Odour Of Chrysanthemums by D. H. Lawrence
When we read about marriages in storybooks, authors paint a picture of a bed of roses. I find this particularly prominent in romance stories. That is why many people, when they get to marriage age, have a lot of wrong ideas about what marriage involves. They emphasize the partying and celebrations of the wedding day. The wedding day is only the first day of married life. Married mates would have to be ready for sacrifices.
Yes, when I say sacrifices, I mean having to let go of what they have been enjoying in the past. For example, you used to sleep on a King Sized bed all by yourself in the past, rolling and tumbling on it. Now, you would have to share the bed with another person. You would also have to share the bathroom, the house, maintenance, cooking, etc... My experience has taught me that marriage is all about sacrifice and forgiveness. Why do I say that?
A marriage consists of two people who come from different backgrounds. Sometimes, from different cultures and statuses. Without compromise and sacrifice, these two can never agree. I have seen a new marriage collapse after a month because the couple did not understand this fact. If you are not ready for sacrifices and making compromises with your partner, forget it.
Sometimes also a marriage falters because one of the partners abuses the second mate. Have you heard of the term domestic abuse or domestic violence? It happens all the time. It usually happens to women in the marriage. Because the man is stronger, he goes on abusing his wife. Some men have also beat up their pregnant wives. All this must stop. Society encourages the abuse by not believing and coming to the aid of the wife.
What if one of the mates cheats on the other? Cheating is also common. Adultery has been the reason for several divorces in marriage. It breaks the heart of the second partner.
If we have experienced marriages like this, we should not despair. Be prayerful about it. Something will happen to correct the situation. That is what happened in the case of Elizabeth Bates in the short story video I produced below. The short story's title is "Odour of Chrysanthemums," written by D. H. Lawrence.
Elizabeth Bates had a husband who was drunk most of the time. She hardly even knew him. But she became free from that slavery. How was it? Well, find out by watching the video.
You can take comfort in her example about marriage. Something often happens to correct the situation.
https://youtu.be/gPbLu0VujVY
Subscribe to my Youtube channel for more videos on books. Also, subscribe to this blog on Readcash because I will use this medium to explain pertinent facts. I would be encouraged if you sponsor my blog on Readcash. It goes a long way.
A Bad Business By Anton Chekhov
Can one see a ghost? I ponder over that question. It is possible to feel the presence of a spirit, to realize the force exerted by a ghost in an environment. But to see a ghost is another story altogether. I know what I see when I see them. Even late at night, I get scared when I go out. I imagine several times that ghosts might be lurking. Up to this day, I have not had an opportunity to witness one. To see a spirit would be eventful.
Yes, it would be a momentous day to see one because I would get scared. I would even pee on my pants. When I was a child, I used to avoid watching horror movies. I had this ability to dream of terrible things happening to me all the time. Horror movies made those dreams scarier. I was the only one who didn't watch those types of movies. All my brothers would stay up until midnight for them. Sometimes they would sneak into the living room where the television was late at night. My parents never realized what was happening. But I didn't find joy in going with them. Darkness scared me.
After reading the short story featured in the video below, I thought of ghosts. Reading ghost stories is way different from watching a depiction on television. But some ghost stories are gross. I stay off those. The short story featured in the video had a message, and it made me read it and think. I think ghost stories are fascinating. Do you?
The title of the short story is "A Bad Business" by Anton Chekhov. I enjoyed reading it. So, I had to review it and make a video of it. I hope you watch the video, encourage me by subscribing, and comment here on Readcash or the Youtube page. Your support makes me keep producing more.
https://youtu.be/dxE5mFOh6vE
I hope I do receive the support of the numerous fans on Readcash. I need your support.
My Dog Does Weird Things
Do you have a pet? I adore dogs. I used to have two Alsatian dogs, but my brother sold them because he detests pets. Well, that didn't bother me because I didn't want to annoy the family. But I have a friend who keeps lots of dogs. I go to his house and play with his dogs. He has several bulldogs and hybrids.
One peeve of mine is watching videos of pets on Youtube. Are those pets not adorable? Once, I watched a video of cats dancing together to classical music. It was so beautiful. At another time, I watched a trained police dog sniff out drugs from within a forest and rescue a drowning woman. There are lots of popular videos on Youtube that feature pets. I could give you some channels if interested. Ask for it in the comment section.
