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Things to Note in Your Manuscript Before Approaching a Publisher

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T'oros Roslin Gospels, Binding, Walters Manuscript W.539, Lower board outside

Many times, writers are so eager to have their work published that they forget to do their own due diligence. They just write and send it to the publisher and hope that he/she would do the needful and then publish their work. It does not work that way. A writer is not an editor, and neither is a writer a publisher although those roles can be interchanged between them. As a writer, it is important that you have basic editing skills. That way, you are able to preserve the integrity of your work rather than leave it for someone that would edit in the way he/she thinks about what you have written. This difference in roles is very important because it would help you in playing your part well and make it easy for others to do their work effectively. Here are some of the things you should note before taking your manuscript to a publisher: 1. You must ensure your work has been proofread and edited for errors. As a writer, it is not just enough to write a good piece or a good book. You have to go through the book several times to make sure your thoughts are fully captured and well written then you also have to make sure that it is properly edited before you send it out. That way, whoever picks up your work would be comfortable reading it and even eager to publish it. 2. Follow the publisher’s guidelines. This is very important in publishing as it fast-tracks your work and makes things easier for the publisher. Many times, publishers have certain standards or a couple of rules that they lay down for their prospective customers. And it would do you a lot of good to follow those guidelines. When your work meets all the necessary criteria, it will be easy to publish. 3. Know what you want your work to look like. There are times that all a writer cares about is having their work published. To them, nothing else is important. They would prefer for the publisher or friends to make the choices they need to make. Don’t be that kind of writer. Have an idea of what you want your work to look like and the way you want people to perceive it. Then do a good job of communicating it to the publishers. That way, you are seen as someone who knows what they want, and you would also be proud of the creativity that you displayed. 4. Be open to ideas. Many times as writers, we already have an idea of what we want our books to look like, the cover page, the size, the colour and so on. But sometimes, it is good to listen to ideas and suggestions from more experienced people or from publishers. Remember that it is their job, and they have been doing it for years. So they have a lot of experience in it. You don’t have to take their suggestion. Just open your mind to receive it and if need be, be humble enough to take the suggestion. You would be better for it, and your work would also get visibility. In conclusion, when it comes to writing, it is important that you play your own part. Make things easy for everyone working with you on your way to success. Keeping all these things in mind would make your dreams come true sooner than you think.   Olamide Omolawal is an avid research enthusiast with interest in creative and content writing. She could be reached via LinkedIn or email: oomolawal@gmail.com

5 Coping Strategies for Single Fathers

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You’re a single dad, right? You’re not by yourself. Single parents frequently face logistical difficulties. They can’t be in two places simultaneously, and they don’t have a partner to fall back on. They may encounter unexpected issues, such as suspicion from strangers while out with their children. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 2 million single fathers in 2016. About 40 per cent were divorced, 38 per cent were never married, 16 per cent were separated, and 6 per cent were widowed. Life can be challenging for single fathers out there. You must adopt coping mechanisms if you’re a single father. You still have kids to take care of; therefore, you must do everything you can to retain your sanity. Here are 5 strategies for quieting the mind. 1. Look for Optimistic Aspects of life to Think About The first thing you should do as a single father is to focus on what you have rather than what you have lost. Whether you’ve divorced or lost your wife to death, optimism must be an anchor to keep your mind calm. Your children look up to you for all the help they can get, so it’s essential to be a strong motivator for them. 2. Remove all toxicity from your life The next thing to do is to delete all toxicity from your mind or circle. Anything that would drag you back and make you lose focus must be removed. They can be as inconsequential as a wristwatch or a piece of clothing given to you by your ex-partner before you parted ways. Whether it is people who constantly remind you of all the negativity in your life or objects that continuously remind you of your past mistakes, you must let go of them. 3. Turn off all distractions during mealtime Ensure you disconnect from the outside world during meals and bedtime. Concentrate on your children. This will aid in communication and make them feel secure. A busy dad won’t be of help to any child. The time together should be where you as a single father communicate with your children. They will appreciate it more. 4. Exercise To cope with the stress of single parenting, some single fathers turn to drugs or alcohol. Exercise can be a good substitute for drugs and alcohol. Positive endorphins are released during exercise. You will feel better about yourself and that all of your problems are manageable. I believe that the perception that they are manageable rather than gone makes a significant difference in this situation. You don’t have the severe come down that you do when you try to pretend they’ve gone away with alcohol or drugs because they never vanished. 5. Network for Help Your children’s schools are a good location to obtain assistance. Networking with other parents and school personnel will make you feel less stressed about your kids’ welfare. It’s really common for single parents to feel lonely. Share the responsibility with another single-parent family or your close relatives. Accepting assistance will allow you to recharge. Overall, stay positive and do your best for your children. Also, a single father can find love again. It is certainly possible! Single parents meet new people, find love, and find true happiness. It’s even possible that your children will help you meet your next spouse. It could be a single person in the neighbourhood or at school who is close to your children.

