INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In addition to your personal resolutions, it is helpful to strive to get out of your comfort zone at least 1 time each month. You can schedule 1 new thing each month, or you can pick a few things and choose when the time comes. Regardless, choose to do something you’ve never done before or learn about something brand-new to expand your horizons and grow as a person.  Trying a new thing can be as simple as eating a cuisine you’ve never tried before. You can do active things like going kayaking, horseback riding, or skydiving. Other ideas include taking a language class, joining a yoga studio, or planning a camping trip. Shortly into the beginning of the year, sit down with a notebook and write out several things you want to do throughout the year. Choose simple, easy things such as “eat more vegetables” or specific, realistic goals like “Go back to college.” Add as many items to your list as you feel compelled, and check them off as you complete them throughout the year. The list provides a visual reference, helpful when trying to set goals.  You can use this list to help get ideas of new things to try each month. Ideas for your bucket list could include visiting New York City, picking your own pumpkin, adopting a dog, taking a cooking class, and traveling to the beach. Shortly into the new year, open up your resume, read it over, and look for ways to improve it. For instance, if you started a new job at the end of the year, add it under your “Employment” section. You can also update the dates to reflect the new year. This way, if you want to apply for a job, you are ready when the time comes. You can also update your contact information or address. When the new year rolls in, getting more meaningful and restful sleep is a great goal to add to your resolution list. You can aim to relax more before you go to sleep, such as taking a bath, drinking chamomile tea, and reading a book. You can also go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day to get into a natural rhythm. Improving your sleep will, in turn, help you feel focused and energized throughout the year.  You can also use white noise or nature sounds to help you fall asleep. Consider taking a melatonin supplement if you have trouble sleeping. Melatonin is a hormone produced in your brain that helps regulate sleep cycles. By adding 1-3 mg a day, you may get more restful sleep over time.

SUMMARY: Aim to try 1 new thing every month. Make a bucket list of 20-50 things to try in the upcoming year. Update your resume so you’re ready for new opportunities. Strive to improve your sleep habits.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: These products can protect you when you go outside. You can spray on the insecticide or use products that make the area around them undesirable to the insects, such as candles. The best product for combating no-see-ums is DEET, but other products, such as citronella, can help.  Make sure that you follow all of the instructions when using these products. Insecticides can be dangerous when used incorrectly. Use insecticides only when you are going outside. Reapply them as directed on the product label. Keep the insects off your skin so that they can’t bite you. Cover your exposed skin with long sleeves, pants, socks, shoes, and a hat. You may even want to wear a hat with a fine mesh netting attached so that the bugs can't bite your face! Lighter-colored clothing will deter bugs better than darker clothes. These pesky insects will come into your home and bite you. No-see-ums are small enough to fly through a window screen, so the window must be fully closed to keep them out. Their most active time is the morning and evening, so it’s especially important to keep windows and doors shut during this time. Install mesh door and window screens to help keep the bugs out. Turning on a fan makes it harder for the insects to fly in the area. Any kind of fan will help, but an oscillating fan will protect the largest area. Use your fan safely! Don’t place it near a pool or other body of water, as it could fall in and create a shock hazard. Make sure that all extension cords are plugged in safely and do not pose trip hazards. No-see-ums lay their eggs in moist soil, which you’ll often find around ponds, rivers, and other waterways. Their most active season is mid- to late- summer, so you’ll encounter more of them around this time.  When camping during summer, choose a site that isn’t near a waterway. Since coastal areas can be a prime habitat, consult local maps before visiting or purchasing property in coastal areas.
Summary: Use an insecticide like DEET to kill the flies. Wear protective clothing. Keep your windows and doors closed in mid- to late-summer. Discourage the insects with a fan. Avoid moist soil, such as around waterways, during peak season.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: These aren’t absolutely necessary to sell a print version of your comic book, but they make distribution and retail much simpler. An ISBN number identifies your book by the title, cover and page number while the barcode allows it to be scanned. This gives you the option to sell your books in stores, be they online or brick and mortar. While any version of a comic book will need a cover, it’s especially important for printed comic books. You can draw and design your own cover, or you can collaborate with other artists for a different look. If you decide to stick to selling in online stores, the cover will be crucial for identifying your book, especially if you’ve bought an ISBN number. You can research print-on-demand companies to choose the one that benefits you. However they all work in essentially the same way; they handle the printing for you and only print copies as they’re ordered. This means you won’t have to hoard hundreds of copies of your comic book and ship them out yourself. The important thing to keep in mind is comparing the cost of this service to the advantages. A proof copy is a printed version of your book that you can review for errors before your comic goes to print. You’ll likely have to pay a fee, but you’ll get a good idea of what your comic book is going to look like when your readers order it. You might find that certain design choices that look good on a computer screen don’t look as good in print, and you can review them before the comic book is in the hands of your readers. While you’ll find comic books from major publishers on store shelves, it’s more difficult for independent comics to break into the same distribution networks. Instead, market to your readers directly. You can use an online platform like Amazon to handle the actual transaction and shipping; use social media and traditional networking to get your book out where readers can see them.  If you want to deal with your readers directly, you can use an online marketplace such as Etsy to sell to them directly. You’ll need to handle the shipping of the comics yourself however. A popular method of marketing comic books is buying a table at comic book conventions. There you can sell your books in person and offer autographed versions.

SUMMARY:
Buy an ISBN number and barcode. Design and add a cover. Send your comic book to a print-on-demand company. Order a proof copy of your book. Sell to readers directly.