Sometimes, dogs behave as if they are humans with four paws. It seems that way to me. They can do anything a human can do except talk and walk on two legs. I am not comparing dogs to humans because we are far advanced and intelligent than them. But I have the feeling they were so unlucky not to be humans. If only dogs could talk, I know they would have many things to tell us—especially the stories of what they have experienced in life.
Yesterday, while surfing Youtube, I found this adorable video. It is about a dog called Lynda. I noticed that lots of people enjoy the video, so I decided to watch it. I could say the video was enthralling. I learned a thing about dogs from watching the video. I decided to share it here with you.
So, watch the video below about some of the weird things dogs can do. If you have a pets video, you can send me the link, and I will indeed watch it.
https://youtu.be/ZkGTX3PUSHc
I will continue to share my discoveries on this blog. Subscribe to this blog on Readcash so that you will be notified. I respond to all comments.
The Night Moth With A Crooked Feeler
There are so many ways to define love. Some say they get it when they have that soft feeling in their heart. Older people say love comes from the head and not from the heart. I have fallen in love with the spirit and have also done it from the head. It can happen both ways. Love is what happens when you and another person in the universe have something special. You only know love when you experience it.
But should we love because someone is wealthy? That is a question many young people ask. They want financial freedom. They want to be able to do their own thing. Falling in love because of money will lead to disaster. It is like selling someone's soul. When you sell your soul, insults and embarrassment come after.
The right way to fall in love is because your heart and head tell you he or she is right. I tell people to fall in love with a person, not goods. Know the person you want to love. Understand their character and personality. That love could lead to marriage. You don't want to spend your life in regrets.
This magical thing called love has lots of ways it can affect us. I read a short story recently that made me mellow. The title of the short story is "The Night Moth With A Crooked Feeler." It is a story by Clara Dillingham Pierson. The love story was so touching that I decided to review it and include it on my Youtube channel. The video is below. Watch it and enjoy it. This video is so touching because some people say deformed people hardly find love. Well, that is not true. Watch the video to find out how.
https://youtu.be/w-zY_rCYYU8
Subscribe to my Youtube channel so you will keep receiving more videos like this. Also, subscribe to this Readcash blog. I keep posting new content every day. I will respond to all comments.
1984 By George Orwell
Have you ever been afraid of the government? Did you know that when the government first started, it started with noble objectives? Men wanted to take their destinies into their hands. They wanted organization, security, and freedom from suppression. That is why they started a system of government. During the stone age, man lived on what he could gather from the wild. Surviving on one's wit is very difficult and dangerous. By coming together to form communities and associations, they could pool their talents. Hence was government formed.
A few narcissistic and power-hungry men learned how to manipulate people. They devised a system called politics. From politics came several philosophies about how to carry out rulership. The dominant political systems today are democracy and communism. These systems never became the el dorado for their citizens. These power-hungry men used people as slaves. They learned how to control others.
With this realization, George Orwell set out to write his novel "1984." He wanted to use the novel to help people understand when and how their freedom was being taken away. But the conspiracy by the government did not end there.
Big business and multinational companies came into the game. They learned how to fund political parties and lobby the government for profit. This partnership between politicians and big business produced Big Brother.
Big Brother is a system where one man is at the top, controlling people and manipulating its citizens. They do the bidding of Big Brother and his agents. They do not know they are under his control. People love the narcissistic Big Brother.
That was the situation in Russia after the Russian Revolution. Stalin came into power through that revolution. The situation made George Orwell write his novel, 1984. But his message resonates down to our day.
Why not watch the video below. The title is "1984 by George Orwell." It is a review of the novel by the same name. You will get to understand several aspects of how Big Brother and Big Business control our lives. Knowledge they say is power.
https://youtu.be/WqlJ8MaC2Sc
Subscribe to my channel on Youtube. I keep publishing new videos regularly. Also, subscribe to this blog on Readcash. I respond to all comments.
If The Police Have No Warrant...Do This!
The police have no right to search your house or come to you if they have no warrant. It is your duty and legal right to refuse to interact with them. Always ask them for a warrant if they attempt to arrest you. Here in Nigeria, there have been several cases of people pretending to be Policemen. They use that tactic to kidnap people.
Be aware of your rights.
https://youtu.be/pT6Uj9x-vkU
Thanks for watching. Subscribe so I will be bringing you more interesting content. I respond to every comment.