Men and Mental Health

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Men’s mental health has not been taken seriously for a while now. Depression and loneliness have often been attributed to women alone. Both men and women suffer from mental health disorders. Men’s mental disorder has been a silent crisis. It is an epidemic that is not talked about because men fail to show it. Mental health is focused on women, and the gender gap added to the prevalence of mental disorders among men. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports that men are more likely to die by suicide than women. It is a crisis that men tend to repress and not show. They battle with it privately so as not to show signs of weakness. The pandemic in 2020 also added to the breakdown of mental health as men had to stay at home. This made many men go into depression and anxiety. Social isolation made many men suffer from mental health. Surveys around the world have admitted that men suffer from mental health as much as women do. Failure to open up about mental health has led to the death of many persons. More men are on the verge of suicide due to mental health. The best way to find out about mental health among men is to check through suicide statistics around the world. You will be stunned to discover that a lot of men have suffered from this disorder. Through research, web content, and academic studies, men’s mental health came to light. There are many reasons why some men choose to be silent about their struggles with a mental disorder. One of them is that they may be termed weak and feminine when seen as depressed or having anxiety. The socio-cultural way men are seen or portrayed in society tends to make men keep their struggles to themselves. Men that repress and bottle up their anxiety or depression, tend to be aggressive and often sink into further disorders like loneliness. Knowing about it will be the first step to overcoming the disorders. This will aid in understanding your health and improving it. Common Mental Disorders There are some mental health issues out there that many men are suffering from which some may not be aware of. Here are lists of some of the common mental health issues: Depression: This is one of the silent killers of men all over the world. Research conducted by some medical professionals shows that the major cause of suicide in America was caused by depression. Many celebrities have taken their lives due to depression. During an interview, Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as “The Rock” admitted that at some point in his life he has a bout of depression. In his words, “I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.” Eating Disorder: This may be considered a minute thing, but it is a disorder that some men fight with daily. Men with this disorder tend to have an intense fear of weight gain or being fat. Loneliness: This may seem like nothing but during the Pandemic lockdown, the social isolation forced many men into loneliness and depression. Separation and divorce seem to be the leading causes of mental health among men. The separation from spouses and children can badly affect them psychologically and thus lead to suicidal thoughts. Tiwa Savage’s ex-husband, Tunji Balogun, popularly known as TeeBillz suffered from depression in 2016 and also attempted suicide after his marriage with Tiwa Savage crashed. Personality Disorder: Men with this disorder find it hard to relate to people and situations. They have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking. Such men may have been abused verbally or influenced by their peers. Researches have it that they are mainly caused by genetic and environmental influence. Stress: High workload or the need to meet deadlines is a major factor for men to be stressed. Lack of social support may add to the heavy load of stress. The hustle and bustle of city life have a ripple effect on the lives of men as it weakens the body and increases the stress rate among men. Anxiety Disorder: it is a mental disorder that comprises feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily plans. In Nigeria alone, there are about 1.5 million cases reported per year. Men with this disorder tend to be overstressed and unable to set aside worry. They are mainly restless. Martin Luther King has this quote, “everything done in this world is done by hope.” I firmly trust that there is hope and help for every man out there suffering from any form of mental disorder. Apart from educating yourself, you need to take the next step by speaking with a friend or speaking with a medical doctor. Though treatment varies for each mental disorder, opening up and not dying in silence is the first step to getting help. Some forms of treatment are counselling, medication, and psychotherapy.