# point of view (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 3 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover point of view. Page: Feed: --- ## [Where Do We Go From Here, Canada?](https://theafronews.com/where-do-we-go-from-here-canada/) _2026-08-26 · Honore K. Gbedze · The Afro News_ A Wake-Up Call for a Nation at a Turning Point There are moments in the life of a nation when events unfolding before us demand more than political commentary. They demand reflection. Canada may be approaching such a moment. What initially appears to be another trade dispute, another round of tariffs, or another disagreement between governments may, in fact, be part of something much larger.… ## [China’s Changing Energy Habits are Reshaping Global Oil Markets](https://theafronews.com/chinas-changing-energy-habits-are-reshaping-global-oil-markets/) _2026-08-19 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ The biggest force in oil markets may no longer be supply but China’s falling demand The turmoil in the Middle East was expected to unleash another global oil shock. It didn’t. Despite fears that crude could soar above US$200 a barrel, prices remained relatively subdued. Strategic petroleum reserve releases and increased production helped, but one country played a larger role than many observers… ## [Trade Deals Signed Under Pressure Rarely Last](https://theafronews.com/trade-deals-signed-under-pressure-rarely-last/) _2026-08-18 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ The latest U.S. tariffs show why waiting may be Canada’s strongest bargaining tool A new series of tariffs against Canada was revealed by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 20, 2026. The tariffs are a response to Canada’s retaliatory measures introduced last year after Trump imposed his earlier tariffs. A few weeks earlier, the U.S. Continue reading Trade Deals Signed Under Pressure Rarely Last… ## [Free Online Writing Conference for Writers: Join Me at the 2026 WorldShift Summit](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/worldshift-summit-2026-free-writing-conference/) _2026-08-17 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ In the mood for a free online writing conference this week? I’d love to recommend one I’m excited to be part of! The WorldShift Summit for Speculative Fiction Writers officially begins today, and I’m delighted to be returning as one of this year’s featured speakers. After participating in the inaugural conference last year, I can \[…\] The post Free Online Writing Conference for Writers: Join Me at… ## [The Political Culture of Entitlement needs to Stop](https://theafronews.com/the-political-culture-of-entitlement-needs-to-stop/) _2026-08-13 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ Politicians who stop living like Canadians can never understand their priorities. Canada’s politicians appear to forget the times we’re living in. With nearly half of Canadians saying they’re $200 away from not being able to pay their bills, politicians should be especially cognizant of the struggles voters are going through. Continue reading The Political Culture of Entitlement needs to Stop at… ## [How to Pitch Your Novel: The Difference Between Your Story’s Hook and Heart](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-pitch-your-novel-story-hook-heart/) _2026-08-10 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ Quick! You’ve got less than a minute to convince me your story is worth my time. What do you tell me? You’ve got to pique my curiosity with mystery and potential, while still conveying the bulk of the plot, theme, and general tone. “No problem!” you say. But when you sit down to actually figure \[…\] The post How to Pitch Your Novel: The Difference Between Your Story’s Hook and Heart appeared first… ## [Ottawa Prioritized Immigration Processing Over Public Safety](https://theafronews.com/ottawa-prioritized-immigration-processing-over-public-safety/) _2026-08-10 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ Protecting Canadians is the government’s first duty, and speedy immigration processing should never come at its expense The first obligation of a nation’s government is to keep citizens safe. On this critical duty, Canada’s immigration policy is failing us. On May 9, 2022, 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and 76-year-old Joanne De Jong, an elderly retired couple beloved by their family and community,… ## [Why Qualifications aren’t enough to get you Hired](https://theafronews.com/why-qualifications-arent-enough-to-get-you-hired/) _2026-08-04 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ Being qualified gets you into the interview. Feeling like a safe hire often gets you the job Most job seekers believe hiring is about qualifications. It isn’t. It’s about psychology. Hiring isn’t logical. It’s a subjective mix of psychology, risk avoidance and instinct disguised as corporate procedure. Most job seekers spend their time trying to prove they’re the best candidate. Continue reading… ## [The Lie the Character Believes: A Deeper Look at Consciousness and Character Arc](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/lie-the-character-believes-consciousness/) _2026-08-03 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ For years, in my book Creating Character Arcs and elsewhere, I’ve