All of us, trapped in our homes right now. Photo: Fox Network

As a former comedy agent at UTA and WME, Priyanka Mattoo represented numerous big-name writers and performers before leaving to start a TV production company withJack Black. Now she writes and directs, but she still encounters a tidal wave of comedy hopefuls looking for the advice, information, and pep talks that only a former agent can provide. In show business, they say that its all about who you know. Well, youre in luck, because now you know Priyanka!

So, uh, how am I supposed to even think about something as insignificant as screenwriting while the world seems like its ending? Everyone, everywhere in the world right now

Oh, man. I spent last Thursday in a panic spiral, looking for anyone on the internet to dole out one comforting word, and it did not happen! So Ive been comforting myself, and it seems to be working, so maybe I can pass that comfort along. I havent made this crystal clear to my readers, but this column is a recurring excuse to give myself pep talks. Im glad it helps all of you, and weve built a nice community, but since I started writing it, Ive embarked on a screenwriting career, made a short film, gotten agents, sold a show, and was supposed to pitch another this week, but now, pandemic! Every time Ive felt discouraged or confused about my career in the last few years, answering readers questions gives me the clarity I often need to boost me back up. So thank you for existing, and for reminding me to remind myself that everything is hard, but not impossible. What is a writing career if not a series of existential crises? Technically, youve been preparing for this since you decided to be a creative person.

Now, I admit this situation is easier for me to bear than the average American. I grew up in the Middle East during the Gulf War, my ancestral home was burned down by militants, and my family has collectively experienced four air wars. I wouldnt wish that series of events upon anyone, but it does put me in the unique position of being able to wake up and remind myself that I slept a full night, in a bed, with neither air raid nor gas mask. A lot of the world has all of that to deal with on top of the virus. That said, this is objectively a huge deal. Swaths of the country are losing their financial stability, and many more will become critically ill, especially if everyone keeps mingling about! This is all so bad and hard. And like all hard and bad times in my experience, the only way I know not to implode is to focus, as much as possible, on getting through today, and thinking about tomorrow tomorrow.

My danger-adjacent childhood taught me to accept that everything might end tomorrow. It might! But it probably wont. There is always a chance it might, but I could also just keel over any given Tuesday. So I can choose to spend today rocking back and forth in my bed, wanting to vomit (like last week), or deciding today is going to be at least tolerable, and I might even enjoy a moment or two. Of course, the latter option is easier said than done if youre currently enduring crippling anxiety or depression. If you are, and can muster the wherewithal, please seek out a therapist who can Skype! You dont have to go through this alone. Open Path is a great resource for lower-cost therapy at $30 to $60 a session.

And now what? Who wouldnt want to spend a day or two at home, not seeing anyone, eating a bag of stale cookies and watching subpar TV? It can be fun! But not quite as fun 30 days in a row, when its the law and/or youre homeschooling children while somehow working. And definitely not when so many peoples jobs and lives are disintegrating. As my friend Liz said the other day, The mechanics of this, I can probably deal with. My challenge will be in not getting depressed. The desire to lie in bed and give up is also my constant companion, but thankfully keeping my brain chemicals up has become a hobby of sorts.

Here are some things that have been great for my brain chemicals: daily meditation, a walk or two, doing busywork with my kids, reading funny books, making soup. But nothing is as restorative as my No. 1 mental-health practice in trying times: staying off social media. Sure, I pop in every once in a while to see how everyone is doing, but since I took it off my phone (and disabled Safari!), Im ten times calmer. Its nice to feel connected, yes, but see how the panicked howls of hundreds of millions of users might make you feel more sad and scared right now?

In addition to your chosen combination of mood-lifting practices, might I recommend adding some shape to your day? My husband and I are currently home with a 6-year-old and a toddler, and like all the other homeschooling parents, every morning we take a big piece of craft paper, tape it on the wall, and write up a basic schedule: meals (and what were eating for them), when were taking turns working, the brain activity and physical activity for each morning and afternoon, and a chunk of quiet time in the middle of the day. The toddler naps, I sit still, and the boy does whatever he wants, as long as hes quiet. Its not a perfect system, but it keeps us all going, gives us purpose hour by hour, and leaves less of those thinky cracks where one can fall into thinking the world is over already.