Taking The Emergency Exit From A Wind Turbine
Hi all. Going through my Youtube I discovered this interesting video. It's scary but entertaining.
https://youtu.be/UWSckm8zTc8
If you like this video, tell me what you like about it in the comments. Also, do you want me to keep giving you videos from my Youtube discoveries? Subscribe to my blog.
Video: Warship Hit By Monster Wave Near Antarctica
Watch how this massive wave hits a warship. When I first watched the video, it got me thinking about how powerful nature is. Enjoy it. By the way, the crew in the ship were not even bothered. Does it tell something?
https://youtu.be/TYe2tkXgPqs
I like sharing what I enjoy doing. Subscribe to my blog so you can get a daily dose of what I love on Readcash. I love all your comments so far. They have kept me smiling.
Why Girls Like Shy Men
While watching the movie, Titanic, I reflected on why Rose fell in love with Jack (Leonardo Di Caprio). You would have noticed that he is not the assertive type of person who would want to take the limelight from a lady. He was shy. So, I decided to ask my girlfriend and other ladies around me why ladies like shy men. These are some of the reasons they gave to me.
First, abrasive men repel. A girl doesn’t want a man to make her feel small and insignificant. Some men even compete with ladies in the area of make-up and perfume. A lady doesn’t want such a thing. She wants to be the one everyone looks up to. A shy man would allow his girl to steal the limelight. Because he does not assert himself, the lady can be confident that he would give her freedom to be herself.
Also, shy men are better listeners. My girlfriend told me that this was the reason why she agreed to date me. That was flattering. Many shy men have low self-esteem, or might be feeling anxious in public. That is why they don’t talk much. Sometimes, when a man doesn’t like talking much, you should go closer to him. He has a lot of hidden gems in him. Many ladies have discovered this. When you don’t talk much, it gives you the ability to listen more. Listening is a skill many people don’t have but shy men have that a lot. Good listeners understand and observe what is happening around them. A lady wants that from a man. When a lady has a new hairdo, she wants a man to compliment her. When she puts on new shirts or has new shoes, she wants her man to notice. Shy men notice things at a higher rate than extroverts.
Another lady told me that a shy man is good at holding conversations. They do not steal the conversation when they are with you. She once had a man who would not allow her to talk. During their conversation, he was the one saying everything. She felt her views were being relegated to the background and that is why she left him. Shy men are not quick to start conversations, but when they trust you they will open up. Particularly when you have gained their respect. Just spend time with them. You will realize they have a lot of things and ideas to share. They read a lot which makes them good communicators.
Evelyn, a girl in my compound, told me she once dated a shy man. She liked him a lot because the man was not pressuring her to be the center of attention. Her man, Daniel, kept their relationship private for a long time. Even when they were in public, there were not too much hugging, petting, and kissing. He always respected her views and wishes. Daniel was different from Peter, one of her former boyfriends. Peter told all his friends that she had agreed to date him the very first day she told him yes. A shy man would bring a girl to the spotlight only when it would make her happy.
On a personal note, shy men are serious thinkers. They prefer understanding and observing others before they conclude. This is a skill many people do not have. It often makes me angry when someone runs to a conclusion without getting all the facts. I also wonder why some people get angry over what they see on the Internet. A lot of the things on the Internet are lies. Shy men are not fooled easily. As serious thinkers, they consider the positive and negative aspects of a matter. I also noticed that many shy men are creative. Artists, musicians, and writers are usually shy people. They spend their time doing creative things and many girls like this. They also have a high level of emotional intelligence. They know by looking at their woman when she is happy or angry. Paula, a girl I spoke with, told me that she loves shy men because they allow her to be herself. They are less intimidating. This is because they are more of the thinking type and less of the feeling type. Men who are more emotional than rational tend to intimidate a girl. A girl is already emotional and he would be competing in that area with her.
Paula also told me that overconfident men do not attract her. She has dated a lot of them. They do not excite her any longer. She said the world is full of overconfident men who are brash and rough. She wanted someone who would be careful and gentle with her. That was why she dated a shy man. A shy man is always himself. He is not intimidating and does not like to take the show from his girlfriend. Women love a man who allows them to steal all the attention.
Lastly, shy men are polite to everyone. This is because of all the qualities they have like creativity, problem-solving, and openness. , And not to forget being good listeners. Any lady who wants to introduce her shy man to her family will always be confident. She knows the man will respect them from the word go.
Are you a lady who has dated a shy man in the past? Tell us about it. If you are a shy man, tell us in the comment section why your girl loves you. I will like to know your views.
Subscribe to this Readcash blog to keep getting more interesting articles.
Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen
What would you do if you found your wife sleeping with your best friend? That is what happened to the narrator in Beautiful Losers. The narrator is so ashamed of being a coward that he refuses to give us his name. He would rather we call him I.
In this story, see how I became a pervert after his wife dies. He turns antisocial and refuses to take his bath. But he is not losing his mind. His friend who betrayed him has syphilis.
Watch the video to find out how the story went.
Leonard Cohen is one of Canada’s best novelists.
https://youtu.be/thx-NwambsQ
Please, comment below and subscribe to my blog on Readcash and to the channel on Youtube for more videos about fascinating stories and novels.
What Makes A Good Paragraph?
Whether you are writing an essay or a book, you need to write paragraphs. In any body of work, the paragraph makes up the steps of a ladder that bring clarity to a work or discount it. All paragraphs have one thing in common which defines them. That is, they are a collection of sentences relating to one main idea or topic.
Characteristics of a good paragraph.
First, every good paragraph has a topic sentence.
The topic sentence highlights the main idea. This sentence is usually the first or second sentence in the paragraph. The topic sentence supports or opposes the ideas of the preceding paragraph. The topic sentence in the introduction or closing paragraph gives new information.
A paragraph has unity.
Each sentence contributes to the central idea in the paragraph. It would be bad writing to have two sentences with different ideas in a single paragraph. This is a sign the writer is not organized or careless.
All paragraphs are coherent.
The ideas should be singular in a paragraph. They could support or oppose the topic of the work. The sentences should build a crescendo for that idea. I have read works by students where they ramble because they want to show off their knowledge. Rambling or diverging from the idea of the paragraph would turn off the reader and make him or her stop reading.
Cohering paragraphs are like the items in a cabinet. Image source: Unsplash.com https://unsplash.com/photos/72XGjZkbhb4
You need to develop your paragraphs.
That does not mean you should write several sentences in a paragraph. You can highlight the salient ideas and proofs supporting the idea. A rule of thumb for writers is that a paragraph should have five sentences, although this is not cast in stone. You can have more or less, but never too much. Having so many sentences makes the reader lose track of the salient information.
Rules to make your writing have readable and consistent paragraphs.
Make sure there are no grammatical errors.
Grammar mistakes in a piece of writing is a lack of respect for the reader. Spelling mistakes are hallmarks of carelessness. They detract from the message. Writers are in luck in this area. Online editing and proofreading tools exist that make use of artificial intelligence. Some of them are Grammarly and ProWritingAid. Make use of them all the time.
Avoid the use of unnecessary adverbs.
Adverbs are old-fashioned. If you use too many adverbs, it shows a lack of creativity and laziness. Try to find words that can replace an adverb if you find yourself using them a lot.
Image source: Unsplash.com https://unsplash.com
Try to write in the active voice rather than the passive voice.
Using phrases containing something like: "He was obliged to take it," are passive sentences. They make your writing sound dull and boring. When I started my life as an editor, my proofreader used to tell me my writing was boring. I realized later that I made use of a lot of passive sentences. The sentence above could be rewritten actively as: "He took it as a duty." Passive sentences are archaic writing. Modern writers make use of active sentences. You should make the change.
End your paragraphs with a transitional phrase.
Using a transitional phrase helps keep the flow in the writing. It gives a leeway to introduce the next idea in the coming paragraph. It prevents the reader from having a jump in his or her understanding of the piece of writing.
How to structure your work with paragraphs.
Paragraphs form the structure of your work or essay. A civil engineer understands what shape his construction will take. Your writing is an artistic piece of construction. You should understand the structure it will take.
Here are the paragraphs that form the structure of every writing.
The first paragraph.
The first paragraph is like the door to the information you are trying to put across. It introduces what you want to say to the reader. It is sometimes called the introduction paragraph. You should use this paragraph as a scene setter. When good orators speak, they introduce their topic with a scene setter. This helps you to hook the reader and make him or her continue reading.
The final paragraph.
This gives closure to your work. The final paragraph should not restate information in the preceding paragraphs. Use it for stating consequences and ramifications. These should relate to the subject matter, that is, the holistic work.
All other paragraphs.
All other paragraphs that are neither the first or final paragraph should serve as a link or chain in the work. They follow one another and develop the central idea or theme. Let the first sentence of the paragraphs be the link that connects it to the paragraph that is preceding it. This way, the reader follows the central idea logically. It makes the reader understand the information and he or she becomes satisfied.