taught the Lie the Character Believes as the central premise of character arc. The Lie the Character Believes is the limited perspective that prevents characters from embracing the thematic Truth until the events of the story force them to grow. In a Positive Change \[…\] The post The Lie the Character Believes: A Deeper Look at… ## [Government Housing Policies are Killing the Canadian Dream](https://theafronews.com/government-housing-policies-are-killing-the-canadian-dream/) _2026-08-01 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ Canada’s housing crisis wasn’t inevitable. It was built one government decision at a time It is tempting to view Canada’s housing crisis as the inevitable result of population growth, immigration, global investment and higher interest rates. Those factors matter but do not explain why some Canadian cities remain comparatively affordable while others have become among the least affordable in the… ## [100,000 Bonus Points Await You (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/l0kWfmX44MMH) _2026-08-01 · **Sponsored**_ Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. ## [Why Honesty Makes Flawed Characters More Likable](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/flawed-characters-honesty/) _2026-07-27 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ A flawed character becomes likable when audiences trust the character’s honesty more than they judge the character’s mistakes. Memorable characters come in many shades—everything from Heathcliff’s murderous manipulation to Steve Rogers’s aw-shucks idealism. Sometimes, the not-so-likable characters end up being all the more interesting and enduring for their inner darkness. But, generally speaking,… ## [Divorce is No Excuse to Stop Living](https://theafronews.com/divorce-is-no-excuse-to-stop-living/) _2026-07-23 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ The hardest part of divorce isn’t letting go of the past. It’s choosing to build the future you deserve Divorce is rarely as simple as it appears online or in popular culture. Social media often highlights either bitter conflict or picture-perfect new beginnings. The reality is usually much more complicated. Recovery comes in waves. Continue reading Divorce is No Excuse to Stop Living at The Afro… ## [Beyond Football: A Celebration of Humanity, Memory and Hope](https://theafronews.com/beyond-football-a-celebration-of-humanity-memory-and-hope/) _2026-07-22 · Honore K. Gbedze · The Afro News_ What We Retain from the FIFA World Cup 2026 The wait was long, but history finally arrived. On 11 June 2026 , the FIFA World Cup opened its doors across three host nations the United States, Canada, and Mexico the first tournament in history to unite three countries in a single celebration of the world’s most beloved sport. Continue reading Beyond Football: A Celebration of Humanity, Memory and… ## [The Psychology of Story Endings (+5 Tips to Write a Truly Satisfying Ending)](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/psychology-of-story-endings/) _2026-07-20 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ What is a story? One easy answer is that it is a narrative composed of a beginning, middle, and ending. Today, we’re talking about how to write satisfying endings, but allow me a quick rabbit trail: A while back, someone asked me to write a post about why the Second Act was even a thing. \[…\] The post The Psychology of Story Endings (+5 Tips to Write a Truly Satisfying Ending) appeared first on… ## [Why Multiple POVs Can Make Readers Love Your Characters More](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/multiple-povs-character-empathy/) _2026-07-13 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ Multiple POVs—should you use them or should you not? That’s a question with huge implications for your story. It will influence everything from structure to pacing to character arcs. Most importantly, it will have a huge influence on your readers’ experience of the story—for better or worse. More genre books than not use multiple POVs to \[…\] The post Why Multiple POVs Can Make Readers Love Your… ## [Racism Has No Place in Public Office](https://theafronews.com/racism-has-no-place-in-public-office/) _2026-07-07 · Honore K. Gbedze · The Afro News_ There are moments when the words of public officials rise above politics. There are also moments when they fall beneath the standards of basic human decency. The recent comments by Senator Celeste Josefina Amarilla Goitia belong to the latter. Public office is not merely a position of authority; it is a position of trust. Continue reading Racism Has No Place in Public Office at The Afro News. ## [Why We Need Heroic Stories: The Courage We Borrow From Fiction](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/why-we-need-heroic-stories/) _2026-07-06 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ A hill I will die on: we need heroic stories. That may seem super obvious. After all, the word “hero” has become all but synonymous with “protagonist.” They are not, however, the same thing. A protagonist is the structural driver of the plot (just as the antagonist is the structural obstacle to that driving momentum). \[…\] The post Why We Need Heroic Stories: The Courage We Borrow From Fiction… ## [Canada Won’t fix MAiD until it Restores the Value of