INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your loved one gets angry, the only way you can effectively defuse the situation is by getting a hold of your own anger. Losing your own temper will only make matters worse. Breathe in and out deeply. Count silently to 100 or go splash water on your face to clear your head. Lower your voice, so that it's just above a whisper. Doing this helps you maintain calm without shouting, but it also reinforces appropriate communication. Your loved one will likely follow suit and lower their voice, too. Many angry people get that way because they feel no one is listening to them. Turn off your loved one's angry switch by giving them 100% of your attention. Turn to face them and hear them out without interrupting. Being a good listener could help defuse the situation completely. Be sure to pay attention to the underlying issue. Your loved one may act angry because they don't believe they are being heard or understood. Be sure to validate their experience and let them know that you are taking them seriously and respect their opinions. Demonstrate your understanding by using reflection techniques. This might sound like, "I can see why you feel angry about the teller being rude to you," or "I think I understand the problem. You feel overlooked." Insist that your angry loved one treat you with respect. In a calm and cool manner, say something like, "I will leave if you don't stop shouting," or "I won't continue this conversation if you engage in name-calling." Once a boundary has been communicated, be firm and follow through if the person crosses the line. You want to steer clear of criticism or blame, so interact using "I" statements that convey your needs without placing blame. These statements don't attack the other person, but they do let you communicate how you feel about the issue. For example, instead of saying "You are always shouting at me!" say "I feel anxious when you shout. Can we try to use indoor voices?" Angry people often view advice as criticism, so avoid trying to fix their problem. Just actively listen. If you want to try to work out whether your loved one merely wants to vent or needs a solution, ask them after they've finished talking. You might ask, "Do you want help with the problem or did you just want to get everything off your chest?" before you try to offer advice. Or, you could say, "I understand your anger. How can I help?" If your loved one tends to view you as critical, save your solutions for another time when they've cooled off. If you feel under attack or overwhelmed during communication with an angry person, ask for a timeout. You might say, "I don't think we're going to reach an agreement if we're shouting at each other. Let's take 10, okay?" Go someplace where you feel safe and get your own emotions under control. Listen to soft music, watch a silly YouTube video, or call someone who tends to calm you down.

SUMMARY: Stay calm during tense situations. Speak in an even, moderate tone of voice. Give your full attention when listening. Show compassion towards the other person. Assert your boundaries. Use "I" statements to discuss the problem. Resist the urge to give advice. Take a break if you need one.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In some ways, this aspect of writing fiction is not so different from nonfiction, because you're still telling a story in nonfiction. In both places, you are building tension throughout the story by releasing information little by little, until you reach the climax. However, in fiction, it's all about the story, whereas in nonfiction, the story may be secondary to other essential information. Whether you are writing a short story or a novel, having a plan will help you get started. Outline how characters meet and what happens to move the plot along. Outlining your fiction will help you make sure your work continues moving at a steady pace. What will be the crux of the story? What is its central point? You will be moving towards the climax throughout your whole story, so make sure it is well developed. A climax could be a sudden realization, a couple coming together, a car crash, a death, etc. Make sure your climax flows naturally with the story. Although the climax should conclude a period of suspense, it should not come out of nowhere. Though it depends on the writer, many writers feel the story does better if they have a general idea of where it will go, but leave some things open ended. That way, you'll make discoveries along the way. If you are surprised, then your reader will be, too. The setting is important, but if you use focus too much on the setting, your readers will skip over it to get to the plot. In all fiction writing, the plot is the backbone of the piece. Without a well-developed plot taking center stage, fiction loses its sense of purpose and drive.

SUMMARY: Focus on the plot. Outline your story. Decide on what your climax will be. Don't over plan to avoid predictability. Home in on the plot.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you need to get out of the hotel, don't worry about your personal belongings. If you have your hotel keys and flashlight, you've got everything you need. Nothing else is important. Material possessions are not worth sacrificing life and limb for. If no alarm has sounded, look for a fire alarm and sound it. If your room does not contain a fire alarm, don't move to the hallway just yet simply in order to sound it. As soon as you notice signs of fire (including the sound of your smoke detector or a fire alarm), try to stay low. You may not immediately notice smoke, but even a small amount of toxic smoke can incapacitate you. It's best to stay low smoke and heat rise, meaning it will be thicker further from the ground. Don't open the door without first feeling it. The back of your hand is very sensitive to heat, and by using it you also won't risk burning your palm or fingertips. If the door or doorknob is hot, the fire is probably right outside. If that's the case, don't open the door. Even if the door isn't hot, get ready to slam the door quickly shut if you need to. Open the door slowly, just a crack, with a steady hand. The pressure from the fire can force the door open if proper care isn't taken. If you are able to make a call, notify the front desk of your whereabouts. If you can't reach the front desk, try to call the fire department or call the local emergency number to let them know where you are. Hang a sheet or article of clothing out the window as a beacon to rescuers.

SUMMARY:
Leave everything behind if you detect smoke or fire. Stay low to the ground as you move. Feel the door with the back of your hand. Check the phone.