10 Literary Trends that Need to Go Away

By Kimberly Wilson

What constitutes "literary trends that need to go away" is purely a matter of opinion, of course, and one of debatable education at that! And so, dear, sweet Internet, do try and curtail any possible combustion over subjectivities. It really is quite silly!

But yeah, these really exist as quite ghastly little numbers, poisoning beloved bookstores and libraries for far too long. Some have wreaked havoc for decades while others — if bibliophiles are lucky, anyways — might blink away as just another disposable fad. Either way though, they all deserve a giant booting so worthwhile reads can take their place.

1. Lackluster graphic novel/comic book adaptations

   Excellent graphic novels and comics, such as the Pulitzer-winning Maus, stand on their own as classic, essential literary works. So the medium itself isn't the problem here. Neither are lovingly-reproduced adaptations showing the utmost respect for the source material. L. Frank Baum enthusiast Eric Shanower and lively artist Skottie Young collaborated on the Eisner-winning, New York Times-bestselling comic books relaying myriad stories from the Wizard of Oz universe. All the included series preserve the novels' and the most popular musical's whimsy, imagination, wit, characters, atmospheres, themes and all those other lovely literary buzzwords, even if the comic creators did have to play with its progenitors to fit the medium a bit.

   The issue lay with the idea behind graphic novel and comic book cash-ins just because it's the thing to do, paying little heed to the original story, the medium or both. Manga Shakespeare, for example, seems to exist more to bank some sweet-sweet coin off the last vestiges of America's late-'90s, late-'00s lust for Japanese comics. While its intent to make The Bard "more accessible" deserves applause, the frequently uninspired art and cringe-worthy liberties (Hamlet set in a "cyberworld in constant dread of war") do little to promote the author or the diverse medium. It's as if the publishers desired to whip out some manga and added Shakespeare later to push more product. No shame comes taped to playing with the familiar stories — Throne of Blood elegantly welded samurai culture to Macbeth – but half-assing it just to make a quick buck disrespects the original author, comics themselves and (most importantly) the readers.

2. "Self-help" guides doing more harm than good

   Fun Fact: That The Secret thing the kids were into a few years ago? The whole "law of attraction" thing essentially foists the blame of abuse and suffering onto innocent victims. What a concept! If only displaced genocide survivors knew they could prevent losing their loved ones and homes with THE POWER OF THINKING HAPPY THOUGHTS REALLY, REALLY HARD!!! Self-help guides always have been and always will be a thing, but the entire genre shouldn't be dismissed because some of the most prominent and egregious examples do the exact opposite of what they tout. Chained to the Desk, intelligently — and with empathy — toutlines a very real psychological condition (workaholism) and offers highly accessible advice for patients, their loved ones and healthcare professionals. It's one of the best examples of an effective self-help book doing exactly what it's supposed to do — outline an issue, proffer solutions and back it all up with scientific (not anecdotal!) proof.

   Unfortunately, the pulp getting so heavily pushed doesn't typically possess the same detail, research and psychological intent as Chained to the Desk. Most are relatively harmless, offering generic inspirational bromides in lieu of anything substantial, but causing about as much internal and external damage as a fluffy little down feather. Garbage like the aforementioned The Secret and the ever-so-popular depression "cures" involving nothing but positive thinking, however, pretty much wreak psychological havoc. The former and its ilk blame victims already plagued with trauma, guilt and stigmatization, while the latter refuses to acknowledge the true complexities behind a serious mental health issue. Journalist Barbara Ehrenreich published Bright-Sided to delve deeply into this unfortunate trend, which probably won't dissolve completely anytime soon.

3. Bandwagon-jumping:

   Twilight was crap, but at least it attempted something a little different by making its vampires sparkle. And its baffling success kicked off the most recent young adult literary trend: angsty teen fantasy-horror-romances. The list starring vampires alone contains enough titles to fill a generous library shelf. Exploiting narrative and trope trends is about as new as the Marianas Trench and probably won't stop happening until never. While some of the shameless rip-offs might actually prove worthwhile reading, the problem here lay more with homogeneity than anything else. With so many trendy tomes crowding stores and libraries, curious readers looking for something completely different might experience a more difficult time finding something suiting their tastes. Plus, focusing too much energy on riding a contemporary's coattails precludes an author's own personal creativity. One wonders how many interesting, innovative stories ended up shunted to the sidelines because publishers preferred trendy opportunism rather than trying to launch their very own trends and innovations.