Human Life](https://theafronews.com/canada-wont-fix-maid-until-it-restores-the-value-of-human-life/) _2026-07-01 · The Afro News · The Afro News_ Blocking MAiD for mental illness is the right decision, but it won’t last unless Canada rebuilds a culture that values every human life A special parliamentary committee has recommended that the federal government “indefinitely exclude” people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness from applying for medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Continue reading Canada Won’t fix MAiD until it… ## [The Four Seasons of Writing: How Authors Can Build a Burnout-Free Writing Routine](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/sustainable-writing-routine-for-authors/) _2026-06-29 · Brian Hicks · Helping Writers Become Authors_ Note From KMW: Over the years, I’ve learned there is a difference between cultivating discipline as a writer and forcing it. Like many writers (especially those of us who came of age during the early years of the indie boom), I spent much of my career believing success required constant hustle. Push harder. Write faster. \[…\] The post The Four Seasons of Writing: How Authors Can Build a… ## [Writing Masterclass: Alchemizing Plot, Character, & Theme for Powerful Fiction](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/plot-character-theme-powerful-fiction/) _2026-06-22 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ Truly resonant stories give us the feeling that nothing about them is accidental. The plot, character arc, theme, symbolism, and even the setting all belong to the same deeper pattern. Everything connects. This is what I’ll be exploring in my Story School class Alchemizing Plot, Character, and Theme, which originally premiered during last year’s WorldShift \[…\] The post Writing Masterclass:… ## [Play Both Sides Of The Lie (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/UFS0Gou7q74F) _2026-06-22 · **Sponsored**_ Two operatives, one manufactured war — uncover the Complete Truth after both campaigns. ## [IN MEMORIAM PROF. DR. MARIA LARIONESCU (1939-2026)](https://revistacalitateavietii.ro/journal/en/article/view/1516) _2026-06-20 · Zoltán ROSTÁS · Calitatea Vieții_ ## [How to Write Mythic Fiction: 7 Practices to Reconnect With the Lost Art of Mythmaking](https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-write-mythic-fiction-practices/) _2026-06-15 · K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland · Helping Writers Become Authors_ What is mythic fiction, and how can we write it? Earlier this month, I shared a post about how to write mythic fiction, in which I discussed the difference between adapting inherited myths (i.e., just retelling the old symbolic stories over and over in “new” ways) versus creating our own myths. My suggestion was that \[…\] The post How to Write Mythic Fiction: 7 Practices to Reconnect With the Lost… ## [Navigating Sexist Humor: From Tolerance to Confrontation](https://revistacalitateavietii.ro/journal/en/article/view/2026-2-01) _2026-06-04 · Ionela VLASE · Calitatea Vieții_ This article examines attitudes toward sexist humor across diverse contexts in order to better understand the motivations underlying joke-telling, the consequences for targeted groups, and the strategies individuals may employ to address and confront such humor. Drawing on a review of the literature on disparagement humor, the paper critically engages with the normalization of sexist humor and its… ## [Historical Overview of Social Work in Romania: Roots and Perspectives](https://revistacalitateavietii.ro/journal/en/article/view/2026-2-04) _2026-06-04 · Doru BUZDUCEA · Calitatea Vieții_ This study offers a brief yet in-depth historical overview of the development of the social work profession in Romania, from its beginnings to the present day. It affirms that rudimentary forms of social work have existed throughout history, and that with the emergence of specialized education in the field, the profession has evolved progressively in line with international trends. Currently, all… ## [Between Expectations and Reality: Study Experiences and Post-graduation Trajectories of Non-EU International Students in Lithuania](https://revistacalitateavietii.ro/journal/en/article/view/2026-2-02) _2026-06-04 · Suat AKSU · Calitatea Vieții_ International student mobility has expanded significantly in recent years, yet the lived experiences of students in smaller and emerging destination countries remain underexplored. This article examines the trajectories of non-EU international students in Lithuania through a qualitative study based on 14 semi-structured interviews. The findings show that Lithuania is often perceived as an… ## [Between Information and Accusation: Anatomy of Crisis Journalism in the Case of St. Pantelimon Hospital in Bucharest](https://revistacalitateavietii.ro/journal/en/article/view/2026-2-03) _2026-06-04 · Radu Mihai DUMITRESCU · Calitatea Vieții_ Crises in the healthcare system that take on a criminal dimension generate intense media attention and can have significant effects on public trust, the professions involved, and institutional legitimacy. The article analyses how the Romanian press constructed the discourse around the case of the St. Pantelimon Emergency Clinical Hospital in Bucharest, a case of high public visibility, at the…