Christine Seifert's Blog: Lady Professor Reads, page 3
November 10, 2019
Fake News Isn’t Going Away, so We Have to Be Smarter
Ever wonder why people believe in fake news? I used to believe it was confirmation bias, which is the usual explanation. Confirmation bias says we tend to believe what we want to believe based on what we already believe. In other words, if you have an abiding hatred for networking events, as I do, you’d be delighted to read a news story that says networking events are the leading cause of all natural disasters and were actually invented by Hitler. You and I would very muc...
November 6, 2019
The Toxic Workplace: When Work Blows
Have you ever worked in a toxic workplace? In some cases, a single toxic person can make going to work every morning feel like descending into the depths of hell.
Did you know that incivility is the gateway to toxic culture? The uncivil behaviors that we all learn to live with–like the co-worker who is perpetually rude–build up and then create a culture that’s so toxic, nobody wants to stay in it. And those who do are burned out and do less work.
We’ve become inured to incivility because w...
November 5, 2019
An Open Letter to Kevin, the Trick-or-Treater
Dear Kevin:
You came to my door on Halloween, dressed in an unidentifiable costume, and I proffered you candy as requested. We’d never met before, so you might be wondering how I know your name. I know it because your friend or sister yelled, “Kevin!!!” at you several times.
You asked me what my costume was. I was wearing jeans and a sweater. I told you I was dressed as myself. You made a scared face and sarcastically said, “Wow, that’s a scary costume.” I wasn’t offended. You aren’t...
November 4, 2019
Do You Write Nonfiction?
If you write nonfiction, you know how difficult it is to find good story ideas that haven’t been done to death.
Check out my article on finding story ideas. Let me know what your resources are for finding topics.
October 31, 2019
If You Recline Your Seat on a Plane, You Are a Monster
I’m currently 20 minutes into a four-hour flight from Nashville to Los Angeles. The people in front of me have just reclined. Not just a little. They have full-on reclined. They have nested.
They’ve left me about three inches of leg room and a seatback screen angled in such a way that only my boobs could comfortably watch TV. My traveling companion is only slightly better off, but only because her legs are shorter.
Look, I understand that airplane seats are capable of reclining, which seems to suggest some sort o...
October 21, 2019
Freelance Writing: Some Tips
Freelance writing is hard. At least it’s hard for me. If you are a someone for whom it’s easy, please share your secrets!
I’ve been doing an experiment this month. Every day in October, I’m pitching a story to a targeted publication. I’m three weeks into this stunt, and I’ve already learned a lot. (Also, I’m exhausted.)
If you want to read about what I’ve learned, come visit and read my article over at The Writing Cooperative.
Here’s the short version:
Read a lot. Write a lot. Get used to rejection. Like, get really, really comfortable with it....Freelancing Writing: Some Tips
Freelance writing is hard. At least it’s hard for me. If you are a someone for whom it’s easy, please share your secrets!
I’ve been doing an experiment this month. Every day in October, I’m pitching a story to a targeted publication. I’m three weeks into this stunt, and I’ve already learned a lot. (Also, I’m exhausted.)
If you want to read about what I’ve learned, come visit and read my article over at The Writing Cooperative.
Here’s the short version:
Read a lot. Write a lot. Get used to rejection. Like, get really, really comfortable with it....October 14, 2019
I Think I Want to Be Old: How to Know if *You* Have Turned Old
A fundamental rule of the universe is that old age happens overnight. One day you are young and can handily stay up past eleven, the next you have nose hair and don’t understand the plot of any Avengers movie and you think a Kardashian is a meal delivery service.
All old people are different, of course, so one can’t generalize about them as a group. But it is a fact that all old people are marked by one universal trait: They no longer care who hears them fart.
Here are six more differences be...
October 10, 2019
Romance Trope: Characters Who Hate (and Then Love) Each Other
I’m not a big romance reader, but when I do read it, I absolutely love books where the romantic leads begin by disliking each other–either because of some misunderstanding or because of a first impression that leaves one or both cold. I can’t explain why I like this storyline, but I’m sure there’s an explanation that will reveal a lot about my psyche.
Here are my top four favorite books with a hate/love romance trope:
I read this one after a trusted reader friend recommended it. She told me i...
October 4, 2019
More Inappropriate Children’s Books
Not all of these books are children’s books, but I found them all in rare or out-of-print book collections that were marked as children’s or young adult. Enjoy!
[image error] I feel like circuses are best left to the professionals.
[image error]Am I wrong that the “bottle” looks like a bong?
[image error]Not bragging, but I don’t even need this book.
[image error]One guy, one donkey. No cup.
[image error]Tom Ass
[image error]It’s opera! But with babies!
[image error]Hold on. What’s she wearing on her face? I’m confused.
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