightening and rewarding art on earth. Rewarding, not only in terms of money, but in the fulfillment and joy it gives when someone reads you and gives a comment, make an observation or even criticizes you. Few things in life give such a gratification.

If you need help with getting started, talk to us. We will guide you through, from the idea stage to the bookstores.

E-mail - penparables@gmail.com

Grace Olumayowa Aideloje

Grace is a Writer, Editor and Proofreader. She teaches Writing Classes and motivates young writers to write and publish their works. Her passion is to empower people through knowledge sharing. She is the initiator of the Christian WAR Forum.

©2012 PenParables

Publishing Rights: You may republish this article on your website, newsletter, or eBook, on the condition that you agree to leave the article, author's signature, and all links intact.

HOW TO DEVELOP THE HABIT OF WRITING DAILY 3

Have you ever wondered why you don’t achieve your plans? You make a good decision and make plans to achieve them. You even take some steps and record a level of victory, but along the line; you abandon the whole project for untenable reasons.

One of the major factors responsible for this is lack of a clear, strong purpose.

You cannot succeed at anything in life without a clear, strong purpose. That is what drives dreams and talents. As a writer, you need a clear purpose to succeed at developing a habit of writing every day.

When a man has not a good reason for doing a thing, he has one good reason for letting it alone. -Scott

Purpose sustains your determination and propels you to the fulfillment of your goals.

This article is the third in the series: How To Develop The Habit of Writing Daily and it focuses on having a good purpose and using it to drive your desire to write every day. It involves careful planning with diligence to work the plan.

Why do you want to write every day?  

Get a journal and a pen and take time to plan on how you want to develop a healthy writing habit that will make you an accomplished writer.

1.      WRITE OUT YOUR GOAL.

Here is an example you can work with. Write the questions and your own answers in the journal. 

• What kind of habit do you want to develop? 

“I want to develop the habit of writing every day.”  

• Why do you want to develop the habit?

“To live up to my status as a writer”

“To improve my writing skills”

“To become an accomplished writer”

2.     DECIDE YOUR TACTIC

Keep your goal in mind, then decide the plan of action or strategy to achieve the goals. Answering these questions will help you formulate a good plan.

• How much time will you devote to writing daily?

“I want to write two hours a day.”

This will give you an average of sixty hours a month. That’s a whole lot if you will stick to it.

• What time of the day will be most convenient for you with less distraction?

“4am to 6am”

• What will be your focus of writing? (What will you be writing?) 

“I want to write a book titled The Benefits of Drinking Water.”

Someone once said, more men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent. Now you have a purpose that will drive you to fulfill your goals. Always remember that without a well-defined purpose, you cannot attain your goals, no matter how lofty they are. 

• The next thing to write down is why you are writing the book.

“I want to let people know how they can live longer and healthier by drinking sufficient clean water.

This is a clear objective for writing your book.

• What is the size of the book?

 “It’s going to be a small book of about 60- 70 pages.”

• How long should it take you to write a 70-page book if you write two hours a day?

Set a time determined by your level of skill, speed and experience.

If you are a beginner, you can write it in a month, if you stick to your 2 hours per day writing. That means you write two or three pages a day. 

 “It will take me a month (30-31 days) to write the book.” 

When you add the time for research, editing and proofreading, you can have your book ready in two months.

• When is your deadline?

It is easy to give a specific date if you have determined the time it will take you to write. Check your calendar and mark the specific day you will have your manuscripts ready for editing. If you are starting on the 5th of a month, your manuscript must be ready on the 3rd of the next month.

“My deadline is 3rd of August 2012.”

Make yourself accountable. Tell a friend, a family member, your mentor, or some members of your Writers’ group about your plan. Ask them to remind you and hold you accountable. It helps when you have to report to someone.

Developing good habits is a long-term commitment, but one that is worth every ounce of effort required to develop them.

 3. DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF

For some reasons, there may be days when you may not write for two hours. It may be due to an emergency or some unforeseen commitments that demands your time and energy. Don’t beat yourself on the head. Writing is hard work and failing to write for one or two days because something else came up is not a complete failure.

Sometimes you have to review your plan if they unachievable. Don’t be too rigid. If you discover that two hours is too hard for you to keep up with, reduce it to one or less. The goal is to write every day, no matter how small. You are free to adjust your plan and inform the people you are accountable to.

Be honest with yourself. It’s your goal and plan and no one can really make you achieve it, if you are not committed.

The level of success you will achieve as writer in a few years from now will be determined by how devoted you are to your dreams and how conscientious you carry out your writing assignments.

Grace Olumayowa Aideloje

©2012 PenParables

Publishing Rights: You may republish this article on your website, newsletter, or eBook, on the condition that you agree to leave the article, author's signature, and all links intact.