A complete piece of writing is like a roller coaster when done well. Image source: Unsplash.com https://unsplash.com/photos/dnkM5wPjVdg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink
Before I conclude this piece, I want to give you some useful advice. One thing with writing paragraphs is that you need to watch your paragraph length. As I said before, the norm is five sentences per paragraph but you can go above it. When doing so, be careful that you do not start rambling because you want to fill space or write more words.
I hope you do use the ideas presented in this piece in your writing. It is a pleasure to be a part of the Readcash community. Subscribe to my blog to keep receiving more of my writing.
How To Use Your Life As The Source Of Your Writing
A writer once approached me about writing a story that was part of his life experience. I gave him helpful advice. Every writer gives a little of their life. Though stories are fiction, there is an aspect of reality in that fiction. Every writer adds aspects of their lives to their stories consciously or subconsciously. The secret is to make sure readers do not associate the story with your life. If they do, there might be a backlash.
That brings us to the question. How can one use his own life story as a source for his writings?
I will give you ideas of what I have done and read from other authors.
**Use experiences from friends and colleagues**: While having a good time with friends and colleagues, we learn a lot of things from their experiences. That knowledge becomes our own in the long run. They can serve as fodder for our writing. Many memoirs that have become best sellers were the author’s experiences which he or she recalled from other people. When I have a good time with others, I realize they are more relaxed and want to talk more. So, I always listen. By listening, they impart their experiences.
**Don’t expect a celebrity life**: I live a dull life. I wake up in the morning, say my prayers with my family, and sit down in front of my computer to write. This routine has become so regular that I tell myself I live a dull life. But that doesn’t stop me from having ideas for my writing. That should be the same for you. Your life doesn’t have to be complicated, neither does it have to be exciting for you to have ideas on what to write. One thing that has been going well for me is that I read a lot. My reading has become a part of my creative life. If you have a pet, your dog's antics might serve as a good source for a short story. Or even a crime fiction novel with the detectives caring for dogs. If you love walking in the park, murder in your best park can serve as fodder for a thriller. The story could turn out to be a best-seller.
**Use “What if” Questions**: What if questions help you to create alternative realities of your experiences. Use them well to serve as sources for your writings. For example, each morning that I wake up, I ask myself: What if I did not wake up from sleep, what would my family have said? The answer to that question can serve as a good resource for an exciting short story. Or, What if aliens had discovered my balcony and landed on my roof? That would be scary, isn’t it? It would make for a science fiction adventure story. This analysis can help you to explore story ideas you can use for your writing. Fantasy writers do this all the time.
**Locations can serve**: We all have scenes we love and locations we love visiting. You can describe those locations in detail when writing your story. You can also set your stories in those locations. One of my popular short stories was set in Bar beach, a popular beach here in Lagos, Nigeria. I got the idea to write the story after observing the quirky religious activities at the beach. You can research the location to help you learn more. There are many tools for research on the Internet nowadays.
**Your heritage stories can prove fruitful:** Every family has a story that is part of their heritage. Your family doesn’t need to have aristocratic roots to give you ideas for your writing. My grandmother once told me a story about one of my kinsmen. Years later, I found myself depicting that kinsman in one of my novels. I gave him an arcane personality because I hated what he did. As I wrote, I discovered several things about my subconscious. I realized how my subconscious had interpreted that simple account from my grandmother. Harper Lee’s novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird, " a bestseller, was a story about an American county. She told it so well that you would think she was part of the heritage of the county. I encourage you to read the novel to see how this can be done.
These are some of the ideas you can use for your writing. If you plan to inculcate these ideas, make sure your writing does not expose slander others. Use names that show no relationship to the true person. Make the location far from that of the real person. Only you should know that some of your characters came from your own life experiences.
As you use your life experiences to craft your stories, be creative. Do not limit yourself to only what you know. Using “what if” questions can help you create an alternative truth of the real event and character.
Always remember to respect the reader by making sure your grammar is top-notch. Having bad grammar in a good story bores a reader and alienates your audience. It shows the writer does not have respect for his readers. You can use tools like Grammarly and Prowritingaid for help in grammar. Your story should also be coherent and engaging. Because you are writing on a real-life event doesn’t mean you should be factual. Let your creativity add in pieces and bits that are entertaining. Learn sentence structure if need be and edit well.
I hope I get to read your stories when you write them. Subscribe because more articles are coming.
@Emekadavid
