You don’t want to change who you are just to get the attention of a guy, especially if it means pretending to love Star Wars or talking about a band you can’t stand for hours. Talk about your favorite TV shows, a great movie you just saw, the hobby you most care about, or really any of the things you care about, and guys will be drawn to your passion. Think about it as not being different from talking to your girlfriends about everyday things — except that you can avoid talking about the guys you like!  The subject of your conversation is less important than making sure that you and the guys you talk to maintain a fair balance between talking and listening. Try not to dominate any conversation and leave room for other people to talk. If you’re talking to a guy one-on-one, try not to do more than about half the talking. Though it’s important to feel comfortable actually talking about the things that matter to you, you should also be able to get a sense of when a guy is starting to lose interest. If you’ve been talking about your horse for twenty minutes and you see the guy shifting on his feet, checking his phone, or looking around for a friend who can give him a save, then you can shift subjects by asking him a question instead. Learn to read body language and facial expressions to see whether or not a guy is listening to you. If he’s listening, he’ll be making eye contact (unless he’s super shy or has a crush on you!), and turning his body toward you instead of away. One thing you can do is to offer a subtle compliment to a guy from time to time. You don’t have to tell him he has the world’s most beautiful eyes or that he’s a big hunk, but you can compliment a new shirt the guy is wearing, tell him he did great in yesterday’s basketball game, or just make a kind, lighthearted comment that lets the guy know you care. You don’t have to actually have a crush on the guy to give him a compliment, either. You can say something like, “You’re so good at chemistry. How do you do it?” Or, “You have such a unique laugh. I could tell it was you from the other side of the hall.” If you want to have a good time hanging out with guys, then you should ask them about themselves from time to time without interrogating them. You can get to know them little by little and show that you care about the things that matter to them. You don’t need to interview them, but you should ask them a question or two in the course of a conversation.  Here are some things you can ask them about to show them you care:  Their favorite bands Their hobbies Their favorite TV shows, movies, or actors Their weekend plans Their pets Guys like girls who don’t take themselves too seriously. While it’s not attractive to actually put yourself down or to make fun of yourself in a real way, like saying that you’re fat, that you’re stupid, or that you hate something about yourself, some light humor can show that you’re a fun, easygoing person. This is different from bad-mouthing yourself in hopes that someone will give you some attention; just learn to laugh at yourself and the rest of your life will be much easier. For example, you can make a comment like, “Big surprise, I tripped again,” or, “I wonder how many more pink sweaters I can wear,” to show guys that you’re aware of your goofy or endearing qualities while not being committed to perfection.

Summary: Talk about the things that actually interest you. Know when you should change the subject. Compliment them. Ask them questions. Be okay with poking fun at yourself.


Your reader doesn’t need to read about every event that lead to the problem your character is dealing with. They only want to see a snapshot of your character’s life. Pick an inciting incident that gets the reader into the plot quickly. This will help you ensure your story doesn’t move too slowly. For example, starting with Esther walking to the hospital is a better place to start than when she enrolled in medical school. However, it might be even better to start when she arrives at the hospital. Dialogue breaks up your paragraphs, which helps your reader’s eyes move down the page. Additionally, dialogue lets you present what your characters are thinking in their own words without having to include a lot of internal monologue. Use dialogue throughout your story to convey your character’s thoughts. However, make sure each piece of dialogue is driving the plot. For example, this piece of dialogue shows us that Esther is frustrated: “But I’m the top student in my class,” Esther pleaded. “Why should they get to examine patients but not me?” It’s hard to do mean things to your characters, but your story will be boring if you don’t. Give your characters obstacles or hardships that keep them away from what they want. That way, you’ll have something to resolve in order for them to reach their desires. For example, Esther being denied entry to the hospital as a doctor is a horrible experience for her. Similarly, being grabbed by security would be frightening. Use the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste to bring your reader into the story. Make your setting more dynamic by showing your reader what sounds they would hear, the smells they would notice, and the sensations they’d feel. This will make your story more engaging. For example, Esther could react to the smell of the hospital or the sound of beeping machines. Try to make your readers feel what your character is feeling. Do this by connecting what your character is going through to something universal. The emotions will draw readers into your story. For instance, Esther has worked really hard for something only to be denied it based on a technicality. Most people have experienced a failure like this before.

Summary: Begin your story as close to the end as you can. Incorporate dialogue that reveals something about your characters. Build tension by having bad things happen to your characters. Stimulate the 5 senses by including sensual details. Use emotion to help the reader relate to your story.


In order to the clean the tank you will need a net to safely remove the fish, a vacuum or siphon to remove the debris, and a five gallon bucket to change the water. You do not need to remove the fish from the water each time you clean the tank. It is best if you can try to keep the fish inside the water while you clean it. If you need to remove the fish, then use the net to transfer them to a large container. Make sure the water is de-chlorinated before placing the fish in the temporary container. You will need to vacuum or siphon feces and debris from the tank at least once a week. Use a siphon to remove the debris. If you have gravel in your tank, run the vacuum over the top of the gravel. If you have sand, hold the vacuum slightly above the sand to avoid dispersing and/or sucking up the sand. You will also need to change the water once a week. Use a five-gallon pitcher to remove and replace the water. Replace a third of the water with fresh water each week. If algae is growing on the tank’s walls, then clean and remove this, as well. Use a clean rag to remove the algae. If the fish is attempting to get past your hand and nip the rag you can use an algae scrubber, which you can buy online or at your local pet store (Or Fish Market.)
Summary: Purchase the cleaning materials. Vacuum the tank. Change the water.