The First Step To Getting Into An MBA Program

The First Step To Getting Into An MBA ProgramEssay samples for MBA admission are the first thing your prospective employer will see when he starts browsing through applications for MBA admissions. This is why it is important to make your essay stand out from the rest of the applicants by understanding how to format your document properly and by making sure you're presenting it in a way that will be noticed.As an MBA student, it is important to take the extra time necessary to prepare for the GMAT, which is often the primary goal of all MBA students. For this reason, it is imperative that you utilize essay samples for MBA admission that highlight your capabilities and talents as a future MBA student. By knowing how to properly format your essay, you'll have a chance of getting into a top MBA program, especially if you already possess a good command of English grammar and writing.The GMAT is not the only standardized test used for MBA admissions. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is u sed to determine if a student has the potential to succeed in an MBA program. The SAT is commonly divided into four sections: Verbal, Math, Reading Comprehension, and math. The essay sample for MBA admission is designed to apply to all sections of the SAT.A highly competitive admissions process requires that you write a high-quality essay that outlines your strengths and areas of weakness. In order to highlight these areas and get an edge on your competition, it is best to use essays that provide examples and give concrete examples of your experiences, giving your potential employer's reasons to hire you based on these elements alone.The first step in properly formatting your essay is to identify the type of experience you want to highlight, whether it is a major or not, and then find a great way to integrate it into your essay. Often times, this can be done simply by highlighting the skills you feel would benefit the reader in the most.Other times, a person might want to highlight his or her passions in life, as well as personal accomplishments that make them more of a person. In this case, the essay samples for MBA admission can be designed in a way that draws from several areas, perhaps by offering examples of activities that were successful in the area of your interest. Other types of parts of the essay samples for MBA admission include; sportsmanship, history, leadership, values, personal and professional relationships, etc.Using the proper keywords when formatting your essay for MBA admission can help you create an impressive document that will be well received by your potential employer. A common mistake that students make is that they use keywords like 'business,' 'government,' 'public,' 'government relations,' etc. instead of a more specific keyword, such as 'business administration.'Instead of using terms that are too general, a more specific term should be chosen to specifically promote the content of your business school application. Employing the correct keywords to format your essay can really help you make a great impression when it comes to your GMAT score and admission to an MBA program.

Choosing A YPwork Essay Writer

Choosing A YPwork Essay WriterA personal statement or employment essay is a very important part of your curriculum vitae, and a YPwork essay writer can help you make sure that this important document is as professional as possible. This person will not only be a reliable and professional resource for making sure your intellectual property and reputation are protected, but they will also be a resource for ensuring that the writing itself is pleasing to the reader. Whether you are writing about yourself or about a client, this is the person that you want to work with you.It is not unusual for a YPwork writing service to have three or four individual writers on staff, so it is easy to see how much work is required in order to meet the quality standards that are expected. If you do not want to hire an outside writer, then this makes the job a little bit easier, but it may still not be for you. The most important thing to understand is that this job is not simply about filling out an appl ication, but also about the initial communications that take place between the applicant and the writer.A YPwork essay writer will provide a great deal of input into the documents that you submit. As your work will be protected by copyright, you will need to protect the fact that you wrote the document yourself as well. If you do not do this properly, then you could be subject to a lawsuit for infringement of copyright that could result in substantial financial loss to you and your company.Hire someone who knows the law, as well as the art of essay writing, as well as communication. Writing samples are a great starting point, but you can also learn a lot from writing your own work. There are many books and articles that will help you understand how to make the most of the available resources that you have, and YPwork will be no different.Skilled editors will make sure that you do not use any shortcuts when you are completing the document. You can find several examples of what writin g tips will work best for your resume or the job that you are applying for. Using these tips, you can avoid embarrassing situations that could arise if you were to miss an important point.Also, there is a lot of education that goes into becoming a YPwork writer. They are expected to use specific grammar software and this knowledge can be put to use in the editing process. A good editor will help you remove any mistakes that you may make, as well as ensure that the information that you are writing is being presented in a clear and interesting manner.Finally, a successful essay or resume will also be created with the assistance of a creative content manager. A creative content manager will be able to create a package that is formatted in a way that is best suited to your company. Your content should fit your company's image and reflect the values that you are trying to convey.Resumes are the first thing that people will see when they view your resume. These are very important document s that you want to make sure that you create as professionally as possible. A YPwork essay writer can be a great help to this process, and your work will be considered professional and successful as a result.

