Curse of the Abyss Worm [Chapters 21 & 22]

By Dennis Siluk

21

The Mirror and the Ring

1930�Fall

Curiosity, Sally woke up as she rolled out of bed, walking to the main room in the hotel suite�. The old gentleman [Thomas] was having coffee by himself sitting at the dinning room table. She looked out the window at Rice Park; it was a small park to say the least�yet it had its history, in the center of downtown St. Paul. The river, the Mississippi was but a block away to the south, with its rustic banks, and port of call. The levee was full of houses, shacks, huts, etc, and to the side of it was huge sandstone cliffs, and caves. The day seemed smooth with no leaves blowing on the trees ��a windless day�� he murmured, like a shy kitten, pacing from room to room. He had a divine moron rob on with big pockets, slippers on his feet, --hideous to look at�but warm and comfortable.

As he stared out the window Sally put her lipstick on, the mirror on the bathroom door was opened a little, and the mirror was to her back in the backroom, as she could see reflections in the window from it. She had to take a double-take on something, something peculiar around Thomas� forehead�something she had never noticed before. She looked closer into the shadow of his window�via reflections. Yes, it was clear, a dark ring peculiar she thought. She looked deeper into the left side of the window, a pink horizon, it was lovely�then paused a moment.

She now took a third look, surely she thought: it must be a mistake, but no it wasn�t matter of fact, it only reassured her she was not seeing things. As the sun was coming up shinning in the window, which caught his attention first, that is before he noticed Sally looking through the window at him, oddly looking at him, but nonetheless, with much effort, or so he felt she was�but was she really? He couldn�t say for sure. The sun was actually blinding him now, blurring as he tried to focus on her eyes in the window. Sally then walked away, sat down at the table, picked up the Saint Paul newspaper, and started to read it: as she looked straight ahead at the window again, to see if she was seeing things. There were no unusual reflections coming from it now. Silently, Thomas watched Sally investigating the window, the room, and him, as he stood by the door, not allowing his facial, or profile reflections to be captured by the window again.

Said he, �Something wrong Sally?� the comment was with an ardent bafflement.

�Oh-o-o�� push out of her mouth�with a artful-music tone to it, �I thought I noticed something,� now staring at Thomas; she knew the Trials had the double curse, that is�the �Liars Curse�, given by God, which had the black ring around their foreheads, and the �Demons Curse,� which entailed the deaths, and consequently branded the devils mark within the character and mind of the possessor; the victim was haunted by this dark world, along with the Abyss Worm�s poisonous-virus, which had started with Arthur, and was put on to her family, the Viper�s. But to her understanding, the Viper�s didn�t get the black ring, or at least not until they had lied, and even so, it wasn�t all that dark, not like the Trials had. The degrees of blackness were a big difference, for the Viper�s it was a shadow at best, for the Trials it was deep, dark and almost glossy.

�And so, did you�that is, did you notice something?� Thomas slyly questioned.

�It would seem not so,� she commented, then with stupefaction, added,

��but I swear I thought I did�� (She cunningly replied, which she was actually unsure of). Thomas avoided the window now all together, thinking she might try to see the reflection through it again, and said no more on the subject. As far as Sally goes, she did not have a ring around her forehead, not yet anyway.

The Survey

That morning, Thomas and Sally went out checking the area for houses for sale. They had ownership of 105-unites within the two cities, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, at this point of their relationship. Thomas had let her know there were many more possibilities in the near future.

�Sally, let�s go down by the levee, by the caves, the cliffs, along the stretch of the river, there are some old homes, several can be purchased for little or nothing. Possibly even a pasta caf้ or two, many Italians in that area; as is, you may have noticed, the city is somewhat sectioned off, that is to say: the Mexicans live on the West Side of town, the Italians down along the levee; the blacks up by the capital or in an area called Rondo, and the whites everyplace for the most part, but those areas I�ve mentioned,� having explained that they both went out the door for the day�s searching.

Summit Avenue: --which stretched from the Cathedral to Snelling Avenue was known more for its elite, where F. Scott Fitzgerald lived, and JJ Hill, and the Governor. Not far from there was Sally�s nine-plex, and Thomas� second home.

As the driver drove up and down the side streets, Thomas smugly commented, �We shall own whole blocks someday of this city.�

�Thomas,� she commented, ��mmm, we already do,� and she laughed a little.

�I want you to keep in mind Sally, when I die, it will all be on yours and I mean everything.� (Yet die was not the word he wanted to say, but had to somehow, it carefully seeped out of him, unwillingly, but for show and tell, it came: it seemed to be forced; again protecting the cult). He had said that more than once to her, and she smiled again as always, not knowing how to respond, since it was an ongoing statement, and getting a ting harder to digest.

Although Sally was happy for the most part with her new role in life, she knew something was wrong, very wrong, but just could not put her finger on it (intuitively wrong)�, that dark, glossy black circle around his forehead never left her mind either, she would write that in her notes and in a partial journal. At this juncture of her relationship with Thomas, she was seriously thinking of moving out of the hotel suite to another location; she was starting to wonder about his motives; getting fearful of Thomas� display of dark-talk; --there was something unknown, unsettling appearing. Again she would write this in her journal, and I quote from it Anna:

[Journal Entry]

Said she:

�Maybe I should get out of the hotel, I told Thomas that, saying it would be more practical for me to move into one of my own an apartment room at the nine-plex, but, it was not really more practical, but I am getting more fearful at this juncture of our relationship. I mentioned, ��for instance,� I said to him, maybe I�ll live in the small house (a single family unit) on Larpenteur Avenue, by Como Park, not all that far from the nine-plex. Oh, gosh, he looked at me as if I was a traitor, I just left it alone, and figured I�d come back to it another time.�

22

Elucidation

As Thomas and Sally walked the banks of the Mississippi, viewing the levee, and its houses from a distance, he knew that tramps and derelicts, wino�s if you will, all lived in the caves nearby, all along, up and down the Mississippi River banks. Without question, he knew this area quite well. He had slept among them at times, years ago as he had long, very long alcoholic binges, and well, let�s say, unhappier and more trying days back then.

