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In each issue of The Sun you'll find some of the most radically intimate and socially conscious writing being published today. In an age of media conglomerates, we're something of an oddity: an ad-free, independent, reader-supported magazine.

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Looking for something good to read and don't know where to go?

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Looking for something good to read and don't know where to go?

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See reviews and what people are reading. Challenge yourself with the 2018 Reading Challenge.

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Before you completely psychologically move on to 2018, let's have some fun looking back on the words of the year from 2017.

Collins Dictionary, American Dialect Society and the News on the Web Corpus: Fake News

The clear winner in the word-of-the-year follies was "fake news," chosen by at least three different organizations: the American Dialect Society, Collins Dictionary, and the News on the Web Corpus.

The American Dialect Society word is based on a live vote by people who attend the Linguistic Society of America annual meeting, which I had hoped to attend this year but didn't because of travel problems. It looks like a lot of fun, and in addition to "fake news" as the word of the year, attendees also chose "broflake" as the most creative word of the year, blending "bro" like "dude" with the last part of "snowflake," and defined as "a man or boy who lacks resilience or coping skills in the face of disagreements or setbacks." They also chose "#MeToo" as the hashtag of the year.

"Fake news" also won in their "most likely to succeed" category. Previous "most likely to succeed" winners included "marriage equality" and "to ghost" (meaning to abruptly end a relationship by cutting off communication, especially online).

Collins is a British dictionary and noted a 365% increase in the term "fake news" in 2017 over 2016. The Collins blog post talked about the term emerging in 2016 when people noticed a large number of false news stories about US presidential candidates and then about how the term really took off in 2017 when it started being thrown around by politicians to describe any story they didn't like.

I was still a journalism professor in 2016, teaching social media, and I remember being really alarmed by all the fake news stories on Facebook, and then being just dismayed when the term "fake news" became politicized in 2017 because it made it so much harder to talk about the real problem. But people were using the term noticeably more often in 2017.

The News on the Web Corpus is run out of Brigham Young University by Mark Davies, and it also chose "fake news" as the word of the year based on data, looking at words that showed a big increase in use over the previous year and controlling for how often a word is or has been used in general. They found that in their corpus, "fake news" was used " more than five times as much in 2017 as it was in 2016," so an even bigger increase than Collins saw.

"Alternative facts," which won "euphemism of the year" in the American Dialect Society voting, came in second in the News on the Web analysis.

A couple of other interesting things emerged from the News on the Web corpus:

First, although use of the name "Trump" only increased by about 50%, they found a big increase in words derived from "Trump," including "Trumpism," "Trumpworld," "Trump-like," "Trumpery," and so on.

Second, they found that "fidget spinner" had a spike in late May of 2017, but fizzled out, which matches what I saw on store shelves. They seemed to be everywhere, but only for a while.

Every other 2017 word-of-the-year winner also had a political sensibility.

Pages

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Page 1 of 2 Before you completely psychologically move on to 2018, let's have some fun looking back on the words of the year from 2017. The clear winner in the word-of-the-year follies was "fake news," chosen by at least three different organizations: the American Dialect Society, Collins Dictionary, and the News on the Web Corpus.

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Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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Getty Images

Gregory Currie, a professor of philosophy at the University of Nottingham, recently argued in the New York Times that we ought not to claim that literature improves us as people, because there is no "compelling evidence that suggests that people are morally or socially better for reading Tolstoy" or other great books.

Actually, there is such evidence. Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, reported in studies published in 2006 and 2009 that individuals who often read fiction appear to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and view the world from their perspective. This link persisted even after the researchers factored in the possibility that more empathetic individuals might choose to read more novels. A 2010 study by Mar found a similar result in young children: the more stories they had read to them, the keener their "theory of mind," or mental model of other people's intentions.

"Deep reading" - as opposed to the often superficial reading we do on the Web - is an endangered practice, one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art. Its disappearance would imperil the intellectual and emotional development of generations growing up online, as well as the perpetuation of a critical part of our culture: the novels, poems and other kinds of literature that can be appreciated only by readers whose brains, quite literally, have been trained to apprehend them.

( MORE: Oprah as Harvard's Commencement Speaker Is an Endorsement of Phony Science)

Recent research in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience has demonstrated that deep reading - slow, immersive, rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity - is a distinctive experience, different in kind from the mere decoding of words. Although deep reading does not, strictly speaking, require a conventional book, the built-in limits of the printed page are uniquely conducive to the deep reading experience. A book's lack of hyperlinks, for example, frees the reader from making decisions - Should I click on this link or not? - allowing her to remain fully immersed in the narrative.

That immersion is supported by the way the brain handles language rich in detail, allusion and metaphor: by creating a mental representation that draws on the same brain regions that would be active if the scene were unfolding in real life. The emotional situations and moral dilemmas that are the stuff of literature are also vigorous exercise for the brain, propelling us inside the heads of fictional characters and even, studies suggest, increasing our real-life capacity for empathy.