Finding the Best Research Papers Samples Pdf

Finding the Best Research Papers Samples Pdf Like your thesis, each significant point should be clear, and they have to relate to your thesis. There are a number of good references to aid you with research methodology and technical writing. You could possibly see increased education essay themes online offering guidelines on the best way to framework your essay and just what things to express in each individual paragraph. There are some common kinds of psychology papers that you may encounter. A research paper includes a study that normally starts with the invention of a research paper outline. It is a long type of written document associated with the definition of results from an individual's extensive research about a certain topic. Writing a research paper is as critical as performing the true research or experiment itself and can seem to be an extremely daunting job. It can be a daunting chore. Definitions of Research Papers Samples Pdf When you writing the research paper you've got to learn about the topic and make conscious attempt to learn what other authors or expert know more about the topic. Our competent writers realize that time is critical. There you are going to be able to look at the private information of the writer you want and compare it to the others. When it has to do with providing original and distinctive content, trust our dedicated and qualified writers to do precisely that. When being requested to compose a controversial topic in the health care field, it might not be simple to immediately think of an appropriate topic. Even though the title is the shortest page of your report, it's often the toughest to write. As the title of the writing implies you should conduct the research in the certain region of knowledge. It's not quite as easy as writing an essay about your summer vacation, your family members, or the previous party you've been to, since you don't need to do research to figure out about your personal experience. Your supervisor is an excellent start, together with others who helped. The experiment will test if a person could keep giving electric shocks to a different person simply because they are told to achieve that. If you own a lot of relevant photographs of sample websites and methods then they belong here. There are numerous formatting styles typically utilized. In case it exceeds, say, 3 pages, you might wish to break this up by including an extra section that covers the crucial details for one or more of the aforementioned aspects. For a short and straightforward paper it might not be required to incorporate a contents page. An analytical research paper is a type of college research paper. Our research paper outline templates can help you save a lot of time and money. Completing an MLA outline will guarantee your research paper format is accurate. Should you need an outline for research paper example, it's no problem for us. Just like when utilizing a drafting paper template, you should also be sure your research paper is straightforward, detailed, and informational. The main aim of example research papers is to assist students learn to develop their own assignment and to comprehend how a paper is structured. White papers is best to compose a paper proposal. You also understand how to transition from 1 section of the paper to another. The Hidden Treasure of Research Papers Samples Pdf Research Paper preparation means handling a whole lot of information. Students lead busy lives and frequently forget about a coming deadline. Research papers are crucial for a student who would like to pursue increased degree of study. Totally free CBSE sample papers available on the internet may be accessible through the social media websites. Choosing Research Papers Samples Pdf Is Simple A research paper involves surveying a field of knowledge to be able to get the best possible info in that area. You have t o make sure the study you will create will properly present the research questions that are going to be answered through the assistance of the items you will provide within the full document. Finding an intriguing topic in the health care field is simpler than you think because so many facets of the medical profession lead to controversial difficulties. Conducting research is just one of the significant approaches in solving problems and issues that impact the society at large. Our custom made paper writing service is really among the best ever! Try our services and be sure you could trust us to compose superior superior essay for you! In the procedure for working on the structure of a scientific project, you should be mindful of the fundamental constituents of a research paper. Many writing services do not offer sample papers since they can't offer excellent content.