Said Thomas looking about as they walked the banks of the Mississippi, the caves nearby, --looking to and fro, every which way, �You must be careful not to tread into those caves, it can be harmful I�ve heard bad things can happen, unseen and unproved, but harmful most assuredly.� Sally looked at Thomas amused.

�Can you explain a little more of what you are trying to say�?� she asked. [A long pause]

�It was all Indian country, prairies, sacred grounds, at one time around here. My heritage goes back to 1823 in this area, and to the southwest. We go back a long ways�then: then came people, and more and more, people followed: --from all over the country; the Irish, the Polish, the Spanish, the Blacks, the Germans. But us Trials remained�� Thomas stopped hesitantly, and thought of what he said; a silent-shock went throughout the countenance of Sally�s face.

�What was that cousin�? You said something about [pause], about the Trials?� Asked Sally.

�So I did, sorry, I meant Viper�s�a slip of the tongue, that�s all, just a little slip of the tongue.�

Responded Sally [confused]:

�Yes, I used to be one I guess, until I was adopted [taken in]. Like you I�m a Viper.�

Before she could say another word, Thomas remarked he�d be back in a moment, needed to relieve himself, and was going to a caf้ nearby, ��just down the road, down the road I�ll be back soon,� he said hastily; --but he didn�t offer to take her along, just quickly scuttled, saying, adding to his monologue:

�I�ll be back in a moment, I won�t be long,� he had dashed off so quickly, Sally had no time to say a word.

[Sally yelling to Thomas, standing allusive]: �Hurry up�please!�

As Thomas was now out of sight, Sally (instinctively) knew something was wrong with that slip of the tongue, the �Trials vs. the Viper�s�, and adding that to the already wavering black circle she thought she saw around his forehead, made her more elusive on or of what the future held for her with Thomas, and was there a hidden motive in all this�strange at best she concluded. Regardless, she could not quite put it together�there was a missing piece to a puzzle; she sensed it, and it was an issue

As she was deep in thought, kind of walking in a daze back and forth, getting a little closer all the time to the caves, yet not next to them, rather close by them, as if a magnetic force was drawing her inch by inch (still deep in thought on this trying issue of Thomas� behavior). As this was happening, three derelicts grabbed her; --one stuffing a sock in her mouth so she could not scream, the other two carrying her into a nearby cave by her armpits, as if she was a drunk herself, trying not to disturb any bystanders, of which there were none close by anyways.

The Cave

Inside the cave it was cool�dark, her dress and blouse torn off as well as her panties now; she lay on the cold damp ground naked, she was in the process of being rapped�in the process, but not rapped, not yet. Suddenly she was picked up and thrown down to the ground again, as if to knock the wind out of her, or any possible future resistance; �the damp soil pressing against her body even tighter now. On each one of her legs two tightly soiled hands held her still; �in back of her head another two hands were holding her solidly. A voice was telling her to stop being resistant, as soon as they are done she�d be able to go, yet threatening her at the same time; but Sally, couldn�t move anyhow, or say anything with the sock in her mouth, and if she was resistant it was because she was more uncomfortable than anything, she was, at the moment, secured tightly against the ground; she felt more helpless than a dying dog. Then appeared a forth person, a mysterious person, her e yes were now covered by a blindfold�which was nothing more than a dirty rag, although it was dark, her eyes were adjusting to it and so the rag, the rag they used to blind her with, envelop around her head threefold with, as not to let any light in, or eyesight out, it was as tight as one could make it without damaging her; that is, it was not too awfully fixed, it was hurting her though, yet she endured it. Savagely she was slapped between her legs, her arms, face, every place, as the mysterious man�s body laid upon her, pinning her tight against to the soiled floor. Finally the man entered her�and henceforth, a wave of pain started; all seemed a nightmare, a world out of control�and almost to quick to remember any exact details (or so it would seem later on when the police would question her). The mysterious stranger at that point, broke the impregnable curse on his family [the Trials], and took a sigh of relief�plus the revenge had been successful; the Trials to the Vip er�s had been completed, what Arthur Trials had always prayed for.

The stranger now got up, never said a word, he walked away. Sally would write in her diary, �I heard the man mumbling, with a fifth person, for three of them were still holding me, it was as if there was a payoff.� But who would ever know.

[From outside of the cave a voice is heard.]

�Sally, Sally�where are you!�?� cried a voice wondering outside the cave entrance.

At that moment, as if it was split timing, the three men who were holding Sally ran through the caves, and were not seen or heard of again. Later on the police would say they [the rapist] found a way through the sewer system, and climbed up to and through a manhole onto the city streets above. But that is all the police report would indicate.

Thomas entering the cave, Sally now standing up crying, naked in front of him, he put his jacket round her, as the cold gray dawn shadowed them as they made their way to his car, and onto the police station.

Not much was said during that walk through the levee to get into a chauffeured driven car and on to the police station. And from that moment on, from that mysterious gray-day, a disquiet-ness would followed them, along with dread being dragged along, which would linger in Sally�s head forever: forever wondering if it was him, always in suspicion that it was him, reliving the ordeal. It was as if she knew, as if she knew it was Thomas himself, but could never prove it. And even if she could what could she do about it; --as time would pass, she would not consider leaving the hotel anymore, and willingly had sex with Thomas at his will, it almost seemed natural for her to allow him to do as he pleased with her; she was, you know, almost in a hypnotic spell, I suppose one might say�subdued; as if she was broken, an unspoken defeat for her, she just gave in, the shock, the money, the many miles away from home, no one would know which one or if at all these elements played a part in her crackup, or better put, participated in her new passive role she took in life, took and used on a day to day bases after the rape, but no one now needs to know, it was so, and what can one do with the past but learn from it.

