Articles, essays, poems, short stories and tips on writing

Are you thinking of taking an English test?  Cambridge Examinations, including The First Certificate in English (FCE) is a widely recognized English language qualification that demonstrates a high level of proficiency in English. Of course there are other ones such as IELTS, EGE, ESO , etc, but the point is that they also follow a similar format and set of rules to those of Cambridge. One of the most challenging aspects of these examinations is the writing section, in which you have to demonstrate your ability to write coherently and accurately in a range of styles and formats. However, there are several common mistakes that students make when approaching the writing section. In this article, we will highlight what not to do and provide examples to help you avoid these mistakes. 1) Essay Writing One of the most common mistakes students make in the essay writing section of the FCE is failing to structure their essay properly. Students often fail to plan their essay or do not include...

Are you having a hard time working out how to make your essay writing better? well, if you are preparing to take the First Certificate in English (FCE) exam, you know that writing an essay is a crucial part of the test. However, if you struggle with essay writing, don't worry. With some practice and the right strategies, you can improve your writing skills and ace the FCE writing exam. Here are some tips to help you get started: 1- Understand the format:   Before you start writing, make sure you understand the format of the essay. The FCE writing exam requires you to write an essay that is at least 140-190 words long. The essay should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Make sure you are familiar with these elements so that you can structure your essay correctly. Don't jumbled up all paragraphs. Separate them accordingly. 2- Practice writing:   The more you write, the better you will become. Set aside time each day to practice writing essays. You can ...

We all admire or at least have admired someone because they represent either something that we lack or simply because we believe they set a good example that many of us tend to emulate in a certain way. It is that admiration that we can rely on, even when creating a purpose so we can lead a life with a goal in mind that needs to be seized "at all cost", which in turn, transforms into a rewarding satisfaction that helps us build up our character making us retain what was learned and to desire further more so as to satisfy our knowledge or desire for self-improvement.  There are, however, certain obstacles we must be careful with, such as idleness and/or spending time with people who do not contribute to neither our personal growth nor our eagerness for knowledge. This is potentially harmful for those who are weak in spirits and will. They can get infected by ignorance and bad behavior. Furthermore, this contagion could make an individual abandon what it is necessary for their ...

When writing a narrative, I basically rely on metaphors, "show, not tell", as well as imagery, mainly because it is important to rely on the feelings and perceptions of the character and bring them to life. In the following narrative, you may find some examples (further explained at the end of the text). "She would at least question herself and her own existence, and it would not matter to what resolution she might come to: she would never be satisfied with a mere notion of existing which most of the times translated into pleasing others, and wearing a mask to the theater of life. No. She deserved more than that precarious notion which she thought, felt like an insult. However, what else was there than to the pleasures of the flesh, which she had no regrets of, but most importantly those of the soul, the feelings, experiences, and notions that give the soul more substance and makes it even stronger, and what about the nutrients for her knowledge of her brains, the things...

I woke up and felt like writing a little bit. I hope you enjoy it.  A short analysis about the text is right under it.  I wish, I just wish for...I don't know, I just wish all the blinding light imprisoned within me burst out with the force and roar of a volcano,  and that my muffled cries and tears could transform into oceans, I just wish, I just wish for my immortal soul to be released from this temple of yours,  yet my time is not yet to come, and my understanding, capricious, doesn't seem to understand, let your light shine like a beacon of hope to which my constitution would long for,  to which I would go to, even in the darkest hours, even when the moon wails at night. I wish I could transform my strength into summer storm, mighty and powerful, quenching your thirst, calming your squirmy soul. Let me be a storm, made of iron and stone,  so I can subjugate my sadness as the day dies out in a sunset, and that just by drawing you in the wind, you would c...

From the distance I could see her black robes swaying in the company of the wind,  and the beauty of her skin, that beautiful marbled skin,  of which I many times could not its enchantment resist, now she is standing there looking at the distance as if time had never passed, my eyes go through her constitution, and she senses me. Her glassy eyes wondered why, her lips mumbled my name, and from the distance she would beckon me, except that I cannot go back to her. Her flowers have long ago withered, yet still she keeps them in her grasp, and yet I wonder, she has not forgot me, and so she mouths it, her keys and chains are still in her other hand,  but if I return, she shall embrace me and dwell again within me, and once again I would love her, for her sadness would grasp my soul and my heart, those two things which she loves and would treasure the most, that not even death would be able to snatch it. From the distance I saw her, her being pervaded in lamentations, all in ...

At this stage, I believe there is plenty of information out there which you may or may not be familiar with. From the early stages at school, we are taught, in many people's cases, to deploy our skills in the shape of essays, short stories, poems, creative and free writing, for instance. Many have gone through these tasks as if in a battlefield or as if they were being dragged out of bed on a rainy Sunday morning, but let me tell you this: no matter your current or past situation, writing is an important skill to sharpen and develop, mainly for our own benefit. Don't you think? As with many other sources of art in which our feelings and emotions are portrayed in different mediums, writing is certainly not an exception. It is almost therapeutic to the point that we set free our imagination through sensory experiences embodied in words and imagery. It is liberating, since there is an outlet for those feelings bubbling inside of us, begging to be released, and any form of art or c...

I always rely on imagery and sensory language when writing poems, short stories and whatever else I can tap my imagination and feelings with.  Lyrical prose blurs the line between prose and poetry and it is, in my humble opinion, the perfect way to make reading a sensory experience while focusing on the emotions and feelings of the character / narrator and in this way creating an atmosphere and the mood through which the story or prose is developed.  There is also a sense of musicality, since the rhythm and sounds of the words contribute to the overall effect of the writing. Simultaneously, the use of imagery is for me of utmost important in order to create that sensory experience for the reader. Just saying "Maria was tired" does not convey imagery but more of a statement. The notion of sensory imagery falls, I believe, in the concept of "show not tell" making the experience of reading richer and soulful.  Letting feelings set free, allows the narrator to express t...

  As the day dawned, her eyes slowly opened to a blurry white-satin curtain to the left side of her bed. She furrowed her eyebrows while trying to register the view in front of her, lustrous, well-kept and exceptionally tidied, which reflected up to a certain extent a part of her inner self. The books and many other items were not misplaced, they were in fact, in the right place, arranged according to size or color. Nothing was left unattended or casually left around.  Sighing in dissatisfaction, she got up and put her slippers on, while tying her brightly-clean brown hair in a ponytail, She looked herself in the mirror twitching the corner of her mouth to the right while raising her brows. Her husband, still sleeping, turned slightly in the large bed. She looked at him, and resumed to her cares, not giving much of an importance to him.  Was her life completed in the sense of having a good marriage and a husband who loves her deeply? Is her own happiness dependant on bein...

There are few things more frustrating than individuals who constantly exhibit neediness, resentment, and a tendency to employ self-pity to manipulate others into providing them with their desires. These people are not only a burden on society, but they are also unwilling to accept responsibility for their own lives. What is worse, is that these individuals often harbor resentment towards those who have achieved success of any kind and even financial stability through their own hard work and effort. They fail to acknowledge the fact that their current position in life is a result of their own choices, and instead choose to sit back and blame others for their shortcomings. It is important to note that success and financial stability are not just handed out for free, but are instead achieved through hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks and make sacrifices. Rather than relying on others and applying self-pity to receive what they want, these individuals should be focusi...