Medieval Europe And The Middle Level Of Urbanization

Medieval Europe is often discussed as a whole, but despite its connection, it is far from homogenous. Although each country had its individual differences, it is helpful to divide Medieval Europe into the High and Low Countries. The Low Countries had a high degree of urbanization from the textile industry. In addition to the high level of urbanization, the Low Country was remarkably literate. This was especially notable because it also applied largely to women of higher and middle social strata. Women also made up the majority of the population. Elementary schools were usually co-educational, and even when it was not, there was no indication that the instruction provided was any different. In higher education however, a gender gap was prevalent. Some schools existed for girls, but the instruction was not as good. However, the meer existence of those schools proves that there was a demand for them. In the Medieval Low Countries, families belonged to what is usually called the northern or northwestern European type. These families were headed by a nuclear couple who entered marriage later in life. This usually occurred around twenty-five years of age for both husband and wife. Northern type families typically had few children (two or three). A significant portion of the population never married at all. With the exception of the noble and rural elite, all social groups in the Low Countries displayed these characteristics. This type of household conflicted with that ofShow MoreRelatedTransforming the High Middle Ages Essay932 Words   |  4 Pagesculture reflected the economic, political, and social changes from the 11th through 14th centuries. The life and monarchy of the English nation during the High Middle Ages relied heavily on the influences of the Normans, the Christian church, and technology. The educational and technological innovations developed in England during the High Middle Ages brought quick improvements in agriculture, war, and knowledge. Education and scholasticism were encouraged and were increasing in importance. â€Å"ThomasRead MoreThe World History of Work Restraint1431 Words   |  6 PagesWestern Europe in the early Medieval period, it was reinstated by feudalism where the serfs who made up likely 90% of the populace were likewise forced and were liable to extraordinary limitations on development also word related decision. Somewhere else comparative frameworks emerged, for instance in Ethiopia and India which pretty much looked like bondage. Russian serfdom, for instance, permitted serfs to be sold much the same as slaves, which was not normal for serfdom in Western Europe. ThisRead MoreInfluence Of The Middle Ages1926 Words   |  8 Pagesparts, history has various important and influential moments that occurred. So to speak, the middle ages were one of the most critical points in history, including the early, middle, and late stages of it; in which all refer to the same time period but broken down into smaller segments due to many occurrences during each time. Although there were several events that influenced the middle ages, the High Middle Ages was a time in which best represents the entire time period due to its high concentrationRead MoreEssay on Change Analysis Chart Postclassical (600-1450 C.E.)8730 Words   |  35 Pagesmore likely to travel the entire length of the silk roads due to increased safety and technology. | * Increased agricultural production due to developing technologies led to economic development. Further econnimic developements and increased urbanization led to increased trade. The major east-west trade routes, like the silk roads or the Indian Ocean routes, also developed more during this time, which led to increased international contact and safer trade routes. All of these combined served toRead More Communities and Urbanization Essay2598 Words   |  11 Pages COMMUNITIES amp; URBANIZATION Introduction George Murdock once said that a community is one of the two truly universal units of society organization, the other one being family (Schaefer, 461). We are all part of a community, and in many cases, we are a part of multiple ones. In chapter 20 of our textbook, we are looking at communities and urbanization. It discusses urbanization and how communities originate. It also looks at the different types of communitiesRead MoreInstitution as the Fundamental Cause of Long Tern Growth39832 Words   |  160 Pageshas two sources. First, it depends on the ability of the group in question to solve its collective action problem, i.e., to ensure that people act together, even when any individual may have an incentive to free ride. For example, peasants in the Middle Ages, who were given no political power by the constitution, could sometimes solve the collective action problem and undertake a revolt against the authorities. Second, the de facto power of a group depends on its economic resou rces, which determineRead MoreThe Victorian Era Of British History Essay2907 Words   |  12 Pagespolitical concerns to the section of the Reform Act 1832. The time was gone before by the Georgian period and took after by the Edwardian period. The laterhalf of the Victorian age generally concurred with the first divide of the Belle period of mainland Europe and the Gilded Age of the United States. Among the numerous improvements that made Victoria s rule appear to be extraordinarily not quite the same as prior periods in British history, two are particularly meriting consideration. The primary is theRead MoreInstitutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run14323 Words   |  58 Pagesinstitutions 8.1. Sources of political power 8.2. Political power and political institutions 8.3. A theo~y political institutions of 9. The theory in action 9.1. 9.2. 9.3. 