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Hunting for Markets Over the Holidays

By Dr. Erika Dreifus

Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks. Between preparing for, celebrating, and unwinding from the holidays it may be difficult to maintain your regular writing routine. And if researching potential homes for your work is part of that routine-as it is for many of us who regularly submit stories, essays, poems, articles, and reviews for publication-you may be worried about falling behind.

But it's time to put those worries to rest. In truth, there are many ways to keep up with your market-hunting over the holidays. Here are just four possibilities:

1) When you visit friends and family, peruse the magazines they may have on their coffee tables or stacked in their recycling bins. Chances are they may subscribe to some that you don't receive. Who knows how many new markets you may discover? (Just be sure to ask for permission before you start rummaging!)

2) Be bold with your gift list. If someone close to you should ask what you might like for the holidays, go ahead and say it. Go ahead and tell that person: "I'd like you to bring me/send me all the magazines you've received for the past six months-and haven't yet thrown out." That person won't need to shop, and you will be able to spend the rest of the winter researching markets.

3) If you'll be traveling, take advantage of any complimentary publications that may come your way: inflight magazines, morning newspapers at hotels, and so on. Again, these may provide you sample issues for markets that you haven't considered before.

4) If you're visiting anyone out-of-town, stop by the local library, and check out the magazines the library keeps stocked. It's quite likely that you'll discover some-especially regional publications-that you won't be able to research as easily back home.

Can you think of other possibilities? Add them to the list! Happy holidays, and happy market-hunting.

(C) Copyright 2004 Erika Dreifus. All rights reserved. Article reprint permission is granted provided that the entire article, including the "About the Author" information--remains intact and unaltered. Please send a courtesy copy of the reprint to erikadrei (at ) yahoo (dot) com

Erika Dreifus (Ed.M., M.F.A., Ph.D.) edits the free monthly newsletter, "The Practicing Writer," and has published several resource guides, including "The Practicing Writer's Directory of Paying Short Story Markets" and "The Practicing Writer's Directory of Paying Poetry Markets." Visit her website at http://www.practicing-writer.com to learn more.

The Power of Stories Getting the World Right

By T. Falcon Napier

One of the most powerful skills a speaking or training professional can develop is the ability to select and share stories that empower and motivate their audiences -- and our industry has a rich history, filled with countless stories that are as meaningful today as when they were first told generations ago.

Here's a great story that can set the stage for any talk about personal accountability, self-discipline or individual growth. It was first printed in Napoleon Hill's classic book, "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude" published in 1960. As with any story coming from a time period so long ago, you always need to update elements of the story for political correctness and to mesh better with contemporary audiences, as I have done here:

A preacher had been having a very difficult time all week coming up with a powerful message for his sermon the following Sunday -- and his time was quickly running out�

The preacher finds himself on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon. His wife had gone out for a few hours to do some shopping, leaving him to entertain his young daughter. With the bad weather preventing her from going outside to play, the little girl had grown bored and was driving her father crazy with her constant interruptions and general mischief.

In a desperate attempt to occupy his daughter's attention so he could focus his thoughts on his sermon, the preacher grabbed a magazine, flipped through, found a colorful picture of the world, ripped it out, tore it into dozens of pieces, threw them on the floor and said, "If you can put the world back together, I'll give you a dollar."

Thinking he had just bought himself a couple of hours of peace and quiet, he was surprised when not ten minutes later, his daughter re-appeared with the re-assembled page in her hand and a smile on her face.

"Hi, Daddy! Here's your picture. Can I please have my dollar?"

The preacher looked at his little girl and said, "Honey, how did you do this so fast?" She replied, "Well there was a picture of a man on the other side, so I just put the man back together and turned it over. I figured if I got the man right, the world would be right too."

The preacher smiled, pulled out his wallet, handed his daughter a $1 bill and said, "Thank you honey -- you've just given me my sermon for tomorrow!"

Isn't that a great little story to capture the heads and hearts of an audience and a great theme for any presentation about leadership, responsibility and focused effort?

It's also a perfect reminder for all of us in the human development industry: to make our WORLD a better place, we need to stop worrying about our circumstances and get back to work on OURSELVES.

Now, go share the story!

T. Falcon Napier is an internationally-recognized human development expert, specializing in sales, leadership and change management. His organization identifies, certifies and supports independent and corporate training professionals in the design, delivery and reinforcement of the entire family of programs and professional services based on the MasterStream Method. Qualified instructors are encouraged to learn more at http://www.masterstream.com

The First And Only Step You Need To Take To Live An Extraordinary Life You Love

By Robert Daniel

You�ve bought and read all the self-help books, created a future for yourself by writing everything you want down on paper in vast lists and repeated dream fulfilling mantras every day while meditating in a serene trance.

Books, seminars, tapes, DVD�s, courses, life coaches, self-help groups, professional help through psychiatrists and hourly Visualisations.

If none of these have worked, or brought the things you most want in life, then something else must going on.

It doesn�t matter where you live either. In the most affluent of countries in the smartest suburb, or in one of the most desolate parts of the world, personal dreams and feelings are much the same.

No one wants his or her life to be a waste. Everybody wants a happy, healthy life in which they make a positive difference. Leave the place better than we found it.

But inside all this is drama after drama. The daily dramas of life and how we deal with them all.

Dreams are left behind and replaced by daydreams, while working at jobs we don�t like and were never intended to be permanent. One day it will change, one day the lucky break will come, but that line has been repeated now for five, ten, 20, 50 years and still no respite.

I am extremely lucky.

I have a brilliant life. I�m not rich, although that maybe something I�d like to try one day, just to see what it�s like. But I love what I do each day, whether it be work or play. I have an extraordinary family around me, enjoy great health, have a small but precious group of people I�m proud to call friends and see possibilities I can either pursuer or choose not to pursue.