Theres also a crucial game we play in the evening with our son that I think every grown person in the world should, crisis or not: Rose, Bud, and Thorn, in which you highlight the best part of your day (rose), the worst part of your day (thorn), and the thing youre most looking forward to tomorrow (bud). We play it as a family I even play it on our podcast, Foxy Browns but it can also be played over group text, or FaceTime, or Im not certain how TikTok works, but sure! In times like this, it can feel impossible to think of anything positive to say, but its a surprising exercise in amplifying the goodness of small moments. Weve also added a fourth element, Pomegranate, which is what youre feeling most grateful for every evening. Am I brainwashing my children into having perspective and gratitude? Absolutely. And now Im hoping to indoctrinate you, dear, suggestible readers.

You might find, after a few shapely, Twitter-free days capped by Rose, Bud, and Thorn (and Pomegranate!), that youre feeling compelled to get out of bed and do something with all of your ideas and feelings. You dont have to write a script. Maybe its a maudlin song, maybe its just journaling. Maybe you cross-stitch, or paint, or reread the Harry Potter series. Dont worry so much about being productive. Just keep your brain in a good place that takes a lot of energy.

As a parent, there is not a chance in heck Im going to have any time to write more than this column until school is up and running, but I do often come back to this incredible NPR piece with Nora Roberts, who started writing to escape the madness of being stuck in a snowstorm with her children. Let her 198 New York Times best sellers be an inspiration, and if this cycles through like every other crisis Ive experienced, Im guessing well also come back to our normal lives with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity.

So, in the course of keeping yourself alive and your spirits afloat, do you have to write a masterpiece? Or even the garbage draft of one? No! Definitely not, if you dont feel like it. Dont feel any guilt about this at all. Your main goal right now is to stay home, stay healthy, and nourish yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally, one day at a time. Selling your wares, or participating in some kind of invisible content race, is the least of your worries this month. There will be plenty of time to hustle* once we get through this as a society, which we most definitely will if we all just stay home. STAY HOME. xox

*If there isnt a writers strike, but thats a whole other column!

Here is the original post:
How Do I Stay Creatively Motivated When the World Is Ending? - Vulture

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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On Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers stated they are giving Cam Newton permission to seek a trade. The news made it seem like the desire came from Newtons side, but after the Panthers official Instagram posted about the news, Newton responded accusing them of pushing him out.

Newton made it clear that he loves the Panthers to death and will always love them. He accused the team of trying to manipulate the narrative act like (he) wanted this.

Its clear Newton did not want this trade, which means he will likely have a huge chip on his shoulder to keep him motivated and make Carolina regret getting rid of him.

Newton has struggled in recent years with injuries, and last season he only played two games before sitting out the rest of the season to have foot surgery.

Before the injury trouble, Newton was one of the top passers in the league. He was the MVP in 2015, leading his team to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. His big arm and ability to move outside of the pocket made him especially difficult to defend.

He might have to reinvent his game to play long term, though. Becoming a smarter passer, knowing when to go down and not take a hit, and knowing the best times to take off and run would help keep Newton healthier.

Newton could learn a lot from how a quarterback like Russell Wilson has transitioned to being a smarter and better passer while still having his athleticism as an option. Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are younger examples of quarterbacks who are incredibly talented athletes who can also lean on the pass.

Although those three all have slightly different playing styles, Newton can adapt his style to fit more into a new scheme and under a new coach while also making sure to take care of himself and be the best he can be for his team.

Regardless where he ends up, Newton will be motivated and ready to compete.

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Cam Newton is motivated, and that makes him a quarterback worth having - FanSided

By: Greg Macafee Monday, March 16, 2020 | 3:32 PM

Greg Macafee | Tribune-Review

Plum senior Jared Hoener waits for a pitch during practice on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Greg Macafee | Tribune-Review

Plum sophomore Evan Kircher swings at a ball duing a practice on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Greg Macafee | Tribune-Review

Plum senior Jared Hoener swings at a pitch during practice on March 12, 2020.