9.4. Rise of constitutionalmonarchy and economic growth in early modem Europe Summary Rise of electoral democracy in Britain Summary 10. Future avenues Acknowledgements References Abstract This paper develops the empirical and theoretical case that differences in economic institutions are the fundamental cause of differencesRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution: The Beginnings of the Modern Era Essay1948 Words   |  8 Pagescompletely into the Industrial Revolution, the term â€Å"modern era† needs some boundaries because it could be used to describe quite an extensive timeline in history. We can distinctively tell the differences between the modern world from the ancient or medieval worlds, however when does the modern era begin and are we still in it? The modern world can usually be considered the result of a deliberate change made by humans to better their living conditions; this can consist of advances in a wide range ofRead MoreFocus on Risk Perceptions in Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity by Urlich Beck2714 Words   |  11 Pageschapter, it is stated by the author that the gradual process of modernity saw a hindrance after a nuclear accident taking pl ace in Chernobyl, Ukraine. Following this mishap, the view of threats was fundamentally changed. Unlike those that traveled in medieval ages and assessed personal risks prior to leaving, a new form of living the voyage started to surface. It follows that global perils are shown and taken as communal, disastrous and disordered beyond any possibilities of reactions that are individual-based

Work-Life Balance and Use of Smartphone for Stress- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theWork-Life Balance and Use of Smartphone for Stress. Answer: Work life balance Work-life balance is defined as an extent up to which a person is equally engaged in and at the same time equally satisfied with her or his role in work and family (Greenhaus, Collins Shaw, 2013). The reverse of work life balance is work life conflict, which arise when the domains of work and life are incompatible and doing something in job, interferes with the quality of family life or vice-versa (Harries, Marret Harris, 2011). Issues surrounding the use of Smartphone and work life balance Harries, Marret and Harris (2011) opined that work life balance was significantly associated with life satisfaction, stress and job satisfaction. Use of excessive Smartphone both in personal and professional life lead to the generation of Smartphone addiction and this in turn leads to mental health complications (Choi, Lee Ha, 2012). Apart from mental health, use of Smartphone has also lead to the increase in accidental death and injuries and thereby cast fatal health impacts. In Singapore, At least 50 % of people aged between 17 to 25 years have encountered at least one road accident because they were glued to the screen of their Smartphones while walking down the street (The Straits Times, 2015). Overuse of Smartphone leads to the generation of social media anxiety. According to Enez Darcin et al. (2015), Smartphone addiction in young people leads to the generation of social phobia and privacy theft, which in turn converts into mental health complications. According to Leslie et a l. (2012), use of Smartphone has lead to the economic advancement. Use of multiple apps like tax consulting apps has helped individuals to stringently manage their income. Leslie et al. (2012) further opined that use of Smartphone has dramatically increased the ability to collaborate and communicate with any people at any part of the world. This has helped the companies to reduce their expenses on travelling allowances as those and no longer necessary and thereby promoting economic growth. Argument in favour of use of Smartphone in maintaining work life balance According to Thurston (2012), advancement in the domain of technology helped to work under flexible working hours. For example, people have to no longer wait to be in front of their computer or at office to finish their work. They can finish their task easily with the help of technology from anywhere and anytime. This enables people to spent time with their family members on special occasions while staying connected with their work and meeting their targets. Tims et al. (2013) is of the opinion that use of Smartphone has helped to improve the job performance this is because, Smartphone aids in quick communication and deter decision making while working both on and off-field and thereby helping to increase on-job performance. Increase in the job performance increases the productivity of employees as instead of waiting for client or the prospective customers, they can employ their dead time for other tasks like sending mails or doing cold calls or video meeting, this accelerates the ov erall process and thus leading to increase in productivity. This increase in productivity in turn helps the employees to perform better in a flexible manner and thereby helping to increase job satisfaction rate and increase in the parameter in the performance management appraisal system Tims et al. (2013). Tims et al. (2013) stated that use of Smartphones helped to increase the collaboration and dynamics among the co-employees via reducing their communication gap and this has lead to the increase in team performance. Increase in the team performance helps to increase the productivity and this positive side is reflected in the better work-life balance. Argument in against the use of Smartphone in maintaining work life balance According to Day et al. (2012), technology like excessive use of Smartphone can negatively impact the work-life balance. Use of excessive technology in everyday life cause increased blurring of boundaries of work and life and thereby causing significant distress and negative spill over (Derks Bakker, 2014). Now-a-days everything can be done with the single click of Smartphone such that, people end up spending significant