I’m not a big fan of turkey, but I can imagine that, especially before Thanksgiving, the meat is stored in specially engineered cooling facilities. Those are far more advanced than regular fridges

I must admit that in my (albeit limited) spare time, I enjoy playing online games, both on Facebook and outside of it. I also occasionally write in forums, and I’m used to the format where people address each other by their nicknames rather than anonymous names. It feels quite unusual for me that things work differently here.

@Zynoba: My father is finding more and more joy in writing because he’s seeing real progress. He’s attending a kind of tutoring workshop with Novum Publishing for extra support. As far as I know, publishing hasn’t been a topic yet, but I believe he’s heard about the idea of fictionalization. Thank you so much for this exchange, and I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Of course, sports play a much bigger role in the U.S. than they do for me, but I would definitely prioritize academic education more. You never know what the future might bring.

Let's see if I remember to log in this time... If not, you'll know I'm MayBug, and that's the most important thing. Will I ever get used to posting here without logging in? I can't imagine the moderation team are too worried about that — they probably have their reasons. Although in times like these, it doesn't seem very practical. Anyway... Yes, a lot has happened here in that respect. While I've been completely swamped, my dad has devoured two books and several YouTube videos on the subject. He's even attending a sort of private course.

Especially when travelling with growing children, for longer journeys, you should prioritize comfort. A seven-seater with captain's chairs could offer more individual space and flexibility. Furthermore, I recommend a roof rack for additional loading space on family trips. If possible, you should take a test drive.

I had a root canal and was prescribed painkillers for when I needed them. The dentist explained that it would take a few days for the area to recover from the treatment. Fortunately, in my case, it only took about a day.

You're absolutely right. It is heart-warming to see how many resources exist for aspiring writers. I will surely check out the YouTube channels and publishing blogs you mentioned. Has your mum had a closer look at this, or do you know someone who has? Apart from that... maybe at some point it could be helpful to get in touch with a literary agent or other experienced writers.

I comprehend that it is not solely my responsibility to fulfil my father's aspirations. However, I'm delighted to provide him with any assistance I can. It is inspiring to see his dedication and I believe he has a story which is worth being told. I will continue to encourage him and help him through the writing and hopefully publishing process. After all, every great journey begins with a single step, and in my opinion, he has already taken the first one.

Frankly, I think it's a matter of personal preference. Obviously, you can relax more in nature, but people vary. If it's too quiet in nature, it can feel strange because some people want to socialize a little. We like city holidays because we love architecture and history. However, we always spend an above-average amount of time travelling so that we can rest.

@Zynoba: I almost made the same mistake again, but this time I realised it just in time. I absolutely agree with you about the disadvantages of posting without a login. It's probably one of the reasons why the vast majority of platforms and communities require registration. I understand that this is your mother's job, but not everyone works to help other people. We definitely think it makes sense to be goal-oriented. However, there is also the question of how easy/likely it is to get adequate feedback.

To the first anonymous user: We know about the self-publishing option on Amazon. Did the former employee take care of the various steps herself, or did she contact others?

To the other anonymous user: It is difficult for us to judge whether most people are actually not good writers. If that's the case, it's probably often due to a lack of self-discipline, but it's certainly also related to the time available. If everyday work or other commitments take up too much of your time, this will also affect your determination. As far as feedback is concerned, we prefer to get it from a writing coach. We've looked at some specialised discussion forums, and new writers don't seem to be particularly welcome. Or do you mean something different with the critique group?

You have already tried sitting baths. But what about your diet? You should eat as much fibre-rich food as possible. I mean vegetables, fruit and wholemeal products. This helps to make your stools lighter and reduces the strain on your bowels. But since you've been struggling with this for a long time, you should see a doctor.

@Zynoba: I can imagine, too, that this is the reason for so many replies from anonymous users. However, I think that some people enjoy posting on this forum because they don't need to register. Anyway, I will share your tips with my dad. The idea of rereading the books sounds worthwhile. Then, he can take notes. On one hand, it's a pity that your mother doesn’t have enough time to concentrate on writing. But on the other hand, I applaud her for her efforts to help other people.

To the other anonymous user: I understand the idea of just sitting down and writing. But is it reliably possible to get a good manuscript on the second, third, or fourth attempt? And how does he then know that a version is adequate? Can he reliably judge this himself?

Anonymous wrote:My own university unweights and recalculates the GPA and then studies the transcript and assigns a rating for rigor according to unified criteria. That way each candidate has a new set of stats that are measured on the same scale and can be compared with one another more easily.

I know that a friend's college follows the same procedure. In my opinion, this is a very fair solution. But if it is true that some colleges take a relatively lax approach, then that would be questionable.

Oh, sorry, I've written my answer without the login... So, I prefer to copy and paste it with my nick.

First, I apologize for getting back to you so late! I appreciate your frank words, and I'm all the more sorry for being so slow.

To the first anonymous user: Yes, I agree that memoirs are often difficult to publish. But it also depends on the context and the narrative style, doesn't it?

To the third anonymous user: No, we live in Europe. But I have Indian business partners. I could ask them. Do you mean that Gotham Writers has international students on site, or does it also work digitally?

@Zynoba: Yes, he read books during that time. However, not nearly as much as he does now. Now he orders four or five a month. Does your mum give private lessons for pupils and students, or for creative writing enthusiasts?

To the fourth anonymous user: Yes, he wants to make the text particularly captivating. So, I don't know how much dictation would help. Then he would have to rewrite it. He would also like to learn how to write captivatingly.

First, congratulations on the birth of your second kid! My employer and his wife, who works as a therapist, have three children. They seem to manage their careers well. If you both enjoy a certain amount of flexibility in your jobs, I don't see a reason why you shouldn't. For a fourth kid, however, you probably would need to wait until the eldest could support you.

Thank you for your thoughtful responses and suggestions!

To the anonymous user with the MFA: Thank you for recommending the courses at Gotham Writers and UCLA Extension. At this point, I must confess that we don't live in the US. So, it is important for us to know if he could participate from anywhere. Anyway, we would keep in mind that the quality depends on the classmates. Do you think that this applies to every class?

@Zynoba: To be honest, I agree that the writing is something you don't forget. However, I think that after such a long time, he needs to get back into the routine. We will certainly investigate the possibilities of further learning centres, online classes, private lessons, and local literary meetings. The literary meetings would also allow him to engage with the community. But I wonder if he would get a lot of feedback there. For that, private lessons and online courses might be more useful. Have you any experience of this?

To the other anonymous author who has published books: Your advice to simply sit down and write makes perfect sense. The writing itself constitutes the key step. We will search for the books “Bird by Bird” and “The War of Art”. Would you say that these books help you to break through creative blocks and focus on the writing process?