Over the past decade and a half, the Plum baseball team has been a mainstay in the WPIAL playoffs.

Up until last season, the Mustangs hadnt missed the playoffs since 2006. But no program, especially in high school, can avoid a down year, and they experienced theirs last season. They went 8-12 and finished fifth in Section 2-6A.

The Mustangs dont expect their playoff hiatus to last long, and they are motivated to make it back to the playoffs this season.

It definitely left a sour taste in everyones mouth, senior pitcher and infielder Logan Schlegel said. Were definitely determined to bounce back and show everybody what Plum baseball is really about. We want to get back to the playoffs because thats what the expectation is here.

Ten seniors graduated, but an accomplished group returns.

Leading the way is pitcher and infielder Jared Hoener. The 6-foot-1 senior pitched 30 2/3 innings last season, recorded a 2.28 ERA, struck out 26 and allowed 10 earned runs.

I feel like hell have a very good year on the mound, Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. He had a very good year for us last year, and he beat some very good teams. I think it was unexpected a little last year and not many people knew who he was.

Hoener came up big in games against Penn-Trafford and Latrobe. Against P-T, the WPIAL Class 6A runner-up, Hoener threw 6 1/3 innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out five and walking three. He also threw a shutout against Latrobe while scattering three hits. He will be one of many pitchers this season, though, as the Mustangs believe they have depth on the mound.

I think we have a lot of guys who can pitch. We have a lot of arms, and we have a lot of guys who can throw strikes. I think thats one of our strengths, Hoener said. We have a couple of guys who can take that lead role. I dont think its going to come down to just one guy. We have a couple of guys that we can rely on.

The Mustangs also have players throughout their lineup who could be on the verge of big seasons at the plate. Brandon Lane hit .315 last spring, and Vollmer said catcher Dan McCaffery can hit to all fields.

I think we have some guys in the lineup that not many people know about, Schlegel said. We have some younger guys in the lineup that can really hit. But just all around, I think we can put up some good numbers.

To get back to the playoffs, the Mustangs will have to make their way through Section 2-6A, which includes P-T, along with Connellsville, Hempfield, Norwin and Latrobe. While it may be tough, Vollmer said it hopefully will get them ready for the postseason.

I think well surprise some people this year, Vollmer said. If we can scratch and claw our way into the playoffs, I think well be a very battle-tested team because our section will prepare us for that.

Greg Macafee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Greg by email at gmacafee@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Plum

See more here:
Plum baseball motivated to return to playoffs after down year - TribLIVE

Khabib Nurmagomedov was a part of some of the highest-selling pay-per-views in history. He is the current UFC lightweight champion with an undefeated record of 28-0. After achieving almost everything there is to achieve, Khabib revealed what keeps him motivated.

Since he is not a showman, Khabib had to take the long route to the UFC gold. He defeated Al Iaquinta in 2018 to capture the UFC lightweight championship. In the same year, Khabib defended it in one of the biggest fights of his career. The Eagle took on the Irishman, Conor McGregor in his first title defence.

Khabib submitted Conor in the fourth round and then proceed to fight Dustin Poirier. Again, it was the same story in which he submitted Poirier by a rear-naked choke. From fighting a big name like Conor to fighting the less popular Dustin Poirier, how does Khabib stay motivated?

Khabib revealed that people questioned his source of motivation. He said:

I tell people that I have big motivation, Im hungry. I really wanna compete with the best in the world. This is inside my blood. I feel this.

I am famous, I have money, I have belt, I defend my belt I just finished my biggest fight in combat sports history. Now they give me Dustin Poirier. Where are you gonna get motivation from? Khabib told Brett Okamoto.

At 31 years old, Khabib feels that he is in his athletic prime. The champion wants nothing but to compete at the highest level. After all, Khabib wants to leave behind a legacy.

Although Khabib had mentioned earlier that there are not many fights left in his career, it is clear from his responses that he does not want to leave any questions unanswered.