amount of their personal time working through their Smartphone beyond their office hours as technology enables them to do that. This rise in the personal span of time spent in working generates boundaries between life and work become significantly blurred (Derks Bakker, 2014). Smartphone technology has enabled email to be accessed with ease at any point of time, such that these official emails keep popping up even beyond the working hours and thereby hampering the personal space and comfort (Derks Bakker, 2014). According to the reports published by Waller Ragsde ll (2012), average amount of time spent on email beyond the working hours is 30 minutes per day though this time might not seems significant enough but over a week adds up to extra 3 to 4 hours of extra work. People are of the opinion that even if they try to avoid bringing work-pressure at home, they develop an urge to check their emails, every time they receive a notification from their office mail and thus disrupting the equilibrium of the work life balance. In relation to the comment stated by Thurston (2012) in the above paragraph, Waller and Ragsdell (2012) is of the opinion that while Smartphone gives maximum flexibility in working anytime and anywhere, it generates a tendency among the employees to complete the work in a relaxed manner. Such that, employees lack the urgency to finish their work within the office hours, as they feel they have ample time and can finish the same at home. This leads to generation of bringing office work to home culture, and thus hampering the pe rsonal space. Furthermore, study conducted by Harris (2014) highlighted that there exist a negative relationship between work life balance, stress and Smartphone intrusion. This signifies that people who are using Smartphone are more intrusive on their personal life and hence more stressed. Thus from the above discussion I have come up to a conclusion that the smartphone and its influence on the work life balance has both positive and negative aspects. What more important is proper balance in the use of Smartphone in order to extract the best out of this advanced technology and while employing it as blessings. References Choi, H. S., Lee, H. K., Ha, J. C. (2012). The influence of smartphone addiction on mental health, campus life and personal relations-Focusing on K university students.Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society,23(5), 1005-1015. Day, A., Paquet, S., Scott, N., Hambley, L. (2012). Perceived information and communication technology (ICT) demands on employee outcomes: The moderating effect of organizational ICT support. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 17(4), 473-491. Derks, D., Bakker, A. B. (2014). Smartphone use, workhome interference, and burnout: A diary study on the role of recovery.Applied Psychology,63(3), 411-440. Enez Darcin, A., Kose, S., Noyan, C. O., Nurmedov, S., Y?lmaz, O., Dilbaz, N. (2016). Smartphone addiction and its relationship with social anxiety and loneliness.Behaviour Information Technology,35(7), 520-525. Greenhaus, J. H., Collins, K. M., Shaw, J. D. (2013). The relation between workfamily balance and quality of life. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63(3), 510- 531. doi:10.1016/S0001-8791(02)00042-8 Harris, K., Marett, K., Harris, R. (2011). Technology-related pressure and work-family conflict: Main effects and an examination of moderating variables. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41(9), 2077-2103 Harris, T. R. (2014).The impact of smartphones on work-life balance(Doctoral dissertation, Middle Tennessee State University). Leslie, P., Pearce, J. M., Harrap, R., Daniel, S. (2012). The application of smartphone technology to economic and environmental analysis of building energy conservation strategies.International journal of sustainable energy,31(5), 295-311. The Straits Times. (2015). Using your phone as you walk may get you in an accident. Accessed on 23rd March. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/using-your-phone-as-you-walk-may-get-you-in-an-accident Thurston, R. (2012). The technology threat to work/life balance. GPSOLO, 29(5), 36-40 Tims, M., Bakker, A. B., Derks, D., Van Rhenen, W. (2013). Job crafting at the team and individual level: Implications for work engagement and performance.Group Organization Management,38(4), 427-454. Waller, A., Ragsdell, G. (2012). The impact of e-mail on work-life balance. Aslib Proceedings, 64(2), 154-177.

Telemachus Relationships free essay sample

An examination of Telemachus changing relationships with Penelope and Odysseus in Homers The Odyssey. The writer of this paper examines the way in which Telemachus relationship matures and develops towards his parents Penelope and Odysseus. The story begins with Telemachus relationships being very self-centered. The paper shows how one of the major themes is Telemachuss personal growth from being a child to becoming a man. This change in Telemachus is reflected by the changing relationship with his parents. His relationship with Penelope and Odysseus at the start are those of a boy. By the end of `The Odyssey` these relationships have changed to those of a man, representing the change in Telemachuss character. It is this character change that is examined in the paper. The Odyssey begins with the relationship between Telemachus and Penelope at the point between a mother-child relationship and a mother-adult relationship. Telemachus feels the need to protect his mother, and attempts to do so, but is not quite capable of taking on this role. We will write a custom essay sample on Telemachus Relationships or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Rather than fighting for his mothers rights, he calls an assembly and asks that the suitors be expelled. Even in doing this he admits his own weakness, but, had I the power, my will should serve me to exempt this hour from out my life-time. For, past patience, base deeds are done here, that exceed defence of any honor. Falling is my house, which you should shame to see so ruinous (II, 100-105). In this speech, two things are seen. Firstly, that Telemachus wants to protect his mothers honor, and secondly, that he does not have the power to do that. At the end of his speech he loses his composure, This said, his sceptre gainst the ground he threw, and tears stilld from him; which movd all the crew, the court struck silent, not a man did dare to give a word that might offend his ear` (II, 131-135). This further illustrates that while he wants to act like a man, he is not yet able to do so. `