And the key to it all is simple. I love what I do. But it hasn�t been easy, and it still isn�t, but I�ll be damned if I�m going to give up on the things I�m passionate about doing.

It might not have been this way. The only reason I started travelling was because my boss when I was 18 began asking me what kind of retirement plan I was looking at.

I went out at lunchtime, bought a tent, sleeping bag and backpack, a train ticket from London to Paris and that night found myself on a French road with my thumb out heading south.

Years later this one choice led me to a life in Australia. Providence has a way of leading you where you need and want to be, even if you don�t know where or what that is yet, if you�re willing to set it all in motion and be pro-active. Sit still and do nothing, change nothing, think the same, it will all stay the same. How can it not?

If you always do what you�ve always done, you�ll always get what you�ve always got.

This means we have choices. We are the ones who choose what happens to us, or how we respond in a crisis. There are always choices. We may not like the consequences of some of these choices, but they are still ours to make.

And the wonderful thing about moving forward and opening up new doors in life is that you truly never know what�s going to happen next. Anything is possible, if you just put yourself out there.

Stop and do nothing, I promise you nothing will happen.

But if you�re still looking for the secret of life then none of this is new, and it wont change a thing. It�ll just be another short reading about how to change things to the way you want them, something that may strike a chord but nothing to take action on.

So I�ll set you a challenge.

First of all, this is your life mate. This is it. Not a rehearsal, not a waiting room in which you�re hanging around waiting to be called up, this is it. That in itself can be quite confronting, the immediacy of it all.

The secret to an extraordinary life is finding what it is you are passionate about, and doing whatever it takes to do it as work, and play. There may be several things, which is fantastic, because it gives you more to work with. There may be nothing yet, which simply means you need to go out and look, try different things, see where they lead, because I guarantee nothing is quite as it seems.

And what you are passionate about is probably something that right now looks impossible. There will be a million excuses why it cant be done, in the situation you are now in. Money, health, relationships, education, location, attitude.

There is always a way. Just because we cannot immediately see it does not mean it isn�t there.

It may take minutes to achieve what you�re after, it may take a lifetime, but what does that matter? Better to spend your life pursuing your dream than spend it feeling resentful that you cant have it, and settling for second best and daydreaming instead.

And STOP reading about it. This is all in �the doing.� Start it, whatever �it� is, and Providence will see what you�re doing and step in to help.

But only if it is truly what you want. To find it you may need to go on a journey of discovery first, but that is all part of the fun. Living the life you deep down dreamed would be yours, and never giving up on that dream regardless of what gets thrown in your way.

There�s nothing to fear. Argue all you like, but in the end we all die, and for this existence at least, it�s all over. What have we got to lose?

Life, in all its intricacies, is a game we either play, or we don�t. Sometimes it can seem a cruel game, at others a game we seem destined to win because we�re on a roll, but like all games, the luck can changes.

And if it�s a game, we also get to choose how we play it. Either flat out or with fear. We know what works, but it�s still our choice.

What do you LOVE doing the most, and what is it going to take to do this in your life?

Rob Daniel is a children's author, creative writing, memory and self-esteem teacher. He lives in beautiful Albany on the south west corner of Western Australia, has a passion for mangos, the Greek Islands and bringing the best out of young people. He has been booked to go on a creative writing tour of primary schools around the south-west in September, and is very excited about the adventures he's about to have!

'Rob Daniel's Magical Mystery Tour Of The Imagination' is calling at Esperance, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Perth; eight one hour sessions in five schools.

Rob creates 'turn the page' children's e-books with illustrators from around the world. You can check out and buy these books instantly from http://www.chocmint.com You'll also find an opportunity to join the chocmint adventure yourself, if you have a passion for writing and illustrating for children.

LATEST book published 'A Tail's Tale', illustrated by UK artist Elizabeth Stringer. Part proceeds from books go towards sponsoring children at the Bear-Care orphanage in Kitgum.

Telling Stories

By Kurt Mortensen

Paint the picture for your audience. The more you can create the setting-the sights, the sounds, the smells, the feelings-the more your audience will be drawn in. Remember, you want the experience to become their experience-something they can readily identify with. As a persuader, you've got to take them there. As you prepare yourself, keep in mind all the ways in which you can really produce a mental and emotional imprint. You want your prospects to see your story in their minds' eyes, playing out like a movie. You want them to really take the story home, to have a place in their hearts for years to come. When you reach their hearts and involve their minds, you will be persuasive.

After stepping back to allow the big picture to sink in, you're ready to begin crafting your story. In this first phase, it is important to walk yourself through all the basic questions: Who is my audience? What do I want them to take away from this experience? No matter how basic the questions may be, don't shortchange yourself from having a good brainstorm. You'd be amazed at the brilliant ideas that come once a chain of thoughts is set into motion-ideas that would not have come if you hadn't broken from the routine and allowed yourself a good time-out. In order to get the ball rolling, it may be helpful to consider the questions at the end of this chapter.

We've already spoken about the great importance of engaging your audience as much as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to provide them with generous details. That is, make your story as vivid as possible. In the courtroom, lawyers make their stories so rich in sensory detail that the jury literally sees, hears and feels the event. The more concrete and specific your descriptive details, the more persuasive your story selling will be. Using specific details pulls your listeners into the story and makes the story seem real to them. Here's another twist on introducing as much detail as possible: Consider the different ways in which you can capture your audience's senses. Get them to see, hear, feel and even taste and smell the elements of your story. The more involved your prospects feel, the more they will take the message home.