He said that he will keep fighting as long as he is motivated.

Read: Everything Is Mental- Khabib Nurmagomedov Opens Up On Retirement Question

Khabibs next test will take place in New York where he will face the Boogeyman, Tony Ferguson. Ferguson is on a 12 fight win streak and looks to take away Khabibs belt in one of the highly anticipated matches in UFC history.

Continue the conversation on Telegram, join other MMA fans on MMA Fans Group

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals the Secret Behind His Motivation - Essentially Sports

Successful people dont become that way overnight. What most people see at a glancehappiness, wealth, a great career, purposeis the result of hard work and hustle over time. To be successful, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve, to be better, to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of workand with a busy schedule, next to impossible.

So whats their secret?

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens to you.

When you change the quality of your thinking, you change the quality of your life, sometimes instantly. Just as positive words can make someone smile or a well-timed humorous quote can make someone laugh, our thoughts react to the world in real-time. As entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, and bosses, we must realize that everything we think actually matters. If we are seeking success, we must think successful, inspiring, and motivating thoughts.

Here are 20 motivational quotes which keep you going everyday

Your limitationits only your imagination.

Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.

Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now.

Great things never come from comfort zones.

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.

Dream it. Wish it. Do it.

If you are not willing to risk the usual you will have to settle for the ordinary.

Trust because you are willing to accept the risk, not because it's safe or certain.

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life--think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

Success doesnt just find you. You have to go out and get it.

The harder you work for something, the greater youll feel when you achieve it.

Dont stop when youre tired. Stop when youre done.

Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction.

Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

Little things make big days.

Its going to be hard, but hard does not mean impossible.

Dont wait for opportunity. Create it.

Sometimes were tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.

Dream it. Believe it. Build it.

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday

Read more| Papmochani Ekadashi 2020: Date, puja timings, rituals and significance

Originally posted here:
Here are 20 motivational quotes and images which keep you going everyday - India Today

Karisma Kapoor has often shared her foodie side on social media.

Highlights

There's something about Indian desserts that no one can ever resist. From piping hot halwa to decadent gulab jamun or the coiled jalebi, the mere mention is enough for anyone to slurp a little. Indians have a strong penchant for sweets, not only are they a staple post dinner in our homes, they are also offered in our places of worship. And, guess what? Even our celebrities cannot have them enough! Just like Karisma Kapoor who recently took to Instagram to share her love for our very own traditional kheer.

Kheer or phirni is a satiating bowl of rice or vermicelli cooked in milk, sweetened and finished with a hearty addition of nuts and dry fruits. It is known with different names in different regions. While the north Indians would love to gorge on classic kheer, south Indians take immense pride in payasam. Our Bollywood diva Karisma Kapoor shared a video of a bowl full of what looked like saffron kheer topped with a generous amount of nuts. She shared a poll along with it asking her followers, 'Kheer anyone?' to which about 78% people said yes. And why not, just look at the kheer below!

(Also Read:Karisma Kapoor's Son Kiaan Gets A Birthday Cake That Would Make Anyone Jealous)

Karisma Kapoor has been promoting her debut web-series Mentalhood that is streaming on Alt Balaji and Zee5, across cities. This isn't the first time we have seen the foodie side of the beautiful actor; remember when we caught her gorging on a Rajasthani thali in Jaipur? Or relishing authentic Bengali thali during Durga Puja? And, who can forget the superstar sisters Karisma and Kareena devouring bowl full of kheer on Diwali! Seems like Karisma loves kheer way too much!

Is the beautiful bowl of kheer making you crave some too? Guess what, you can make it at your own home. Here's a sumptuous, quick and easy recipe of kesar kheer/phirni that you can try at home.

About Aanchal MathurAanchal doesn't share food. A cake in her vicinity is sure to disappear in a record time of 10 seconds. Besides loading up on sugar, she loves bingeing on FRIENDS with a plate of momos. Most likely to find her soulmate on a food app.