4. Self-indulgent celebrity memoirs

   Every once in a while, a celebrity memoir like Steve Martin's heavy, evocative Born Standing Up or even Bruce Campbell's campy and fun B-movie romp If Chins Could Kill prove that the genre isn't an entire fame-whoring waste. Unfortunately, so much of it proves absurdly formulaic and self-aggrandizing (with the requisite mock humility), savvy pop culture critic Nathan Rabin has taken to regularly reviewing and observing the phenomenon. Publishing resources that could go towards brand new, talented writers with something fresh and interesting to say instead supporting the same old "fame totally happened, oh man I lost everything, but yay, spirituality" narrative. These people get (or got) enough attention as it is, earned or not.

5. "Revolutionary" diet plans

   The PR says "revolutionary," the cynics say "fad," and the medical professionals say "potentially dangerous." Here's the only diet plan anyone needs. Exercise regularly. Practice portion control. Eat a diet comprised primarily of nutritious foods. No book necessary.

6. Celebrity authors who just can't write

   So that ghastly Snooki wrote a novel, launching a thousand lazy jokes about whether or not she's even literate in the first place. The obviously autobiographical result, A Shore Thing, proved just as vomitously cringe-inducing as one would imagine, and her name actually ended up in a larger font than the book's title. Probably because it wasn't really the novel being sold at all, but the Snooki brand. Lauren Conrad, another bafflingly famous "personality" who arguably doesn't really do much of anything, pulled something similar and ended up on the bestseller list. Twice. Meanwhile, once again, real writers enjoy fewer and fewer opportunities as the marketing machine plows through their art like so many Lawnmower Men. Apparently fame in one area automatically translates to talent in another, even though both "authors" shilled efforts whining about their luxurious lives.

7. "Women's literature" with reductionist views of women

   Scientific studies reveal a link between romantic comedy consumption and unrealistic — if not outright unhealthy — attitudes towards relationships. So it stands to reason that their bookish equivalent known as "chick lit" might result in a similar effect. Enjoying fluffy, escapist reads carries absolutely no shame, but the problem lay with some of the disconcerting tropes. Like how "women's literature" tends towards problems involving men and shoes, painting its protagonists as shrill, empty-headed, materialistic archetypes instead of real people. Or the fact that so many books ostensibly about the ladies always seems to involve men. Specifically, attracting, keeping and tolerating the fact that they just aren't perfect. The Confessions of a Shopaholic series is probably the genre's most prolific example, though nonfiction like He's Just Not That Into You also egregiously explore similar territory. Literature aimed at a female demographic should continue being a thing, of course! But maybe someday authors concerned with writing unique, interesting, relatable characters instead of insulting their audience by essentially painting them as high-maintenance, boy-crazy bimbos. The ladies deserve much better than that. The Color Purple concerns women's issues and identity, but jettisons the scary credit card debt and griping about boyfriends farting in bed.

8. Remixing the classics

   Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was funny at first: a fresh, postmodern take on Jane Austen's Regency classic. And then Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters happened. Followed by two more Pride and Prejudice and Zombies sequels, Little Women and Werewolves, Jane Slayre, Little Vampire Women, Mansfield Park and Mummies and many, many more mashups. Although this definitely falls under bandwagonning, the added element of building on popular public domain works adds an extra literary dimension. Yeah, the cheekiness definitely amuses, but the market's become quite saturated with them. Enough already!