The Power of Setting Using Vivid Description to Enthrall Your Readers - Freewrite Store

The Power of Setting Using Vivid Description to Enthrall Your Readers - Freewrite Store Starting out as a fiction writer, you’ll be told to focus on plot, dialogue, and characterization - but there’s something else that should be on that list - that often gets relegated to the ‘not-so-important’ pile. The power of evocative description of the setting of your story is frequently overlooked - but it shouldn’t be. I did a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing in my mid-twenties, aftermy first novel was published. (Yeah, I know that’s backward way on, but it seemed a good idea at the time!) It surprised me that vivid description of the story setting didn’t really come up until a module on ‘world-building’ for fantasy fiction. The story setting isn’t just important in fantasy fiction. It’s important in all fiction, offering the opportunity to enthrall your readers and bring your story to life. Great fiction, I believe, is the kind that has you dreaming about the setting and the characters long after the book is finished - and if you don’t offer a vivid description of the setting to your readers, they can’t dream about it. So, now you know why creating vivid and evocative descriptions of your setting is so important, let’s look at what goes into crafting the kind of descriptions that stick in your readers’ minds. The Essential Ingredients of Vivid Settings If you’re cooking a complex meal, you know that you have to measure out the exact ingredients in the recipe if you want it to turn out as expected. With vivid descriptions of settings, you also need to include a range of ingredients - although you have a little more freedom with the quantities. The ingredients of an evocative setting are the same whether you’re writing fantasy or romance, historical fiction or a crime thriller. Let’s take a look at what you need. Sensory Details The best descriptions of settings use a lot of sensory details. As humans, we explore our world using our five senses, so it’s only natural to use the senses to craft realistic and vivid details that your readers can easily imagine. Sensory details - which evoke smells, colors, textures, sounds, and sensations - can instantly add power to any description of a setting. Of course, different settings will evoke different senses - and you don’t have to evoke all five senses in each description. Let’s look at the difference that sensory details can add to your writing in the contrast between these two descriptions: Alex forged ahead. There was a path leading through the trees and into some bushes A path of crushed pine needles wound among the trees and into a shadowy clump of bracken and snow-laden rhododendron bushes. A sharp, icy wind carried the sharp tang of pine and the damp decay of leaves on the forest floor. Sunlight spilled through the canopy of trees and reflected off droplets of water clinging to the sleeve of Alex’s jacket. A twig snapped beneath his boot, and he froze, holding his breath as the deer’s head turned sharply towards him. It sniffed the air, and then, as if it could smell the danger, bolted away through the undergrowth, its hoof-beats seeming to echo the frustrated beating of Alex’s heart. If you struggle with bringing sensory details into your writing, you could try keeping a ‘sensory diary’. By this, I mean carrying a notebook with you and spending a few minutes every day describing your setting. Focus on: What you can hear What you can see What you can smell What the surface you’re sitting on feels like What you can taste (this applies even if you’re not eating or drinking anything!) Metaphors and Similes Metaphor: A word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar; An object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else For example: â€Å"Love is a battlefield† Simile: a type of figurative language that describes something by comparing it to something else with the words like or as. For example, â€Å"Life is like a box of chocolates.† As literary devices, metaphors and similes are tools that every writer should have in their toolbox. Although metaphors and similes can become tired with overuse, their familiarity can help instantly connect your reader with the setting you’re describing - evoking powerful sensory details without having to articulate those details. Both metaphors and similes have extensively been used throughout the centuries - and to great effect. Take a look at these examples:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill of the world.† - Lord of the Flies, William Golding â€Å"Small flames stirred at the trunk of a tree and crawled away through leaves and brushwood, dividing and increasing. One patch touched a tree trunk and scrambled up like a bright squirrel. The smoke increased, sifted, rolled outwards. The squirrel leapt on the wings of the wind and clung to another standing tree, eating downwards. Beneath the dark canopy of leaves and smoke, the fire laid hold on the forest and began to gnaw.† - Lord of the Flies,William Golding â€Å"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!