Read more:
Karisma Kapoor Devouring A Bowl Full of Kheer Is Enough Motivation To Try Some At Home - NDTV Food

During his tenure in Athens, Eric Stokes Jr. has already left a lasting impression on the program that will leave Georgia head coach Kirby Smart looking for another one like him when hes gone. Stokes was an underrated three-star prospect out of Eastside High School in the 2017 class, and he signed with the Bulldogs on Feb. 1, 2017.

In high school, Stokes was an athlete that could play well on either side of the ball. Despite not playing defensive back, he was known for his ability to run and run with receivers. His length made is what Georgia coaches noticed, and possibly his speed. Stokes won a state championship in the 100 meters dash with a personal best of 10.39 seconds.

Stokes is currently listed at 6-foot-1 185 pounds on Georgias roster. When Stokes committed to Georgia he really started to focus on the cornerback position. He quickly became known his for his unique talent and skills, but his work ethic is what really earned him an opportunity on the field.

My motivation is just the season, Stokes said in a recent video posted by Georgia Footballs official Twitter account. Im trying to get better. Im fixing to have that confidence because I know for a fact Ive put in the work. Im not fixing to rely on nothing else. Im not going to wait until the last minute Im trying to make sure once the season gets here, Im in tip-top shape to where everything else is just smooth.

Over the past two seasons, Stokes has started 16 games with 13 of those coming in 2019. During that span, he has racked up 58 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and 18 pass breakups (held a team-high in 2019). Stokes also has a blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown against Missouri in 2018.

That one sack came against Tennesse in 2019 when Stokes bear-hugged Tennessee quarterback Brian Maurer, and Tae Crowder picked up the fumble to return for a touchdown. As Maurer dropped back to pass, Stokes came in off a corner-blitz and completely demolished him.

Something that has haunted Stokes the past few years is that he hasnt recorded his first career interception. In the fourth quarter of Georgias 21-14 win over Auburn, Box Nix threw a fade route that Stokes got his hands on, but was unable to haul it in.

As good as Georgias defense was last year, something that Smart always talked about was that his team wasnt getting turnovers in the form of interceptions. Stokes has the potential to record his first interception in 2020, and that is something that possesses him to do better.

During this downtime, the NCAA isnt allowing any sport to continue their team activities. That means no spring practice, team meetings, workouts, for Georgia football. Players arent even encouraged to come back to campus until further notice.

But that doesnt stop players from being able to workout on their own in their hometowns or wherever they are. Per his Twitter, Stokes hasnt been active about letting us know what hes been doing, but a good guess is that he has been working out in some way, shape or form.

My favorite offseason training would be like a Monday because you know youve got a little squat going, Stokes said. You know coach (Scott) Sinclair is fixing to kill you. Youve just got to push through everything. You aint going to want to do this, you aint going to want to do that, but youve got to look yourself in the mirror and youve got to look yourself and you just gotta realize, Okay, what kind of person do I want to be? Do I want to be the person that, oh man, I could have, I should have, I would have, done this. Or do you want to be the kind of person that sits back and youre living life because I give my all and I show everything I can do.

Here is a gallery of Eric Stokes. Photography by Bulldawg Illustrateds Greg Poole:

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Eric Stokes My motivation is just the season. - bulldawgillustrated.com

020918-DavenportNorth-NorthScott-GirlsBKB-006

North Scott's Grace Boffeli shoots the ball as Davenport North's Paige Bradford defends during the fourth quarter of their game at North Scott on Friday.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford (50) looks for an open teammate during the third quarter of their game at North Scott High School in Eldridge on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018.

North Scott's Grace Boffeli (42) battles against Davenport North's Paige Bradford during a game last season. Boffeli led the MAC with 9.7 rebounds per game last year and led the Lancers with 12.4 points per game.

North's Paige Bradford (50) gets a shot off against North Scott during a 73-53 North Scott win in Davenport, Iowa Friday January 5, 2018.

North Scott's Rylie Rucker (20) Grace Boffeli (42) and North's Paige Bradford battle for a rebound during a 73-53 North Scott win in Davenport, Iowa Friday January 5, 2018.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford drives to the basket against Davenport Assumption's Carlye Brown on Thursday during first-half action at North High School. Bradford had 25 points and 10 rebounds for North.

