Susan Quilty

Freelance Writer

Why I Write Online

 

A Good ReadEveryone has something to share. Maybe it's a review of a great movie that slipped under the radar. Maybe it's advice on how to shop with a toddler in tow, or the experience learned through years of throwing children's birthday parties.

Whatever I experience in life becomes a lesson learned. Some of my experiences are from trial and error, others have been learned in books. (I'm reading at least one fiction and one non-fiction book at any given time.) Writing online is an opportunity to share my experiences with others.

On this page, you will find a sampling of my online articles, divided by featured categories, and a few of my thoughts on writing. Please visit my Helium profile to explore additional articles.

Philosophy and Self-Help

Life can be difficult, complex, and messy. These articles explore some of the issues that can deeply affect our lives:

Paying for College

A college education can be expensive, yet it is an important investment toward future financial security.

A Reflection on Fiction

 

Every person contains their own story. As I watch strangers walk through stores or sit at traffic lights, I imagine their world. Where are they going? What did they have for breakfast? Who do they love? What are their dreams?

We are each our own starring character moving in our own circle of awareness that overlaps, like Venn diagrams, with the others in our lives.

Fiction explores the world in its own terms. It can be based in fact or metaphor, fantasy or realism. Whole universes can be created to accomodate the story or it can struggle to breathe in the same confines of our physical world.

Fiction is both a haven and a journey.

Fiction is a reflection of ourselves.

Piano Tips and Techniques

Beginners and advanced piano players alike can improve their dexterity and skill by trying some new exercises and techniques:

Helium Community Editor

Helium's Community Editors welcome new members and strive to improve the overall quality of Helium's online content.

Here are some tips to avoid common problems in your articles:

1. Use the Paste from Word tool whenever copying text into the article submission form. This keeps coding errors from appearing in your article.

2. Use the Spell Check tool when submitting. Spell Check is not turned on by default.

3. Proofread your article, carefully. Watch for easily confused words that Spell Check will not flag (e.g. their, there, and they're). Watch for missing words, spaces, and punctuation.

4. Use proper capitalization. Proper nouns need to be capitalized. Words in the middle of sentences should not be capitalized to add emphasis. Avoid using all capital letters, even in subheadings.

My Love of Words

 

Words are like a drug, creating moments of euphoria as they pass through my mind.

It is not about using words that are impressive. It is about the nuance.

It is the thrill of enjoying a word that precisely captures my intent. Of choosing a single word that says many.

It is delighting in the sound of syllables slipping through my lips. It is poetry.

It is the balance between description and momentum.

It is the joy of saying wasps out loud.

Relationships and Communication

Communication is essential for happy relationships. The following articles explore ways to improve communication in various relationships:

Knit and Crochet

Knit and crochet are great hobbies and online help makes it easier than ever to expand your skills:

Hairstyle Advice

Everyone wants to have their own best hairstyle. Try these tips for finding a new look, trying new styles, or living with a bad haircut:

Showing Comments 1 to 5 of 5

Susan Quilty
Posted on: Mar 05, 09 at 02:20 PM
Thanks, Jennifer and Ailyeus! I've been getting such a nice response from this portfolio, that I decided to start another zone about Board Games. Check it out: http://www.helium.com/zone/2263-board-games
Aliyeus J
Posted on: Mar 05, 09 at 03:46 AM
Hi Susan, thanks for your reply on the community pages (in the contest section). And now here I am viewing your zone, I love it. "My Love on Words," and "A Reflection on Fiction" were great reads.
Jennifer Lim
Posted on: Feb 05, 09 at 02:11 PM
Hi Susan, I like your zone, there are lots of information and the layout is fantastic. Cheers Jenn
Susan Quilty
Posted on: Jan 15, 09 at 11:51 PM
Thanks, Bob! I'm now learning the guitar too - which is a rather different experience from the piano! Once I get a little better with the guitar I hope to pass along some of what I learn through some Helium articles.
Bob Schmidt
Posted on: Jan 11, 09 at 06:11 PM
Glad to see your section on piano tips. As a professional piano tuner I thank you for promoting music as a study instead of I-pods and passive music pursuit! Bob Schmidt

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Helium member since Jul 25, 07
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AboutMe

  • Includes my Writer Biography and links to all of my Helium articles, sorted by channel.
  • Follow me on Twitter for updates on my blog, writing, or just random thoughts.

My Blogs and Websites

My Recent Helium Articles

Here are some snippets from my recent articles. Click on the links to read the full articles:

    My Recent Blog Posts

    • First there was the stripper pole workout craze, now there's the Shake Weight. Sometimes you come across something so completely bizarre that you have to stop what you're doing and tell someone about it. This is one of those moments.I've been too busy to watch Ellen for a while now, but it looks like I'm missing out on some good entertainment, and GREAT blog material. If you haven't heard of the
      2009-11-20T11:52:00.005-05:00
    • Yes, DWTS fans, Joanna and Derek did go home last night. And yes, it was because of their lack of popularity among voting viewers. But that doesn't mean the show is rigged or that Americans are stupid. (Not saying Americans aren't stupid, just that there are better examples of said stupidity than DWTS voting patterns.)As on every DWTS in-season Wednesday, the infowebs are abuzz with contradictory
      2009-11-18T14:02:00.005-05:00
    • TiVo may still be my favorite non-human boyfriend, but I'm in love with a new appliance. (And it doesn't take batteries so get your minds out of the gutter!) My new-found love is my Crock Pot. Or actually my Crock Pots. (so much for cookware monogamy!)I have a nice big, programmable Crock Pot that I got as a wedding gift years and years ago. (Doesn't everyone get a Crock Pot at their wedding
      2009-11-13T11:07:00.003-05:00
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