When you tell a story, your body and your voice become the stage, the actors, the costumes, the music and the props. For this reason, it is really important to take apart every element that contributes to the presentation as a whole and analyze it. The most obvious piece of story-selling equipment is your voice. It is the most direct and apparent mode of communication. I'd like to talk about using the right words, as well as how to use them. The right words are captivating; the wrong words are devastating. Effective words make things come to life, create energy and are more persuasive. Contrarily, ineffective words dull and alienate. Numerous studies have shown that a common trait successful men and women share is their skilled use of language. Speakers who possess greater verbal skills are seen as more credible, competent and convincing. Speakers who hesitate, use the wrong words or lack fluency have less credibility and come across as weak an d ineffective.

How we say the words we choose is just about as important as the words themselves. Our voice is a powerful instrument that can either motivate the troops or lull them to sleep. The next time you watch the news, notice how the anchors use their voices. News anchors are often trained to inflect their voices downward at the ends of sentences because doing so suggests confidence and authority. On the other hand, upward inflections tend to imply lack of confidence or doubt. One research study showed that judges communicate their bias and attitudes via their tone of voice. Juries in California were twice as likely to convict trial defendants when the judges already knew the defendants had prior convictions. In spite of the law prohibiting judges from disclosing such information, jurors still detected the judge's leanings based on her/his voice's lack of warmth, patience and tolerance.

Learning how to persuade and influence will make the difference between hoping for a better income and having a better income. Beware of the common mistakes presenters and persuaders commit that cause them to lose the deal. Get your free report 10 Mistakes That Continue Costing You Thousands and explode your income today.

Conclusion

Persuasion is the missing puzzle piece that will crack the code to dramatically increase your income, improve your relationships, and help you get what you want, when you want, and win friends for life. Ask yourself how much money and income you have lost because of your inability to persuade and influence. Think about it. Sure you've seen some success, but think of the times you couldn't get it done. Has there ever been a time when you did not get your point across? Were you unable to convince someone to do something? Have you reached your full potential? Are you able to motivate yourself and others to achieve more and accomplish their goals? What about your relationships? Imagine being able to overcome objections before they happen, know what your prospect is thinking and feeling, feel more confident in your ability to persuade. Professional success, personal happiness, leadership potential, and income depend on the ability to persuade, influence, and motivat e others.

Kurt Mortensen�s trademark is Magnetic Persuasion; rather than convincing others, he teaches that you should attract them, just like a magnet attracts metal filings. He teaches that sales have changed and the consumer has become exponentially more skeptical and cynical within the last five years. Most persuaders are using only 2 or 3 persuasion techniques when there are actually 120 available! His message and program has helped thousands and will help you achieve unprecedented success in both your business and personal life.

If you are ready to claim your success and learn what only the ultra-prosperous know, begin by going to http://www.PreWealth.com/IQ and take the free Persuasion IQ analysis to determine where you rank and what area of the sales cycle you need to improve in order to close every sale!

Marriage Proposal Idea - Stories To Warm Your Heart

By Cheryl Goh

Where are you hiding?

�Where are you hiding?� Curt called when he came into the back yard. I was in the corner behind the lilacs planting some ferns. Walking over, he said he had a surprise for me. Washing up, we got in the car but he wouldn�t tell me where we were going.

Pulling up at Mound State Park, we followed one of the hiking trails that wind through the beautiful woods and fields. As we turned around one bend in the trail, there was a table set up in the field with a fellow playing the violin. Curt took my hand and led me over and we sat down. After playing a few romantic songs, we were again alone. Curt said the he has loved me since we were seventeen years old and always knew that he would spend his life with me. Then getting down on one knee, and holding the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, he proposed.

My love burns hot

While my girlfriend Tiffani still slept, I drove to the plaza down the street and went into the tanning salon. Our friend Deb works there and I had told her my plan. Taking off my shirt, she taped �Marry Me� on my chest before I headed for the tanning bed. On the way home, I picked up the dozen red roses I had ordered and a large box of chocolates.

When Tiffani woke up, she came into the kitchen where I had the coffee made. She was shocked to see a vase full of flowers on the table and chocolates for her. She asked what the special occasion was, and I said I just wanted her to know how special she is to me. Taking off my shirt, she stared at me and suddenly realized what the message read. Throwing her arms around my neck, she made me a happy man and said yes.

For more marriage proposal ideas please visit http://marriageproposals.wordpress.com.

Storm Stories is Making the Weather Channel Very Popular

By Lance Winslow

When we study brand name loyalty we often think of products and services however, we should also look at mass media such as the Fox television network or The Weather Channel. The weather channel has done something very intelligence during Hurricane Season they call themselves the Hurricane Authority and they really are the hurricane authority to considering that they were the number one watched media during Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Wilma.

The Weather Channel has also done something very unique, as they have introduced a new series that is play each night called; Storm Stories. Storm Stories has become a very well watched TV series and has gained ratings against the other major networks, evening news and most popular television shows. Why is this? It is because people are concerned with the weather and the weather channel is trying to reinvent itself. It is working.

As a case study The Weather Channel shows a remarkable insight into brand name loyalty and brand line extension. Whoever is doing the marketing for The Weather Channel should indeed be congratulated on a job well done. In fact, The Weather Channel should be studied at all major business goals, which specialize in branding. Consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Write That Down! Compulsively Collecting Content for Your Writing

By Scott Ginsberg

Have you ever read someone else�s writing and thought one of the following things:

Where did he get such great stories?

Why can�t I think of examples like that?

How does she always develop amazing illustrations?

The answer is: content.

In writing, content is KING. (Duh, right?) But every book, article, report, manual, sermon, speech, poem, even bathroom stall graffiti, has this one thing in common. Content is the stuff good writing is made of. But the one vital step too many writers fail to address is the compulsive collection of content.

Everything you write has the potential to be spicier, funnier, smarter, more interesting and more relevant. And the steps you must take to make this happen are as follows:

1)Open Your Eyes and Ears
2)Write It Down
3)Write It Out
4)Develop Your Own System

In this article, I am going to take you through this process by using one of my favorite pieces of content as an example.