† - Romeo Juliet,William Shakespeare â€Å"In the eastern sky there was a yellow patch like a rug laid for the feet of the coming sun . . .† - The Red Badge of Courage,Stephen Crane â€Å"The water made a sound like kittens lapping.† - The Yearling,Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Similes and metaphors can be overused, however, so it’s important that you don’t rely on them too much when you’re working on writing vivid descriptions of your story setting. Instead, you should aim to balance your writing with a variety of figurative techniques. If you struggle with coming up with metaphors and similes for your writing, it may help to go through some of your favorite books and see how the authors you admire use these literary devices. Atmospheric Details Creating an atmosphere in your setting can truly take your scenes to the next level. Describing an atmosphere can add tension, a sense of urgency, apprehension, excitement, and so on. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens used atmospheric imagery in his descriptions of Miss Havisham’s house to create a vivid sense of despair and decay. The narrator, Pip, describes it as being made ‘of old brick and dismal... [with] a great many iron bars to it.’ Dickens writes: Some of the windows had been walled up; of those that remained, all the lower were rustily barred [†¦] While we waited at the gate, I peeped [†¦] and saw that at the side of the house there was a large brewery. No brewing was going on in it, and none seemed to have gone on for a long long time. ‘The first thing I noticed was, that the passages were all dark and that she had left a candle burning there. She took it up, and we went through more passages and up a staircase, and still, it was all dark, and only the candle lighted us.’ The atmosphere Dickens creates is gothic - perfect for Miss Havisham - but you can use details like these to create any kind of atmosphere. There are particular kinds of words that create an atmosphere. For example: Rattling Creaking Thumping Whistling Shuddering Echoing Try looking at how your favorite authors create an atmosphere in their novels. Why is it so effective? Do you think some types of atmosphere are more commonly evoked in settings than others? A Note on Authenticity When you’re writing vivid descriptions, it’s easy to get carried away. However, unless you’re writing fantasy fiction (where you literally have a license to let your imagination run wild) or creating your own fictional towns, it’s important that the settings that you describe are authentic. Even if you’re creating a fictional town or city, you have to make it realistic. This especially applies if you’re writing historical fiction - but it’s important for all kinds of fiction, really. Creating an authentic setting avoids jarring the reader out of the story with a detail that is out of place in the time period or location of the setting. For example, imagine you’re reading a book set in Victorian London - in 1855. The author has been using authentic dialogue and using really evocative language in describing the setting. You’re engrossed in the story, immersed in all the details that make you feel like you can actually smell the streets of London. Then, the author has a character catching a train on the London Underground. Except you happen to know that the London Underground didn’t open until 1863. This jarring detail immediately ruins the sense of authenticity. Always fact-check when you’re writing about settings that your readers may be familiar with. All the descriptive skills in the world can’t save a novel that is inaccurate! It can be helpful to keep a file with all the necessary details about any real-life settings to ensure you’re keeping to the facts. Practice Writing Vivid Descriptions If you want to master the art of vivid description, you need to hone your skills before you start working on your novel. We’ve covered all the essential ingredients for an evocative description of a setting, so now it’s your turn to put them into practice!   Here’s some prompts and exercises to get you started: Go and sit in your local coffee shop and spend ten minutes describing the atmosphere, the sounds, the smells, the sights, and so on. If you want to make this more challenging, try emailing your description to a friend to see if they can guess the location. If they can’t, keep practicing. Find a book about the history of your town or city and pick a street or location that has changed significantly during the past 100 years. Write a scene set in the location - but describe the scene 100 years ago, then 75 years ago, 50 years ago, and 25 years ago. If you know older people who may remember the location in the past, you could share your description with them to see if they would add any different details - or take some out. Create a fictional setting for your story, and spend 30 minutes writing a scene full of vivid description. Make sure you evoke sensory details, create an atmosphere, and use metaphors and/or similes to bring your description to life. Learn from one of the greatest masters of descriptive writing: J.R.R. Tolkein. In Book One of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, he wrote: "The trees do not like strangers. They watch you. They are usually content merely to watch you, as long as daylight lasts." Get hold of a copy of The Lord of the Rings and find a passage the describes a setting. Study the language that Tolkein uses and the way that he brings the locations to life. What types of words does he use? Why are they so powerful? What similes and/or metaphors does he use? Can you identify any other techniques in his writing? Now, describe a setting using the same techniques. Go through one of your past stories/novels and find a couple of scenes that you haven’t used a lot of description in. Rewrite them, putting into practice the things you’ve learned about creating vivid descriptions.