Best Writing Blogs for Aspiring Authors

Best Writing Blogs for Aspiring Authors If youre an aspiring author, you dont have to fly solo. Even if you cant yet afford an agent, coach, or degree, you can find plenty of helpful resources on the Internet. The following websites will help you improve your writing skills, teach you more about your favourite genre, and give you the publishing tips you need to succeed. Write to Done: Unmissable Articles on Writing Write to Done is a collection of helpful articles for writers in all disciplines, from marketing to fiction. If you have a question related to writing, youll most likely find an answer here. Whether you want to learn how to cope with criticism, improve your grammar, generate titles, or write an entire novel, youll get that information here. writetodone.com Daily Writing Tips If the technical aspects of writing plague you, check in at Daily Writing Tips. A sort of online style guide, DWT is run by a team of editors and writers. These professionals publish an article every day on grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, spelling, and general usage and style. Trying to figure out if you need to hyphenate a term or swap your semicolon for a colon? You can look here. dailywritingtips.com Advice to Writers: Writerly Wisdom of the Ages Advice to Writers is the companion site to Advice to Writers: A Compendium of Quotes, Anecdotes, and Writerly Wisdom from a Dazzling Array of Literary Lights. This book was authored by Jon Winokur, a prolific writer who assisted Burt Reynolds and James Garner with their memoirs. The homepage of the site features inspirational quotes from fellow writers. Youll also find links to resources of all types, including dictionaries, interviews with famous authors, other blogs, podcasts, and much more. advicetowriters.com Writers Digest: Write Better, Get Published This comprehensive site offers a number of tools for aspiring authors: competitions, workshops, tutorials, webinars, articles, writing prompts, and links to professionals such as agents and manuscript reviewers. You can also subscribe to the weekly newsletter or frequent the forums and exchange ideas with your peers. writersdigest.com Writers Relief: Authors Submission Service This site is designed for those writers who dont want to be businesspeople. Focus on your craft, and then turn it over to Writers Relief. The staff will generate query letters, proofread your work, submit manuscripts to publishers, track responses, and much more. Choose from one of the multifaceted service plans, and get back to what you do best. writersrelief.com Short Story Flash Fiction Society The Short Story Flash Fiction Society focuses exclusively on brief fiction. On this site, youll find everything you want or need regarding short stories and flash fiction: information on both types of writing, free stories to read, writing contests, guest posts, helpful videos, and a shop offering inexpensive resources to help you write. shortstoryflashfictionsociety.com Romance University: R U Ready? If youve always dreamed of writing the next great Harlequin romance, then Romance University is for you. This site is tailored exclusively to authors of love stories, from the innocent to the erotic. The groups mission is to empower writers, entertain readers, and understand men. (Even if youre not into the romance genre, that last item might be worth checking out!) romanceuniversity.org Science Fiction Fantasy Writers of America SFWA is a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres. Esteemed past members include Isaac Asimov, Anne McCaffrey, Ray Bradbury, and Andre Norton. The sites own description says it all. Here, you can browse through various blogs and resources, and discover more about various genre awards. Become a member and reap even more benefits. sfwa.org Fantasy Authors Handbook: Advice for Authors of Science Fiction Fantasy Fantasy Authors Handbook is a site that offers a number of helpful posts on the technical aspects of writing your fantasy book. Youll learn how to make the most of Microsoft Word and how to use index cards to outline your story. You can also check out tutorials, links to other sites, and a number of related resources. So stop fantasizing about becoming a renowned writer, and use this site to embark on your journey to authorhood. fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com The Official Blog of the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators If writing little stories for little people is your calling, dont miss this site. Geared toward childrens literature specialists, the SCBWI blog contains a number of posts by different experts, all aimed at helping you produce high-quality reading materials for youngsters. scbwi.blogspot.com The Internet has made it easier than ever for people to write professionally; however, that fact might be overwhelming to you. With so much information available online, and so much competition, it may be difficult to know where to start. Pick the site that speaks to you and start reading. Youll soon be motivated to make your dream come true.

