#the-writingpractice

I can tell you honestly... I am not a good writer. Especially, when it comes to writing in another language. If you have tried to write in foreign language, you can understand what I am talking about. Writing in non-native language is not as easy as it could sound. Many people are using not only google translate, but also a good dictionary by doing this. In my opinion, all of them should face the problem of being misunderstood and their texts may sound unnatural.

In order to cope with these problems, every person should learn the target language every day. And we talk not only about the rules, grammar, punctuation and etc. People who want to be good at this have to be in the environment which can help them to learn it.

For example, I wanted to learn English so badly, that I decided to study in English. I wanted to be able to watch a film without subtitles of my native language. I wished to know this language so well, that I could understand everything easily, that I even would be able to translate some documents and work with this language, play with it and so on... Now I am a student of New Media Language. My English skills have improved a little bit, but I still have some difficulties. I think you can see it from my blogs. :)

Writing in foreign language is not an easy thing to do. You need to know that language very well, also to like the target language, and the most important thing is that you have to use that language very often in order to become a better writer.

So, do not give up! Try and seek for your dream as I did. Find the ways which work best for you and become such writer as you wish to be :)

Today is  St Andrew’s Day, which means that since the Sunday closest to this day (this year it was November 27th) the Advent starts. This date marks the start of the liturgical or church year. It also marks the start of the Christmas season for many people in the world and it lasts through Christmas Eve (December 24).

So, tomorrow officially will be the winter and a lot of people will begin to pray, to decorate their homes, to give themselves some promises and so on. They will start to wait for Christmass in their own way. While Advent is usually a time of prayer and repentance, it's also one for rejoicing and celebrating.

The Christmas lights in town centers and shopping centers and lights on large Christmas trees in public places are also turned on in ceremonies in this time. The Christmas tree has become not only a tree but also adornment of towns and especially of cities. The big cities are even competing with each other in order to make their tree the most adorable of them all.

Advent around the world is usually associated with the Advent calendars that parents give their children to help them count the days until Christmas. Preparation for Christmas is an important theme for Advent, particularly at the beginning. It is a time when the Christmas feast is planned, gifts are bought or made, then wrapped, carols are sung, Christmas cards are sent and houses are decorated with Christmas-themed lights and other decorations. Advent customs in some European countries, such as Lithuania, include lighting candles and hanging special Advent wreaths.

Advent wreaths are symbolic of Advent in some countries. They are usually made of fir and decorated with gold and silver ribbons or scarlet woolen threads. Lit wreaths may be displayed on the table where family and friends sit while singing carols and preparing handmade gifts.

For many people Advent season associates with purple colour and the time when you need to slow down and be calm. Hope, love, peace and joy are the main words which can describe it perfectly.

Therefore, sit down, get yourself comfortable and let the peace into your home, into your head and into your soul. Grab a blanket, take a book, for which you did not find a time yet, and be patient while you are waiting for the most beautiful feast of the year!

November 16th. I think many of you have heard about this date. Yes, you are right, today is International Day for Tolerance!  It is an annual observance declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. International Day for Tolerance is observed on 16 November. It is a time for people to learn about respecting and recognizing the rights and beliefs of others. It is also a time of reflection and debate on the negative effects of intolerance. 

But I do not want to write about the things you already know, about discrimination, racism, violence and etc. I would like to draw your attention to intolerance, especially when it comes to reflecting on another person’s writing. 

Many young writers are afraid not the process of writing itself (long hours with the blank page, editing again and again...), but the criticism of other people. They think that their works are worthless, and some of them may even give up. 

Writers, readers and people in general should learn how to react on other writers piece of work. They have to try to be more tolerant, even though a writing which was read is completely nonsense, or just not interesting to you. However, some advices or comments are necessary for all of us, and people need to hear the truth in order to reach the progress. So what is the best option?

Honesty. Nobody is perfect and writers know that, so tell them what is wrong, but be honest not harsh. Say what you want to say, just in other words. For example, say not what was bad, but what could be done better. Criticism must be constructive and should bring a positive mood. If you do not have nothing positive to say, than say nothing at all. For that you will get nothing but gratitude.

After all, writers should also understand that criticism is needful in order to improve their writings. They have to be brave and self-confident, if they want to be noticeable and appreciated. Writers need readers, they cannot do this alone. So, they must write things that people would want to read.

“Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder subset in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in the winter.” In my case in the autumn, and to be more precisely in November. I have no idea why, but every year at the same time I feel some symptoms of depression. Luckily, everything isn’t that bad.

 My “depression” reveals itself when the weather is nasty, it’s not yet winter, but not a fall anymore. Sometimes few snowflakes show up, but everything turns into swamp. At that time of a year I feel not only sadness, loneliness, but also creativeness, and usually I start to write some poems. Despite the fact, that I’m not good at this, I decited to share my today’s peace of writing. 

I was falling apart

Since I left you.

You were told me from heart

“Won‘t forget you”.

Silence hurts me.

I‘m alone.

You were cursed me

Now you won.

I just need:

To touch, to feel, to let go...

You say:

“Come back, inbreathe, please don‘t go...”

So, if you have the same “disorder” as me, don’t be sad. Maybe you could handle this by yourself and you don’t need a help at all, or you can even use it for another purpose like me, and to write something better. Good luck and don’t be so pessimistic!