None of this is likely to happen when we're scrolling through TMZ. Although we call the activity by the same name, the deep reading of books and the information-driven reading we do on the Web are very different, both in the experience they produce and in the capacities they develop. A growing body of evidence suggests that online reading may be less engaging and less satisfying, even for the "digital natives" for whom it is so familiar. Last month, for example, Britain's National Literacy Trust released the results of a study of 34,910 young people aged 8 to 16. Researchers reported that 39% of children and teens read daily using electronic devices, but only 28% read printed materials every day. Those who read only onscreen were three times less likely to say they enjoy reading very much and a third less likely to have a favorite book. The study also found that young people who read daily only onscreen were nearly two times less likely to be above-average readers than those who read daily in print or both in print and onscreen.

( MORE: Why Americans Need Spelling Bees and Vocabulary Tests)

To understand why we should be concerned about how young people read, and not just whether they're reading at all, it helps to know something about the way the ability to read evolved. "Human beings were never born to read," notes Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University and author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain. Unlike the ability to understand and produce spoken language, which under normal circumstances will unfold according to a program dictated by our genes, the ability to read must be painstakingly acquired by each individual. The "reading circuits" we construct are recruited from structures in the brain that evolved for other purposes - and these circuits can be feeble or they can be robust, depending on how often and how vigorously we use them.

The deep reader, protected from distractions and attuned to the nuances of language, enters a state that psychologist Victor Nell, in a study of the psychology of pleasure reading,likens to a hypnotic trance. Nell found that when readers are enjoying the experience the most, the pace of their reading actually slows. The combination of fast, fluent decoding of words and slow, unhurried progress on the page gives deep readers time to enrich their reading with reflection, analysis, and their own memories and opinions. It gives them time to establish an intimate relationship with the author, the two of them engaged in an extended and ardent conversation like people falling in love.

( PHOTOS: Peter Hapak's Portraits of Authors)

This is not reading as many young people are coming to know it. Their reading is pragmatic and instrumental: the difference between what literary critic Frank Kermode calls "carnal reading" and "spiritual reading." If we allow our offspring to believe carnal reading is all there is - if we don't open the door to spiritual reading, through an early insistence on discipline and practice - we will have cheated them of an enjoyable, even ecstatic experience they would not otherwise encounter. And we will have deprived them of an elevating and enlightening experience that will enlarge them as people. Observing young people's attachment to digital devices, some progressive educators and permissive parents talk about needing to "meet kids where they are," molding instruction around their onscreen habits. This is mistaken. We need, rather, to show them someplace they've never been, a place only deep reading can take them.

MORE: Why E-Reading With Your Kid Can Impede Learning
This article is from the Brilliant Report, a weekly newsletter written by Murphy Paul

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Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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Gregory Currie, a professor of philosophy at the University of Nottingham, recently argued in the New York Times that we ought not to claim that literature improves us as people, because there is no "compelling evidence that suggests that people are morally or socially better for reading Tolsto...

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All writers dream of knocking out thousands of words a day, publishing multiple books a year and seeing them all skyrocket to the top of the bestseller lists across the country. We dream because it's a difficult task and not everyone has the drive to take the right steps. But of the people who do, they generally have instituted these 10 habits into their writing life to make sure that they are giving themselves the best chance to write something great. Here are the good habits you should develop and add in your writing life if you want to find success.
This guest post is by Robert Blake Whitehill. Whitehill is a classically trained actor, a critically acclaimed novelist, and an award-winning screenwriter. He has earned film festival wins at the Hudson Valley Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival, and has written many highly rated episodes of the Discovery-Times Channel's "The New Detectives," "Daring Capers" and "The Bureau." He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife and son, and when not cruising on the Chesapeake, or knocking around the sky over Tangier Island in a Cessna 152, Whitehill blogs and posts on Twitter about his home waters, and has crafted a number of articles for Chesapeake Bay Magazine. For more information, please visit robertblake whitehill.com.
1. READ

Yes, this really is about writing. So, I mean it. Read everything. Authors can get so swept up in our core writing, feeding the ravenous social media beastie, and schlepping hither and yon for signings, that the window for reading narrows into a gunslit blocking all but a ray or two of literary sunlight. Focus on your subject area, but also broaden your tastes. You'll have a deeper reservoir of tropes and details in which to dip your quill. Refreshing your inner author with invigorating reading will help prevent your style from becoming stale. The evocative power of reading is what inspired you to write in the first place, isn't it? Stay connected to that wellspring of fresh ideas.