9. Assuming genre fiction has nothing to say

   This article has probably expressed a rather harsh attitude towards genre fare, but the egregiously terrible and/or overtly, unabashedly derivative examples shouldn't speak for all of them. Frequently, a ponderous work like Fahrenheit 451 or Lord of the Rings score sweet syllabus deals, but most end up ignored or outright dismissed. When it comes to science-fiction, for example, Snow Crash says just as much about the human condition and experience as most classics with a grounding in reality — and considering its technological themes (even prediction of services such as Second Life!), eerily resonates today. Rebecca and some Sherlock Holmes books really deliver academically when it comes to mysteries, but how about The New York Trilogy? And so forth. Scratching the surface makes a great introduction to different genres, but try and find examples beyond the tried and true to really diversify the canon.

10. Dismissing all self-published literature

    With so many celebrity tell-alls, "reality star" "authors," dangerous dieting and dismissive self help reads taking up publishers' time and money, it's no wonder so many writers decide on DIY jobs. Some do it to avoid over-editing and compromising their main ideas. Others just like masturbating their ego over adding "published author" to their resumes, quality levels be damned! And even more think the process far easier than the one involving agents and marketing departments and whatnot. Out of all of these motivations, the only books anyone ever focuses on (of course!) are the narcissism-driven and/or terrible. In reality, self-published writers run the gamut from creative, thought-provoking and talented to those so genuinely frightening and outright offensive linking them here would probably cause the FBI to shut this whole site down.

    So just like books published through more traditional venues. When exploring this brave new technological world that has such diverse people in it, head over to Self-Published Review first. The minds behind the site do an excellent job of de-stigmatizing the process and offer up informed commentary on the excellent, good, bad, weird and absolutely godawful dreck available. More readers should hear them out and perhaps find their next big favorite.

20 Reasons Why Standardized Testing Is Crap

By Kimberly Wilson

First things first, understand that this article does not call for standardized tests' total obliteration. Clinging to a hardlined, black-and-white perspective in an obvious shade of grey accomplishes nothing. Such exams boast some advantages, like offering a quick glimpse assessing academic strengths and weaknesses. At the professional level, they ensure takers possess the skills necessary for integral, delicate social services, such as law, medicine and construction. So the concept of standardized testing shouldn't be completely dismissed as inherently biased and divisive. It's merely a tool, which can be wielded in positive and constructive or negative and destructive manners based on the users' abilities, resources and intents.

But if policymakers, institutions and educators want to keep using standardized tests in the alleged service of elementary, middle school, secondary and tertiary students, considerable reform needs implementing, immediately. The standardized testing system's current incarnation raises far more eyebrows and ire than bright-eyed, bushy-tailed pillars of future progress. Research reveals some of the damages done thus far, so citizens — children, parents, educators, administrators, and what few politicians actually care — must read, comprehend, discuss and eventually demand and tailor important changes around. Either de-emphasize their importance and analyze student and teacher success through a wider, far more accommodating lens, or allow them to remain the cornerstone after jettisoning the biases and restrictions wreaking more harm than good. As everything stands now, though, most exams just aren't making the grade.

1. Teaching to the test

   Some educators, parents and students love the concept of "teaching to the test," others absolutely despise it. Critics typically cite the strategy as the paramount example of why standardized tests either need de-emphasis, reform or utter eradication, and they certainly make reasonable points. While some educators find it easy to just line up their syllabi with content and call it a day, findings illustrate that doing so actually proves counter to educational goals. University of Manitoba's study ultimately encourages "curriculum learning" over its rote counterpart, as it means "students will be able to engage in authentic" content rather than persistently memorizing and regurgitating information.

2. The language bias

   Even hyper-intelligent, promising students can still end up with inadequate to poor standardized test scores if they struggle with reading English. And no, that doesn't mean "they just aren't trying hard enough:" everyone's language acquisition abilities differ. Gifted kids and teens whose English skills need some tweaking might very well end up with results nowhere near indicative of their true talents and potential.

3. The culture bias

   Some test questions, such as a controversial New York State Regents Exam query supporting British imperialism on the African continent, tend to reflect mainstream cultural bias. And for students outside this milieu, this might cause some pretty obvious issues. Students who feel as if the content stereotypes or otherwise marginalizes them along cultural, racial or ethnic lines perform worse than their catered-to peers. This might tie into the self-fulfilling prophecy model, where the undermined decide to meet low expectations rather than overcome them.