STEP 1: Open Your Eyes and Ears
April 4th, 2004: the anniversary of Martin Luther King�s death, the day my friend Drew ran the St. Louis Marathon, and the day I came to the conclusion that Americans are the most impatient people in the WORLD.

After the race I took Drew out for lunch to celebrate his admirable accomplishment. We finished our meal at Galleria�s The Pasta House and headed out to the parking lot. In the empty spot a few spaces down from my car I saw a tattered, ripped up box. God I detest litter.

�One sec Drew; I�ll be right back��

I walked over to take a closer look. A plastic bag that read Kay-Bee Toys slowly brushed up against my jeans like a suburban tumbleweed. On the pavement lay a credit card receipt and discarded instructions for a toy truck.

I picked up the receipt and noted the date and time of purchase: April 4th, 2004. 11:56 AM.

My watch read 1:41 PM.

Unbelievable. The only thing I detest more than litter is impatience.

Okay, that was one of my favorite illustrations that I�ve used in various writings/speeches before. Now, that wasn�t the whole story. And I�m sure based on that incident, I could have used other metaphors or taken a different angle on the trash. But I chose impatience. Because impatience just KILLS me! However, the only reason I�m still able to share that experience is because I followed the first step, which was to Open My Eyes and Ears.

I could have easily hopped into my car and taken Drew home. But I noticed that big, colorful pile of trash, and just HAD to go over there.

Do you ever notice, hear, smell, see or experience things like these? Have people walked by and said phrases that stuck in your head? Good. That means you have a writer�s ear. And next time it happens, don�t walk away. Be curious. Don�t be nosey, but take an interest to the point where you might discover some valuable content.

STEP 2: Write it Down
Then, you MUST capture it. This is part where many writers fail, most likely because they�re not prepared with content capturing tools. If you�re a writer and you don�t keep a pen, paper, notebook, journal, camera, tape recorder or charcoal rubbing sheets with you at all time, you�re missing out on some great content. In fact, I can�t think of a single possession that�s been more valuable to the successful collection of my content than my pen and notepad. It�s leather, about the size of a business card holder, and I don�t go anywhere without it. Ever. And I can whip it out and be ready to write in less than three seconds, not unlike a cowboy�s gun or a guitar player�s pick.

A notepad like this is easy to find at any luggage store. They cost about 15 bucks. Or, if you�re more of a journal person, awesome! But whatever content capturing tool you use, be certain it�s easily accessible in your car, bag, office or on your person at all times � because you never know when inspiration might strike. The whole point is; you don�t want to find yourself saying, �If only I would have written that down!�

Now, you don�t need to write down very much. All you need to do is record a few sentences that explain what happened. You�re free to write some details as well, but concentrate more on capturing as opposed to creating. This will come in handy when you look at your notes later. And do it fast. If possible, write it down as soon as something happens. This is why you should always have your capturing tools ready to go. Because not unlike forgetting names, jokes and phone numbers, content is something the mind easily displaces.

STEP 3: Write it Out
Next is the fun part: transferring a valuable story, anecdote, moment, experience, smell, sound or conversation into a useful piece of content. At the end of the day (or week), re-read your notes. If you�re like me and your penmanship looks like a monkey who was trying to write the Hebrew alphabet, this process may take a few minutes. Still, looking back at what you�ve written will bring the experience back to life. And then it�s time to write it down.

Start a new document on computer, or if you prefer �the old way,� grab a blank sheet of paper. Write out that particular piece of content. Look for themes, lessons, bigger pictures, connections and symbols in your experience so it will be a good fit for a book, article or speech.

For example, the story you just read about the discarded toy box was written in one of my seven journals about a year ago. In fact, the exact phrase I just read on the page was:

�4/4/04 � Toy truck�impatience�lunch at Galleria with Drew.�

To give you an idea of how this process comes full circle:

1)Just now, I browsed through my journal�
2)Saw that story about the trash�
3)And decided to include it in this article.

Wah-lah!

STEP 4: Develop Your Own System
The cool thing about compulsively collecting content is when you start searching for it, and when you start recording it, it will show up EVERYWHERE. Unusual, unexpected, interesting and different writing ideas will magnetize to you!

I started taking this whole �content thing� seriously in 2004. I was working on a new book and I wanted to use a plethora of great stories, illustrations and examples to back up my ideas. So I developed a system. And that�s the last step in this process.

Here�s what I do. It might not work for everyone, but perhaps the structure of such a system will stimulate some ideas for your own. It has several components:

CAPTURING TOOLS

Notepad: I never go anywhere without it. I always keep the pen full and the paper stocked. And I write stuff down in it every day. Many of my friends think I�m a detective.

Laughter Log: Lou Heckler, world famous humorist, speaker and writer, taught me a great deal about collecting content. He suggested a Laughter Log. Here�s how it works: every day you ask yourself, �What was funny that happened to me today?� Then, you write those things down. Easy, huh? You�d be amazed how much funny stuff happens on a daily basis. And that log sure does accumulate over a year!

Camera: I never thought I�d be the guy with the camera phone, but MAN is it handy! I�ve taken some great pictures of things that remind me of fantastic content about which I later wrote. I also keep a disposable camera in my bag at all times, just in case. Actually, I remember THE DAY I decided to start doing this: I was flying out of Cincinnati several years ago when I spotted Vernon Troyer, aka �Mini Mi� from the Austin Powers films. I introduced myself to him and even chatted for a few minutes! If only I�d been carrying a camera at the time! Damn!

WRITING TOOLS

Blogs: I have two blogs, one for my business and one that�s completely anonymous. For the former, I post various stories, examples and websites related to my business. For the latter, I sit down every morning at 8 AM, pick out a random story title from one of my journals, and write the entire thing out. I�ve been doing this for 4 months. That�s about 80 stories! Talk about compulsively collecting content! (For more information on blogging go to www.blogger.com)

Dailies: I have a folder on my desktop called �Dailies,� in which I take some time several times a week to brainstorm and write out ideas for future articles. It might be a page, a list of 10, 25, 50, or 100 things, etc.