2. MANAGE TIME
[Here are 7 reasons writing a novel makes you a badass]
When will you write? Before work, or after? On the weekends, or during the week? One hour-long session each week? Longer? More often? Be very specific with yourself, especially starting out, about the time you will commit to writing. Log and track your hours if you need to. Act like your own unreasonable boss. A few weeks of practicing mindful diligence will teach you how many pages you can produce in a given time period, and help you understand how to set and meet your goals. One thing effective, productive writers do not do is wait for inspiration. They go looking for it on a schedule, usually finding it very close by their computers or tablets.

3. SET GOALS

You somehow knew that was coming, didn't you? Set goals you can easily achieve. Set the bar low, then lower it even more, so you always step away from your writing session with a success, with a win, with progress. Whether you commit to two pages a week, or to twenty-five, as I do, make sure you get your pages done. If work, family, or any other facet of life glints you into distraction, stay up a little later that night, or get up a little earlier next day, so your goal is achieved. Fast or slow, stay on track like a freight train.

4. MANAGE SPACE

What kind of writing space do you need to be productive? In the past, I sometimes wrote in busy cafes. For a time, I wrote between calls in the map room of the Montclair Ambulance Unit where I served as an EMT. Later I rented an office at C3 Workplace, where the only sick people were the characters in my head. Now I happily work in my home. Find or create the right space, the feng shui, the décor, and the soundscape that helps you do the work before you.

5. SET BOUNDARIES

Family and friends must get used to the idea that your writing is important to you. [ Like this quote? Click here to Tweet and share it!] It requires time apart from the folks you love best, and who love you dearly. Repeat as kindly, and as firmly as you can that whatever else your roles in life might be, you are also a writer. Writing is not your hobby. It is not something to do to pass the time while waiting for folks to be available to distract you. Honor your calling. Honor your loved ones. Demonstrate a passionate devotion required by this consuming commitment to your people, and to yourself. They might grumble now and then, but they will get used to it. They will also share in your pride of accomplishment down the road.

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6. FINISH

Complete your drafts! Don't be the writer with that over-edited first chapter that's been spun into absolute gold, but has nothing readable following it. [ Like this quote? Click here to Tweet and share it!] I had a chance to hear Professor Charles Stegeman tell his Haverford College painting students over and over again to cover the whole canvas right away, then go back to polish the details. Was I painting then? No, I was modeling for the class, naked as a jaybird, and still as a stone, so I heard this exhortation plenty. By the end of every class, I also saw the wonderful results. Some days, yes, I warm up for writing by rereading the last couple of pages from the day before. Sure, I might toss in an easy edit or two. Then my daily goal beckons me forward into mysterious new territory, ever onward to completion of the draft. Now please stop thinking about me naked. That was many cheeseburgers ago.

7. NO SHOPPING

I learned this from my father, short-story author, and novelist, Joseph Whitehill. Do not shop your story ideas. Tell not a soul. Keep your thoughts secret. Say nothing until that first draft is complete. Don't fear your idea will be lifted and plagiarized. That is possible, but unlikely. There is another kind of thief much closer to home. If you try to beguile and fascinate your family, friends, or lovers with the precious coin of your creativity too soon, it's possible you will vitiate and squander that soul-twisting impetus to get it all down on paper. Ignoring my father's advice, I regaled this friend, or that object of my desire, with some very juicy plots. Didn't I have to justify calling myself a writer somehow? These cool plots were ample proof I was the genuine article, right? Wrong. It had the opposite effect on my output, and on my self-esteem. On more than one occasion I awoke the next day to discover that I could not even remember what my grand idea was. It was gone, leaving only a smoky, taunting wisp of a notion behind, like a half-forgotten dream receding into oblivion. To make matters worse, no one to whom I blabbed ever asked how that idea I confided had turned out, or when it would be published. Sit with that agonizing hot clinker of story burning in your gut until you've written it all down. Then, tell your friends. Hell, tell the world, because now you've earned the right.

8. CULTIVATE YOUR TEAM
[The 12 Dos and Don'ts of How to Write a Blog]
In addition to helping your loved ones understand how important writing is to you, you will need a few folks in your corner with specific roles beyond missing your face while you are holed up at your work. Your committed listener will field your emails or calls about how you are sticking to your page count goals every week, or even every day. Your editor, as Richard Marek (Robert Ludlum's editor on the Bourne series) did for me, will tell you the truth about your work, and offer suggestions on how to make it better. Your proofreader will give your manuscript that polished, professional look, as Suzanne Dorf Hall does for my stuff. You will need a cover artist to make your book leap off the shelf into a reader's hands, as Studio042 does for my work. Perhaps you need an agent, or a manager, like my indispensable friend and confidant, Liza Moore Ledford. Whether you opt for independent publishing, or a legacy publishing deal, you will need a brash, dazzling PR team to help the world find you. For that, I go with Shelton Interactive every time. Find the people, the companies, who understand your work, and who are committed to your success not only as a writer, but as an author.