Davenport Assumption's Liz Fennelly shoots a three point shot over Davenport North's Paige Bradford, Thursday, February 9, 2017, during first half action at North High School. Assumption won 73-62.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford and Pleasant Valley's Adrea Arthofer battle for the rebound, Friday, January 27, 2017, during first half action at Pleasant Valley High School.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford

Pleasant Valley's Ellie Spelhaug and Davenport North's Paige Bradford battle for the rebound, Friday, January 27, 2017, during second half action at Pleasant Valley High School. North won the contest 63-60.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford battles Bettendorf's Erin Hatch for the ball Tuesday night at North High School. North outlasted Bettendorf 64-57.

Bettendorf's Kylie Wroblewski is fouled by Davenport North's Paige Bradford, Tuesday, January 24, 2017, during first half action at North High School in Davenport.

North Scott's Hannah Moeller blocks a pass intended for Davenport North's Paige Bradford on Tuesday during first-half action at North High School in Davenport.

North Scott's Karli Rucker grabs the rebound against Davenport North's Paige Bradford and Lindsay Wardlow (22), Tuesday, January 10, 2017, during first half action at North High School in Davenport.

Rock Island's Brea Beal gets her hand on the ball as Davenport North's Paige Bradford tries to shoot in a game earlier this month. Rock Island and North are 1-2 again this week in the Metro Fab 5.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford makes the pass against Rock Island's Lauren Hall during the IHMVCU Shootout on Jan. 7 at the Carver Center in Rock Island. Bradford is the MAC's leading scorer and rebounder through 15 games.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford pulls the rebound down against Pleasant Valley's Ellie Spelhaug and Rory Donahue earlier this season. Bradford has averaged more than 27 points a game in North's last three outings.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford and Pleasant Valley's Grace Necker go for a rebound earlier this season. Bradford is MAC's top rebounder at almost 9 per contest.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford grabs the rebound away from North Scott's Grace Boffeli (42) and Rylie Rucker (20), Tuesday, December 6, 2016, during first half action at The Pit in Eldridge. The Lady Lancers won the game 65-59.

North Scott's Hannah Moeller (40) and Davenport North's Paige Bradford scramble for the ball Tuesday at The Pit.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford tries to shoot while being guarded by Ankeny Centennial's Kendyl Lindaman on Wednesday in Des Moines.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford puts up a shot while being guarded by Ankeny Centennial's Abby Heston on Wednesday in Des Moines.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford puts up a shot during Wednesday's state quarterfinal against Ankeny Centennial at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Davenport North's, left to right, Jinaya Houston, Mckenzie O'Brien, Coral Dillie, Lindsay Wardlow and Paige Bradford, grew up playing together in Davenport North's youth program, the Lady Cats.

Davenport North's Jinaya Houston (5), Coral Dillie (30), and Paige Bradford (50) celebrate at mid-court with fans after defeating Cedar Rapids Kennedy for the Wildcats' first trip to state in February.

Davenport North Wildcats forward Paige Bradford (50) scrambles for a loose ball against the Clinton River Queens at Davenport North High School, Tuesday, February, 9, 2016.

Davenport North forward Paige Bradford (50) scores over Clinton's Sydney Laufenberg (35) at Davenport North High School on Tuesday.

Davenport North Wildcats forward Paige Bradford (50) scores as Clinton's Sarah Goldensoph (33) defends at Davenport North High School, Tuesday, February, 9, 2016.

Davenport North Wildcats forward Paige Bradford (50) scores against Clinton at Davenport North High School, Tuesday, February, 9, 2016.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford (50) drives to the basket and loses control of the basketball as Davenport West's Alison Wheeler (42) defends on Friday.

North Scott guard Olivia Schmidt (20) is fouled from behind by Davenport North forward Paige Bradford (50) on Tuesday at The Pit.

