David Kubicek

Don't Be Discouraged When Editors Criticize Your Writing

When I was a novice writer I lived for editorial comments. Occasionally they came, scrawled on a standard form rejection slip, just a few words to let me know if I was on the right track, if what I was writing was any good. I would bet that most aspiring writers long for that coveted editorial critique. Receiving editorial comments is great, but keep them in perspective. Fiction editing is a... (posted by David 288 days 1 hour ago.)

Candles Through The Ages: A Brief History of Candle-Making

The First Candles As early as 3,000 B.C. the Egyptians made torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in molten tallow derived from animal fat. The Romans, who also used tallow, developed the first candles with wicks, which were used to guide travelers and light buildings. The early Chinese molded candles in paper tubes and used rolled rice paper for the wick; they made the wax from a... (posted by David 4 years 103 days ago.)

Wail of the Banshee: Harbinger of Death in Irish Folklore

A mournful wail shatters the stillness, rising and falling like ocean waves, echoing through the dark, lonely hills. It is the cry of the Banshee, an omen that someone will die. According to Irish folklore, the Banshee wails, or keens, for only the five major families of Ireland: the ONeils, the OBriens, the OConnors, the OGradys, and the Kavanaghs. Each Banshee attaches itself to a mortal... (posted by David 4 years 103 days ago.)