9. LOVE YOUR READERS

I don't mean that you necessarily should have warm feelings for your readers. Real love is not just a feeling. It's a job description. For the sake of argument, let us imagine a reader can comfortably tackle one page of a book every two minutes. This imaginary reader has an average heart rate of 70 beats per minute (except during the riveting parts of the story where that rate better shoot up. A lot.) So, that 400-page book will take about 800 minutes to read, or around fourteen hours for those of you playing the home version of our game. More to the point, that means your reader expends at least 56,000 irretrievable heartbeats on your work, out of a finite allotment of 2.25 billion lub-dubs. Put that way, you can see this is a truly enormous commitment. Honor and appreciate your readers' investment by doing your very best work. It cannot be about the money for you. Be sure that your readers' time feels well-spent, and not a pointless sacrifice.

10. COMMUNICATE
Other writing/publishing articles & links for you: Thanks for visiting The Writer's Dig blog. For more great writing advice, click here.
Be available to your readers. Give them an email address where they can reach you, confident of your eventual reply. In addition to doing your best work, this is how you build a community of devoted readers. It may sound tedious, but after writing my first book alone for so long, I found that meeting and hearing from readers-my very own readers-made it all worthwhile, far outweighing a considerable financial return. Some writers might believe that good work is all that's due and owing to one's public. Now you know I disagree. In addition to hearing from readers, you might find yourself fielding questions from other writers in need of advice. This is a great compliment. Offer what thoughts you can. Be the author you wished you could talk to when you were starting out. As evidence of my sincerity, I can be reached at rbw@robertblakewhitehill.com. It would be a pleasure to hear what you think of my Ben Blackshaw Series, or to answer any questions that come to mind.

Brian A. Klems is the editor of this blog, online editor of Writer's Digest and author of the popular gift book Oh Boy, You're Having a Girl: A Dad's Survival Guide to Raising Daughters.

Follow Brian on Twitter: @BrianKlems
Sign up for Brian's free Writer's Digest eNewsletter: WD Newsletter

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10 Habits of Highly Effective Writers | WritersDigest.com

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All writers dream of knocking out thousands of words a day, publishing multiple books a year and seeing them all skyrocket to the top of the bestseller lists across the country. We dream because it's a difficult task and not everyone has the drive to take the right steps.

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The 10 Skills Employers Most Want in 20-Something Employees 

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The 10 Skills Employers Most Want in 20-Something Employees 

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Are you able to work effectively in a team? That's the skill employers most want when they are recruiting new college grads. The next most important skill: ability to make decisions and solve problems.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) a Bethlehem, Pa. non-profit group that links college career placement offices with employers, ran a survey from early August to mid-September where it asked hiring managers what skills they prioritize when they hire college grads. Though the survey sample is small-NACE collected responses from just 200 employers-the wisdom is sound. New and recent grads should pay attention.

Despite all the emphasis in the news about the need for computer software and programming skills, the most important qualities employers seek are basic teamwork, problem-solving and the ability to plan and prioritize.

Here are the 10 skills employers say they seek, in order of importance:

1. Ability to work in a team

2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems

3. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work

4. Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization

5. Ability to obtain and process information

6. Ability to analyze quantitative data

7. Technical knowledge related to the job

8. Proficiency with computer software programs

9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports

10. Ability to sell and influence others

The good news for grads: No matter what you have studied in school, whether anthropology or French or computer science, you will have had to learn the top five skills on the list. The trick is to demonstrate that you have those skills through your cover letter, résumé and interview. Think about class projects where you have been a team member or leader and jobs where you have had to plan and prioritize. Describe those skills specifically in your résumé and cover letter.

For instance if you staffed a campus snack bar, say you worked on a team of five people and handled food orders. Or if you worked in the library, include the size of the staff and that you handled requests from 50 students a day at the circulation desk. Even a job as a counselor in a summer camp can involve team work, decision-making and planning. Make sure you spell out those responsibilities briefly but specifically. Say you worked on a staff of 20 counselors, supervised the daily activities of 35 campers and organized group activities.

The survey makes clear that employers want universal skills you can learn across academic disciplines and in any job where you are working with others. The trick is to communicate clearly that you have those skills.

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The 10 Skills Employers Most Want In 20-Something Employees

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Are you able to work effectively in a team? That's the skill employers most want when they are recruiting new college grads. The next most important skill: ability to make decisions and solve problems. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) a Bethlehem, Pa. non-profit group that links college career [...]

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The Gift of Words TED Talk by Javed Akhtar

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The Gift of Words TED Talk by Javed Akhtar

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"Do you know what I mean?" Legendary poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar asks why we seem to be losing our power to use words -- and inspires us to better understand and communicate with one another using this near-magical tool that carries our culture across generations.