Journal: Before I do anything in the morning, I write in my journal � whatever comes to my mind first. These rambling entries aren�t exactly well written in the grammatical sense, but they ARE well written inasmuch as they are captured, and often times that�s the most important part of creating great content.

ORGANIZING TOOLS

Mind Maps: Mind Maps brainstorm all of the sub-topics and related content into a one-page, visual representation of a single idea. For more information on how to mind map, search online for tips and tricks � there�s about a zillion ways to do it.

Content Cards: I take every single piece of content and write a one sentence description of it on a note card. Then I spread these cards all over the floor like a Memory game. I then look for patters among these cards and organize them into piles of related pieces of content. The amazing thing is, because the mind is a self-organizing mechanism, the content cards usually organize themselves. That�s how I wrote my entire second book!

All technical designations aside, I think there are two major differences between �People who write� and �People who are writers�:

PEOPLE WHO WRITE�Have natural writing skills, creative ideas, excellent grammar, unique style and tone and a passion for the pen.

PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITERS�have everything from the last paragraph PLUS the awareness to keep their eyes and ears open for great content, the preparation to capture that content, the discipline to transfer that content into writings and the organization to create their own system that turns thoughts into things.

Which one are you?

ฉ 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

Plot: A Main Ingredient for a Well Made Story

By Vivian Gilbert Zabel

Some so-called experts insist that a story doesn�t require a plot. However, whether found in a short story or a novel, a story requires a plot, otherwise the �story� is like bread without yeast - flat. A writing without a plot may be a narrative, a scene, or perhaps a descriptive essay, but anything without a plot doesn�t �make� a story.

According to Literature: What Makes a Good Short Story?, �A plot is a causal sequence of events, the �why� for the things that happen in the story.� The elements of plot include

1. Exposition, the information needed to understand a story;

2. Complication, the catalyst that begins the major conflict;

3. Climax, the turning point in the story when the complication is resolved, or attempted to be solved;

4. Resolution, the events that bring the story to a close.

The plot structure may vary depending on what is needed for the story to evolve, but the plot involves the reader into the lives of the characters and helps the reader understand the choices made.

In a news release for her Athens, New York workshop, author and artist Jeanne Heilberg stated, �Everyone loves a good story and strong plot helps move it along and maintain reader interest.� She noted that plot is important and that writers who know how to articulate plot have an advantage over those who don�t.

We see the need for a plot and what plot is. Let�s look at how to develop a good plot and add the leavening required for a light and tasty loaf, rather story.

Literary classics from ages past used long paragraphs with detailed expository and character descriptions. These writings told readers what happened and are not accepted by today�s readers. The pages of �telling� bore readers. Betty Wilson Beamguard, The Writer, says that activity advances and enhances plot.

�Remember the adage, �Actions speak louder than words�? It is true in writing as well as in life,� she writes in the September 2005 issue. Ms. Beamguard�s article mainly discusses the development of character, but everything applies to plot because plot involves the reader into the lives of the characters and their choices. Therefore, character development is directly connected to plot. Character movement and dialogue advance the plot without the writer boring the reader.

Allowing our characters to tell the story creates an enhanced plot. Having a character tell the story doesn�t mean that it is written in first person, but that the reader watches the story unfold from the character�s point of view. Jessie Gunn Stephens writes in �Brainstorming Plot from Character� that all we have to do is choose the character and let her tell her story. Perhaps the better wording would be to let the character show us her story.

By writing and including a well-developed plot, we have a story that isn�t flat.

Sources:
1. Literature: What Makes a Good Short Story? http://www.learner.org
2. Jessie Gunn Stephens,ByLine, October 1998
3. Betty Wilson Beamguard, The Writer, September 2005

Vivian Gilbert Zabel taught English, composition, and creative writing for twenty-five years, honing her skills as she studied and taught. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel Her books, Hidden Lies and Other Stories and Walking the Earth, can be found through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

Internal Terror Attack

By Van Osbourne

If you or your loved ones have experienced the terrifying prognosis of cancer or another terminal illness, it may feel like a horrendous internal terror attack. Terror has many faces and forms. Today the word terror is associated with terrorist bombing or victimization of varying types. Webster�s definition is from the Latin terror, is related to the Greek 'trein'- to be afraid, flee, to tremble. In general, terror is a state of intense fear to the point of trembling.

When we first received the news of our mother being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer we internalized the news�we trembled at the thought of the suffering and death, which is associated with bone marrow cancer. Generally, when one receives distressing news, we tend to experience a mental battle (internal terror attack), especially when the news is equivalent to a death warrant.

We spent countless months at the renown, MD Anderson in Texas, trying to focus on the positive aspects. It was extremely difficult because death was all around us. More than a few people we met at the cancer center had less than a year to live. The atmosphere was less than depressing. The center�s only smiling faces were toddlers who were running around laughing unaware that, their prognosis (in many cases was less than 6 months to live) was worse than the adults.

As stated per the above definition �terror� is intense fear. Physiologically, this internalized fear does not help the situation, since it makes matters worse for the victim and the support team. Once we realized that our fear, anguish and lack of faith were not improving morale, we then read about cancer survivors-terminal illness success stories and naturopathic cures. We started asking ourselves a few questions.

What are the attitudes of the terminal illness survivors? How are they different? The following are characteristics evident in those who have survived countless terminal illnesses.

