INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This will give you an opportunity to hear how it sounds. You can make changes based on what you hear as well as what you read. Allow a little time to go by after you've written the dialogue to read it, otherwise your brain will fill in what you were going for rather than what is actually on the page. Have a trusted friend or family member go over your dialogue. A fresh pair of eyes can tell you whether your dialogue is natural sounding, or needs work. There is nothing more irritating to a reader (including and especially, publishers and agents) than punctuation that is being abused, especially in dialogue.  There should be a comma after the end of the dialogue and the closing quotation mark. For example: "Hello. I'm Jane," said Jane. If you add action to the middle of a piece of dialogue, you'll either capitalize the second half of the dialogue, or not. For example: "I can't believe he killed my father," Jane said, her eyes filling with tears. "It's just not like him." or "I can't believe he killed my father," Jane said, her eyes filling with tears, "since it's just not like him." If there's no said, only an action, then there's a period in place of a comma in the closing quotation mark. For example: "Goodbye, Aunt Agatha." Jane slammed the phone down. Sometimes, less dialogue is more. When people talk, they are not overly verbose. They say things in short, simple ways and you'll want to reflect that in your dialogue. For example, instead of "I cannot believe that after all these many years, it was Uncle Red that put the poison in my father's evening cocktail and murdered him," said Jane, you might say "I can't believe Uncle Red poisoned my father!" Each character should have her own sound and voice, but too much of an accent or a drawl will become annoying or even offensive to readers. Also, using a dialect you aren't familiar with can end up employing stereotypes and being incredibly offensive to the natural speakers of the dialect. Establish where characters come from in other ways. For example, use regional terms such as "soda" versus "pop" to establish geography. Make sure if you're writing a character from a specific geographic area (like England or America) that you use the appropriate slang and terminology (pants in England, underwear in America, for example).

SUMMARY: Read your dialogue out loud. Punctuate your speech correctly. Cut out any unnecessary words or phrases. Use dialect carefully.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Shampoo is not necessary to clean your hedgehog’s quills. In fact, some veterinarians and hedgehog breeders have recommended using only water to clean a hedgehog. If you decide to use shampoo, choose one that will not be harsh on your hedgehog’s skin.  Cat shampoo is a good choice for cleaning your hedgehog’s quills.  Tear-free baby shampoo is another good option.  Since hedgehogs are prone to dry skin, oatmeal shampoo would be a great choice. Oatmeal nourishes and moisturizes the skin. Look for a pet-specific oatmeal shampoo at your local pet store. Other than shampoo, you will need a soft-bristled toothbrush and a few clean hand towels. As an alternative to a toothbrush, you could use a human nailbrush.  The toothbrush or nailbrush are small enough to give your hedgehog’s quills a good cleaning. In addition, these items would protect your hands from getting pricked during cleaning. Make sure the toothbrush or nailbrush is dedicated to  only  cleaning your hedgehog.  Nailbrushes are available at your local pharmacy. If you are cleaning your hedgehog’s quills in a sink, you will also need a rubber stopper. Place your supplies by the bathing area (either the tub or sink) so you will have everything close by when you need it. Use lukewarm, not hot, water, to clean your hedgehog’s quills. Before filling the sink or tub, test the water temperature by running it over your hands. Once the water feels comfortably warm on your hands, fill the sink or tub with two to four inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of water.   Clean your sink or tub before adding the water. Be mindful that hedgehogs tend to urinate or defecate during bath time. If you are using a sink, choose one where you will not be preparing food.  Make sure to use shallow water only in your hedgehog's bath. If the hedgehog rolls up in deep water, then he may drown. After the bath, disinfect the sink or tub.

SUMMARY: Decide whether to use shampoo. Organize your supplies. Run some water in a sink or tub.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Evaluate what you believe makes you happy. You may have been taught that working hard, making lots of money, and living in a big house are what bring joy to your life. But ask yourself if the stress and anxiety you feel by maintaining that life make you happy. Even if they do, there are so many other aspects of life where you can find contentment. Look at other areas in your life to find happiness, like your family, friends, pets, and spirituality. By focusing on them and allowing yourself to feel the contentment they may bring, you may learn that you actually do deserve to be happy and finally allow yourself to feel that way. . Think about everything you are thankful for when you are feeling happy. Take the time to stop and look around and notice the things in your life that are going right—they don’t have to be huge. A beautiful sunrise, a neighbor who brings up your trash cans, or even a friend who sends a funny text are all things you can be grateful for. Acknowledging them may help you understand that you are worthy of being happy. Practice an act of kindness that will bring happiness to someone else when you are feeling joyful. Doing so will likely bring you a sense of happiness that you don’t have to feel guilty about since you were helping someone else. In turn, your act of kindness may inspire that person to do the same for someone else, which may create a chain of paying it forward. This may finally help you realize that feeling good isn’t a bad thing and that it can help others. . Spend time serving others so that they can experience the same feelings of joy like you. Think about what your hobbies and interests are, and then spend time doing them with those who are less fortunate than you. Volunteering may help you make a connection with others and bring joy to their lives, which may ultimately make you feel less guilty about experiencing it yourself. Sign up for an after-school program that lets you, tutor kids. Volunteer to work with the animals on a local farm. Just do things that you like that also allow you to share your time and talents for the good of others.

SUMMARY:
Redefine what happiness means to you.  Practice gratitude Pay it forward.  Volunteer