North Scott Lancers guard Karli Rucker (4) is fouled from behind by Davenport North Wildcats forward Paige Bradford (50) at The Pit in Eldridge Tuesday, January, 12, 2016.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford drives to the basket against the Pleasant Valley defense, Friday, December 11, 2015, during first half action at Pleasant Valley High School.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford (50) grabs a loose ball against Cedar Rapids Xavier during 4A Region 4 final game in DeWitt, Iowa Tuesday February 24, 2015.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford (50) puts up a shot against Cedar Rapids Xavier during 4A Region 4 final game in DeWitt, Iowa Tuesday February 24, 2015.

North Scott's Hannah Moeller, left, and Davenport North's Paige Bradford during the first half in Davenport, Iowa Tuesday February 10, 2015.

North Scott's Hannah Moeller, left, and Davenport North's Paige Bradford during the first half in Davenport, Iowa Tuesday February 10, 2015.

Davenport North forward Paige Bradford (50) gets a shot off against North Scott during the first half in Davenport, Iowa Tuesday February 10, 2015.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford drives against Pleasant Valley's Kelli DeGeorge during last Friday's first half. PV and North sit atop this week's league power rankings.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford takes the shot against Bettendorf's Taylor VanZuiden on Thursday in Davenport.

Davenport North's Paige Bradford turns towards the basket against Bettendorf's Taylor VanZuiden, Thursday, January 15, 2015, during first half action North High School.

Davenport North's Coral Dillie gets a pass to Paige Bradford during last Tuesday's game against North Scott. The Wildcats are 10-0 and atop this week's Metro Fab 5.

See more here:
Motivated Bradford anxious for the next step - Quad City Times

The whole essence of writing is to tell your story, and thats what all writers are looking to do. But something many writers probably also like, and something thats definitely a factor in how good your own writing becomes, is hearing good stories. It can be the source of motivation that launches you into the kind of writing frenzy that wins awards. Or it can be something as simple as feeling inspired to write your own thoughts in your Instagram app. Or it can just be a great way to pass the time.

However you look at it, listening to a good story is a cool thing to do. Some of the best stories can actually be found in movies, and movies have the added advantage where they combine multiple forms of media to accentuate the message theyre trying to pass on. Its not just the words in the dialog, but the images and sounds that help us to feel the emotions expressed in the story. Also, because of the high bandwidth in terms of media, it is easier to tell a story in a matter of a couple of hours with a movie that would have perhaps taken you days to read had it been in book form, saving you time in the process.

While were at it, you should also seek to improve your own writing skills. There are lots of platforms to help you do this, and you can visit site to learn more. With good writing skills and plenty of inspiration, youll be unstoppable.

So which movies are you supposed to watch in order to gain that inspiration to write more? There are lots, of course, and the level of inspiration you get from a movie to do anything, not just write, is entirely subjective. However, I have a little list of favorites that I would like to share with you. Here are my 5 best movies that motivate me to write more. Hopefully theyll motivate you too.

Casper is a movie about a friendly ghost and a girl who is the daughter of a paranormal psychologist. When a jilted heiress hires the psychologies to exorcise the ghosts that haunt her mansion, one of them befriends his daughter, and the resulting adventures are pretty interesting to watch.

On the surface, this is a kids movie, but its also incredibly well written and combines many different aspects of storytelling, such as action, drama, and comedy, to tell a beautiful story that will appeal to adults and children alike. It particularly has an optimistic approach to the concept of death that is meant to ease kids into it.

This story centers on a genius who, after getting into too much trouble with the law, is forced to see a therapist. It slowly unearths from there, taking us on an interesting journey into the different aspects of tapping into our unlimited potential. Much of the movie is carried by the conversation between the boy, Will, and the therapist, Sean. It is driven by their characters and the dialogue between them as they get to know each other better. Wills traumatic childhood has caused him to put up seemingly insurmountable walls and Sean seeks to bring them down.

This movie is more of a psychological horror, but still manages to pack in a compelling story with lots of nuggets of valuable information. The Village is about a 19th century town in Pennsylvania that is surrounded by eerie woods with a dark secret. There is a lot of intermingling story lines and concepts in this movie, and it has lots of Easter eggs than anyone will enjoy finding. Its a great exercise in the process of writing multi-dimensional universes with different story lines.