4. The learning disability bias

   Though students with diagnosed learning disabilities are required to have concessions made to meet their needs, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't encounter any relevant setbacks. And those whose parents, teachers, administrators or doctors never even noticed (or diagnosed, as the case may be) a serious medical issue … well … suffice to say, that isn't exactly a cookies and pie scenario, either. Learning disabilities have squat to do with intelligence, but they potentially wreak havoc on performance when inadequately addressed. As with linguistic and cultural marginalization, poorly-accommodated or undiagnosed special needs students end up significantly disadvantaged, especially since …

5. … they're waaaaay too important on college applications

   Forget those extracurricular activities, AP classes, community service, awards and four grueling years of soul-crushing secondary school! College admissions offices consider the SAT and ACT scores a quick, all-too-easy shortcut to determining who they want. Yes, despite knowing that so very many kids taking them must grapple against biases and disadvantages! Not to mention how so many art departments, for some reason, care a little too much about math scores. Fortunately, some deans — such as Tufts' Robert Sternberg — realize this narrow approach oftentimes isolates extremely gifted, promising applicants. Instead of dropping all their eggs in the restrictive standardized testing basket, the school asks for creative essays, designs or inventions.

6. The stress

   Intelligent kids don't need marginalization along linguistic, cultural or ability lines to suffer from lower standardized test scores than their talents deserve. Because so many schools, administrators and teachers shove these exams' overinflated importance into students' heads from the beginning, it probably shocks nobody that this approach imbues them with excessive stress and anxiety. And a stressed, anxious test subject isn't exactly the most successful test subject. Especially not at seven or eight in the morning. Once again, factors beyond a student's control might very well negatively compromise his and/or her academic future. All because a few little tests dictate pretty much everything.

7. Underprivileged schools end up even more underfunded

   Although President Barack Obama hopes to instill some flexibility and equal opportunities in the No Child Left Behind Act, its original incarnation only widened the achievement gap along economic lines. Under the legislation, school district funding correlates with standardized test scores. The better they perform, the more money they receive. Which is a fantastic idea: for wealthier regions where most veteran teachers eventually flee, anyways. More financially depressed areas — the ones needing more resources and qualified staff — continue floundering because they lack what's necessary to get ahead. Even if these disadvantaged schools burst at the walls with promising intellects, inexperienced, unqualified teachers might very well hinder their test scores if syllabi don't match up just so. One doesn't need sociology or political science experience to understand the heavy social and economic ramifications behind keeping students in an underprivileged cycle and denying them advancement and educational opportunities.

8. Some kids just don't test well

   As most preceding arguments have already explicitly outlined, every student approaches education in a different way. It isn't some sort of nonconformist raging against the machine conspiracy: it's pretty much common knowledge that all people possess their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses (thanks, nature and nurture!). In reality, where most individuals don't always neatly fit behind painstakingly crafted labels, some kids simply don't perform well on tests. Even if their assignments otherwise come out perfect, their exam scores compromise overall grades. Such a phenomenon doesn't even have to stem from cultural, linguistic, ability, stress and anxiety or economic factors, either. Perfection is impossible, and some kids and teens find themselves wired towards lower test scores. That doesn't render them any less intelligent, talented or promising than their peers, but since the SAT and ACT reign supreme, tough cookies for them!

9. They squash and marginalize creativity and critical thinking

   Rote learning undoubtedly has its place as an educational facet, but shouldn't exactly stand as the be-all, end-all of strategies. But standardized exams and the "teaching to the test" ideology end up forcing memorization assignment after memorization assignment after memorization assignment. Thus, such skills end up so emphasized, the rest all end up nutrient-deprived. Not only does this marginalize students struggling with memory issues (or, more commonly, possess strength in other intelligence areas), it also squelches creative and critical thinking abilities. Just because a kid can memorize like a champ doesn't mean he and/or she actually knows how to apply the information to real situations. Critical thinking skills are an absolute necessity when processing and learning from information. And thanks to a preoccupation with competing with other country's graduates creative and artistic inclinations already receive minuscule care, funding or acknowledgment: unless a student pursues a field related to business and finance, law, athletics or the "hard" and applied sciences, America often considers him and/or her useless and extraneous. Especially because such talents can't exactly be measured using a standardized test, which many find a scary and intimidating prospect indeed.