1. Positive Self-Talk: Terminal illness survivors spend countless hours proactively talking themselves into good health. Remember Lance Armstrong, 7 times champion cyclist, Tour de France. Lance is an expert at talking to his body, demanding that it submit to his every request for performance. Lance feeds his mind positive words on a regular basis.
2. Monitor negative exposure: Terminal illness survivors don�t spend too much time with negative news, but concentrate on seeing themselves completely healthy. Stay away from negative people who are void of words of hope.
3. Support Team: Terminal illness survivors have family or loved ones who are encouraging them constantly to fight tenaciously for life.
4. Proper eating and regular Exercise: Terminal illness survivors develop a regiment of exercise and proper eating of nutritious food. Many take nutraceuticals to offset cell destruction.
5. High Spirited-Passionate: Terminal illness survivors persevere and never give up on themselves even when discouraged. They are winners who never quit.
6. Visionary: Terminal illness survivors have future plans of accomplishments. They are goal setters and aim high at reaching their potential.
7. Strong faith: Terminal illness survivors believe in victory over their illness. Ernest Dimnet, a French Clergyman stated,

   �Everyone has a success mechanism and a failure mechanism. The failure mechanism goes off by itself. The success mechanism only goes off with a goal. Every time we write down and talk about a goal we push the button to start the success mechanism.� [1866-1954].

Terminal illness seems to be a test of perseverance, stamina and just your will to live. These survivors must constantly encourage themselves. A very wise man once said that speaking useless damaging words is like piercing yourself through with a sword, but words of wisdom and encouragement are healing to your body[King Solomon]. We dedicate out website to the men and women who under difficult circumstances continue to fight for survival in a world where life is filled with transition.

DitrSolutions.com, 15+ years experience caring enough to listen, we specialize in providing success stories-Terminal Illness Survivor stories and providing daily Health/Wellness news updates. We offer a free weekly emailed Newsletter �You Are All Right� to our subscribers.

Audiobooks Are Gaining in Popularity

By Harry Spencer

Audiobooks aren't just for long journeys anymore. The market has taken off since the 1980s when the book publishing industry began to record its best sellers. Audiobook sales have steadily increased ever since that time.

Now, audiobooks are attracting even more fans because of famous narrators lending their voices to read them. You can also easily download them into computers or digital music players for future use and pleasure.

The future looks bright for the audiobook industry with digital downloading capability and celebrities who take the time to promote a favorite book or author by placing their names on the jackets and their voices on the recordings.

The Internet has been especially helpful in causing audiobook sales to climb to the top of the charts. Web sites abound that offer audiobooks - some read by fans rather than professionals.

Since their inception, children's audiobooks have been instrumental in teaching children to read. Now, these same children have grown up and are using audiobooks in college to help with their studies. It's a way to increase the number of books they read on a subject and also increases their comprehension of the books.

Audiobooks have always been indispensable to the blind. Now, magazine publications are making their monthly offerings available in audiobook format and the blind are able to subscribe to it in the same way the written version is presented.

This holiday season will see a jump in sales of iPods and other mp3 players. It seems that almost everyone covets the little device that allows easy portability of music, computer technology and audiobooks.

These little gems can be taken on an early morning jog, trips across the country or a waiting room in a doctor's office. Rather than listening to only music, you can tune in to a book on the current political situation, a past historical event - or simply something to entertain you.

Self-help books are especially popular in audiobook format. You can become inspired or learn a new job technique just by reading with your ears rather than your eyes.

In our world of multi-tasking, audiobooks give us the potential to learn while we work. Their sales potential looks bright as their popularity increases and more and more we view them as a valuable tool in our everyday lives.

For many great audiobooks visit our website at http://www.shop4audiobooks.com

Harry Spencer is the owner of several popular information websites offering a huge array of products and services. His latest learning resource http://www.shop4audiobooks.com offers customers high quality audiobooks on many different popular subjects.

Writers Block is No Longer a Problem

By Ovi Dogar

"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar with the well-known writer's block.

From time to time, when you have to start writing something, be it an article, an ebook, or just a letter, there is that moment when you just stare at the blank sheet of paper (or at the vibrant colors of your monitor) and nothing seems to come out from your mind.

The good news is that there is a cure for this disease. :)

American poet William Stafford offers this advice to poets who suffer from Writer's Block: ""There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough.""

But, this is not an incentive to write junk!

Perhaps the most important reason that leads to WB is the lack of an idea. You just sit down in front of your perfectly empty monitor and think about what should you be writing. ""There is nothing I can write about"" seems to be the only thing that you can think about.

This doesn't happen to me anymore because now I have a text document right on my desktop where I note down any important thought, idea, question that comes into my mind during my daily habits. Every time I start writing about something, all I have to do is to open that (now pretty big) file and ""presto"", I know what to write about. :)

If you don't have an ""ideas file"" on your computer yet, no problem, just take a look through some forums related to your niche market and look for questions.

Well, now that I have a great idea of what I want to write about, I just sit down again in front of my computer... and here comes the block again. :)

How should I start?

Here is a tip for you: It's OK to start writing at whatever point you like. You can begin with the final chapter. You can start writing the middle of the book. It's OK if the introductory part of your book is the last thing you'll write.

Another thing you can do is to talk over the subject with a friend. If you can't do that, you should record yourself talking about the matter.

Anyway, you must force yourself to write down something, however poorly worded that approximates your thought and go on with the next idea.

Also, you can always try free writing. All you have to do is to choose one sentence in a paragraph and write a paragraph about it. Then, choose a sentence from that paragraph and do that again.

Whatever you do, it's always a good idea to be flexible. Be willing to throw out sections of text that are causing problems or just don't work.

Physical actions can move your brain in good directions so move around, stretch, or walk.

Get a snack or drink, talk to someone, or just relax for five minutes before you start to write again.

After you already have a few ideas written down it's ok to reread and jot down ideas while doing so.

Relax! Because the more you worry, the harder it gets to think clearly.

And once you have your book ready, remember that you will need a cover for it. :)

I can help you with that at www.AbsoluteCovers.com"

About The Author

Ovi Dogar is specialized in the creation of professionally custom made covers that really sell. You can view some recent samples of his work at http://www.AbsoluteCovers.com