Wonder Boys is a story about a writer and his editor who spend a lot of time trying to figure out the trajectories of their individual lives. Its a great story because its about writers, and so it scores really high on the relevance scale. It gives good insight into the ways people deal with conflict and turmoil within and among themselves. Its also a good study in building background stories for characters to make them more realistic and relatable.

This movie is yet another one about writing. In it two New York book store owners are competing with each other for business, while also falling in love with each other. The movie is set up right about the time when the internet really takes off, in 1999, and so its a great look into how writers were dealing with the digitization of the writing and publishing process. Its also about more personal matters, like figuring out what you really want in life.

This is a small list, but hopefully it gets you as excited about writing as it does me. Its all a beautiful process, but sometimes we can all feel a little demotivated. A little inspiration always helps in such times.

Sandra Larson is a writer and editor with a focus on entertainment, personal development, and technology. She enjoys writing about the human experience and giving her readers insights on it. When shes not writing, she enjoys practicing yoga and going out camping.

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5 Movies To Motivate You To Write More - Film Threat

For many of us, working from home is nothing new. We know only too well the joy of not having a commute, being able to keep costs low and giving ourselves a flexible schedule.

But we also know that it can be lonely and soul-destroying at times. Just getting motivated to sit at our desks and start something is tough when we're in our home environment, surrounded by distractions.

Bad habits aren't uncommon. We might stay in our pyjamas, forget to take breaks and work even longer hours than we would if we had a job and worked for someone else.

With everything that's been going on lately, many of you will be working from home for the first time. Here are some tips to help you stay focused, healthy, productive and happy (and some reminders for those of you who are carrying on as usual).

Shower and get dressed as though you're going to the office. Have breakfast and have a work 'start time'. Don't immediately go to your laptop: give yourself a healthy morning routine. Some people find it helpful to leave their home, go for a little walk and return, mimicking a commute to kickstart work mode.

Find somewhere away from the rest of the family where you won't be distracted. Make that area tidy and remove any clutter. Natural light helps, so by a window is recommended as long as there are no glares on your computer screen. Inform the rest of the household of your work hours, too so they know not to disturb you. A small adjustment goes a long way. If noise is an issue, consider noise-cancelling headphones.

If you're not used to working from home and don't have a dedicated desk or setup, create one to take care of your body and avoid causing pain. We love the IKEA laptop support stand, as it raises your laptop to eye level, saving your posture. Your neck will thank you for it. Just plug in a keyboard and connect a mouse, and you're away.

Distraction is the enemy at home. You need focus. We highly recommend the Pomodoro technique, a simple process for time management that boosts productivity, too. This is how it works: choose a task you'd like to get done; set a timer for 25 minutes; work on that task until the alarm goes off; tick something off your list and then take a short break. For every four Pomodoros, take a longer break. Here's a free timer to get started.

During your breaks, take the opportunity to leave the house for some fresh air, exercise and vitamin D. Need some inspiration? Check out Discovering Britain for some walks on your doorstep. Or the Ramblers Association if you're near to the countryside or have some time to venture further.

If you're self-isolating right now, you can still stay in touch with clients and colleagues, as you know. But it's the "face time" that's important. We all know of Skype and Google Hangouts, but can we suggest Zoom, too? It's video conferencing like the rest of them but pretty darn good. Schedule virtual meetings with people to stay in the loop and maintain relationships. And if you want to feel like you're in an office with other people? Some people use Zoom Rooms to beat loneliness and have fellow creatives in the background for company.

It's so easy to fall into the trap of overworking at home. Set a time when work must stop. Tomorrow is another day, after all. And you'll probably do better work after a night's rest. Of course, you don't have to follow a traditional 9-5 if you're more productive at other times. That's not what we're saying.

If it helps, write your job list for the following day even if you use an app like Things to manage your tasks: the physical act of writing everything into a notepad will act like a "brain dump", helping you to close the door on your working day and switch off.

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Tips on working from home: how to stay motivated and sane - Creative Boom