How To Calculate Avogadros Number Experimentally

How To Calculate Avogadro's Number Experimentally Avogadros number isnt a mathematically derived unit. The number of particles in a mole of a material is determined experimentally. This method uses electrochemistry to make the determination. You may wish to review the working of electrochemical cells before attempting this experiment. Purpose The objective is to make an experimental measurement of Avogadros number. Introduction A mole can be defined as the gram formula mass of a substance or the atomic mass of an element in grams. In this experiment, electron flow (amperage or current) and time are measured in order to obtain the number of electrons passing through the electrochemical cell. The number of atoms in a weighed sample is related to electron flow to calculate Avogadros number. In this electrolytic cell, both electrodes are copper and the electrolyte is 0.5 M H2SO4. During electrolysis, the copper electrode (anode) connected to the positive pin of the power supply loses mass as the copper atoms are converted to copper ions. The loss of mass may be visible as pitting of the surface of the metal electrode. Also, the copper ions pass into the water solution and tint it blue. At the other electrode (cathode), hydrogen gas is liberated at the surface through the reduction of hydrogen ions in the aqueous sulfuric acid solution. The reaction is:2 H(aq) 2 electrons - H2(g)This experiment is based on the mass loss of the copper anode, but it is also possible to collect the hydrogen gas that is evolved and use it to calculate Avogadros number. Materials A direct current source (battery or power supply)Insulated wires and possibly alligator clips to connect the cells2 Electrodes (e.g., strips of copper, nickel, zinc, or iron)250-ml beaker of 0.5 M H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)WaterAlcohol (e.g., methanol or isopropyl alcohol)A small beaker of 6 M HNO3 (nitric acid)Ammeter or multimeterStopwatchAn analytical balance capable of measuring to nearest 0.0001 gram Procedure Obtain two copper electrodes. Clean the electrode to be used as the anode by immersing it in 6 M HNO3 in a fume hood for 2-3 seconds. Remove the electrode promptly or the acid will destroy it. Do not touch the electrode with your fingers. Rinse the electrode with clean tap water. Next, dip the electrode into a beaker of alcohol. Place the electrode onto a paper towel. When the electrode is dry, weigh it on an analytical balance to the nearest 0.0001 gram. The apparatus looks superficially like this diagram of an electrolytic cell except that you are using two beakers connected by an ammeter rather than having the electrodes together in a solution. Take beaker with 0.5 M H2SO4 (corrosive!) and place an electrode in each beaker. Before making any connections be sure the power supply is off and unplugged (or connect the battery last). The power supply is connected to the ammeter in series with the electrodes. The positive pole of the power supply is connected to the anode. The negative pin of the ammeter is connected to the anode (or place the pin in the solution if you are concerned about the change in mass from an alligator clip scratching the copper). The cathode is connected to the positive pin of the ammeter. Finally, the cathode of the electrolytic cell is connected to the negative post of the battery or power supply. Remember, the mass of the anode will begin to change as soon as you turn the power on, so have your stopwatch ready ! You need accurate current and time measurements. The amperage should be recorded at one minute (60 sec) intervals. Be aware that the amperage may vary over the course of the experiment due to changes in the electrolyte solution, temperature, and position of the electrodes. The amperage used in the calculation should be an average of all readings. Allow the current to flow for a minimum of 1020 seconds (17.00 minutes). Measure the time to the nearest second or fraction of a second. After 1020 seconds (or longer) turn off the power supply record the last amperage value and the time. Now you retrieve the anode from the cell, dry it as before by immersing it in alcohol and allowing it to dry on a paper towel, and weigh it. If you wipe the anode you will remove copper from the surface and invalidate your work! If you can, repeat the experiment using the same electrodes. Sample Calculation The following measurements were made: Anode mass lost: 0.3554 grams (g)Current(average): 0.601 amperes (amp)Time of electrolysis: 1802 seconds (s) Remember:One ampere 1 coulomb/second or one amp.s 1 coulombThe charge of one electron is 1.602 x 10-19  coulomb Find the total charge passed through the circuit.(0.601 amp)(1 coul/1amp-s)(1802 s) 1083  coulCalculate the number of electrons in the electrolysis.(1083 coul)(1 electron/1.6022 x 1019coul) 6.759 x 1021  electronsDetermine the number of copper atoms lost from the anode.The electrolysis process consumes two electrons per copper ion formed. Thus, the number of copper (II) ions formed is half the number of electrons.Number of Cu2  ions  ½ number of electrons measuredNumber of Cu2  ions (6.752 x 1021  electrons)(1 Cu2  / 2 electrons)Number of Cu2  ions 3.380 x 1021  Cu2  ionsCalculate the number of copper ions per gram of copper from the number of copper ions above and the mass of copper ions produced.The mass of the copper ions produced is equal to the mass loss of the anode. (The mass of the electrons is so small as to be negligible, so the mass of the copper (II) ions is the same as the mass of copper atoms.)mass loss of electrode mass of Cu2  ions 0.3554 g3.380 x 1021  Cu2  ions / 0.3544g 9.510 x 1021  Cu2  ions/g 9.510 x 1021  Cu atoms/g Calculate the number of copper atoms in a mole of copper, 63.546 grams.Cu atoms/mole of Cu (9.510 x 1021  copper atoms/g copper)(63.546 g/mole copper)Cu atoms/mole of Cu 6.040 x 1023  copper atoms/mole of copperThis is the students  measured  value of  Avogadros  number!Calculate percent error.Absolute error: |6.02 x 1023  - 6.04 x 1023  | 2 x 1021Percent error: (2 x 10 21 / 6.02 x 10 23)(100) 0.3 %