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Happy International Women's Day!
Celebrating Famous Female Authors
Today, March 8th, is
International Women's Day! Countries all over the world honor International Women's Day each year to celebrate the achievements, strengths, and wonders of women. This week, we'll look at three famous female authors who paved the way for writers everywhere! Take a look:
- Enheduanna (2285–2250 BCE): Known as the earliest known author,
Enheduanna is credited as the first known person to write and edit poems, hymns, and prayers. Enheduanna was the daughter of Sumerian King Sargon, and was the high priestess to the moon god Nanna and the goddess Inanna. During her time as the high priestess, she wrote 42 hymns for each of the 42 main temples in Sumer and Akkad (located in present-day Iraq). You can read translations of her hymns
here.
- Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940): Selma Lagerlöf, a teacher from Sweden, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature. She was awarded the prize in 1909 after publishing several novels and even being sponsored by
Swedish royalty! Lagerlöf's first novel Gösta Berlings Saga was published in 1891 after she entered excerpts in a writing contest and won first place. Shortly after winning this writing contest, she quit teaching, became a full-time author, and, less than 30 years later, won one of literature's biggest awards.
- N.K. Jeminsin (1972–Present): In 2018,
Jeminsin was the very first writer to win three consecutive Hugo awards for best novel, and, in 2020, she was one of three Black authors to win a MacArthur Fellowship (worth $625,000!). Jeminsin writes speculative fiction and fantasy novels that explore "structural racism, environmental crisis, and familial relationships." In her introduction video on the MacArthur Fellows
site, she explains, "I am writing the stories I wish someone had written for me when I was younger."
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Pro Tips
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Using Boldface in Articles
Using bolded text in your articles can add emphasis, attract a reader's eye to the page, and, in the right circumstance, can be a perfect stylistic effect. However, it's easy to get carried away, and before you know it, your whole piece is one dark, clunky block of words! Here are some tips for using boldface in your text.
When and How to Use Boldface
- Bulleted Lists: If you have a list (just like this one!), it can be helpful to use boldface to highlight the main idea of each line.
- Vocabulary Words: Sometimes, boldface can enhance the readers' experience when it is used to highlight important keywords in an article. This works well in articles about academic subjects because it makes it easy for readers to refer back to the word and its definition (think of it like a textbook!). Bonus Tip: Another good way to highlight vocabulary words in an article is to hyperlink them with sources. When published, the hyperlink underlines the text, enhancing it as well.
- Whole Sentences: In rare cases, it may be okay for entire sentences to be intermittently bolded, but again, do this very sparingly.
- Be Consistent: Consistent use of any stylistic effect elevates an article significantly, as it enhances visual appeal and makes things look extra organized. If you use boldface in one section of your article, such as in bulleted lists, use it in every similar section in your piece.
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HubPages Fun Fact:
Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 12th. Remember to change your clocks!
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