10. Students can pass, even if they fail

    For example, on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), a student answering more than half the questions wrong will still earn a passing grade. Not because of some "EVERYONE'S A WINNER!!!" campaign to encourage self-esteem, but rather because districts want money. Fudging the scores means wringing as much NCLB funding as possible and slipping stealthily around accountability standards. And, as per usual, the students themselves suffer most from these ill-advised manipulations. When they pass despite failing, kids can't apply what few critical thinking skills they're taught to analyze their academic strengths and weaknesses. Even if standardized tests ought not be considered the ultimate scholastic aptitude authority, they do provide one useful glimpse at what subjects and skills need some extra help. Throwing a passing grade their way deprives them of an opportunity to objectively explore overall performance as well as incentives to improve shortcomings. If the district passes them anyway, it negates the value of hard work and perseverance, both of which are absolutely crucial traits once they hit the real world. But apparently short-term gains are apparently well worth the long-term consequences of shipping ill-prepared kids off to colleges and careers.

11. Cheating schools gain the advantage

    Just because districts, teachers and administrators cheat the standardized testing system doesn't exactly mean they'll get caught. Atlanta Public Schools, as of publication time, might very well currently hold the record for America's most widespread academic scandal. Involving the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test — a standardized exam, of course — and at least 178 education professionals, participants altered scores and questions while intimidating detractors. Investigators cite this as only one example out of dozens. DOZENS. Cheaters never prosper … unless they don't get caught, in which case they steal money from more deserving districts and reap the financial rewards. Even desperate and deprived schools shouldn't resort to such measures, because doing so only renders the situation even worse and unsurprisingly screws over innocent students (both in the guilty district and beyond) more than any other demographic. Most experts believe hefty standardized testing emphasis drives this education-oriented criminal behavior, and shifting the focus to more eclectic, well-rounded classrooms will prove the best deterrent.

12. It isn't the only valid measure of teacher effectiveness, but districts think so anyway

    Most school districts measure teacher effectiveness based on how well their pupils perform on their good ol' pal Standardized Testing. And some studies show that it does comprise one valid facet of overall success analysis. The operative term here, of course, being "one." Other research points out that because factors well beyond educator control — all of them pertaining to student backgrounds and behaviors — impact scores, they shouldn't be held as accountable if or when they come into play. Like the classroom itself, a great teacher boasts excellent well-roundedness and flexibility towards varied learning styles and ability levels, among other talents. Factors which exams scores can't exactly measure. Few believe standardized test success needs complete jettisoning from evaluations, but schools should consider them an element, not a complete answer.

13. Lower graduation rates

    Public high schools in Texas watch around 135,000 students — many of them minorities and non-native English speakers — quit high school every year. Researchers blame No Child Left Behind and its over reliance on biased standardized exams and the resulting accountability issues. Increasingly rigid classroom structures only reinforce marginalization rather than address it, and as a result, students drop out once the pressure grows too anxious and stressful. This runs completely counter to public education's point just a little bit. Pushing out a mass exodus of "low achievers" through "teaching to the test" tactics means inflated standardized test scores, and therefore more NCLB funding. It's all money, not genuinely nurturing the next generation of workers and thinkers who will ostensibly push society forward.

14. And those high dropout rates pack up prisons

    On the surface, connecting standardized testing and prison demographics sounds hyperbolic and overreaching. But the former directly contributes to heightened dropout rates, and in turn, high dropout rates lead to increased crime rates, so their relationship isn't nearly as tenuous as it initially sounds. Individuals marginalized in the education system, particularly minorities and the disabled, are more likely to drop out, turn to criminal behavior as a coping mechanism, and end up jailed. And schools want them gone anyway, as low-performing students (or those with few incentives to live up to their true academic potential) bring down overall test scores and NCLB funding along with them. Once again, education's ostensible goals end up shunted to the side because dollars take precedence. Only this time, it victimizes both isolated students and anyone they may hurt, maim or kill after dropping out.

15. Prep classes and tutoring exploit parents' wallets

    Exam prep and tutoring rakes in about $2.5 billion annually, but their providences remain largely negligible. Parents shell out, on average, $1,100 per class and $100 to $200 an hour for tutoring, which only raises SAT scores by about 30 points and tack on a whopping less than one onto the ACTs. Moms and dads outside the education sector can't really be blamed for trying to give their kids an advantage. After all, college admissions are just as ruthless, competitive, frustrating and occasionally demoralizing as dating and job hunting. Most of them want what's best for the students, not bragging rights. And companies offering these services prey on that vulnerability, sometimes using sketchy tactics, like the ever-popular super-difficult mock test artificially inflating real gains. Thanks to standardized tests' prolificacy and mountainous importance, an entire industry sprang up specifically to financially drain well-meaning parents, money which could go towards ridiculously mounting college expenses or improving community schools instead.

16. They're both usually required and pricey

    Fortunately, many — if not most — standardized tests offer waivers (the constantly-looming SAT, for example) for more economically deprived families. But for those just above the cutoff, paying up might still cause a significant fiscal dent, especially if the household contains multiple students or one needing to take multiple exams and/or a single exam multiple times. Forty-nine dollars, what one SAT costs for one American student ($78 for their international counterparts, except in India and Pakistan, where it's $99), is a lot of money to struggling families unqualified for waivers. Add in the ACT and AP exams (when applicable) and that's some serious expenditure expectations before students even ship their college applications, which also cost money! If schools and policymakers relax standardized test importance, this could alleviate some of these households' fiscal burdens. Offering viable, cheaper alternatives, for example, or exploring strategies lowering the price tag while maintaining quality and efficacy. As it now stands, though, low-income-but-unqualified parents and students find themselves crippled beneath mounting costs. They have to pay up if they sincerely hope their children will attain a worthwhile college education; and the inability to do so severely compromises their high schoolers' future, all over a factor most of them can't exactly help.

17. The GRE doesn't exactly predict graduate school success

    Researchers at Cornell and Yale (as well as University of South Florida) discovered no correlation existing between strong GRE scores and strong graduate school GPAs. In fact, any promise indicated on the exam usually faded after the first year — and if any persisted, it disappeared by the second. The USF study opined on how lower scorers might actually enjoy a higher retention and graduation rate (which makes a school look great!) than their upper-level peers. Individuals with higher scores could possibly be more likely to drop out and pursue a promising career lead.

18. GRE Subject Exams discriminate along emphases and foci lines

    Undergraduates hoping to earn their master's and doctorate degrees might want to avoid an emphasis or a focus if they see a GRE Subject Exam in their near futures! There's nothing quite like the feeling of intently studying, say, ancient Japanese texts and discovering that required Literature in English test asks about almost nothing but British and American authors! And The Bible! Even well past the SAT and ACT stage, standardized testing still reflects some good old-fashioned cultural bias. And since so many graduate studies programs consider them compulsory, students pretty much have no choice but to take classes based on what raises their scores instead of their academic passions. Not every GRE Subject Exam will necessarily prove so egregious (or obvious) in its leanings, of course, but to some extent they all manage to forcibly pigeonhole and influence undergraduates desiring a graduate education. Energy and time which could be spent on a subject they love and might actually progress, not one the test pushes.

19. Grading errors

    Sometimes, student backgrounds end up holding no influence over eventual scores at all, probably because the ones assigned to grade them totally screwed up. Errors are obviously inevitable in all things, but some standardized testing companies possess disconcerting — if not outright dubious — records. For example, NCS Pearson's history of missing, delayed, miscalculated and just plain wrong scores dates back to at least 1998. And these aren't exactly isolated incidents, either. The company distributes many state-exclusive exams, and late grades could easily mean late applications. Poorly-calculated grades damage students, schools and districts alike, compromising both admissions chances and funding. What's particularly depressing about all this is that the list linked earlier only showcases what investigators know. More minor offenses may not have even passed over anyone's radar, including NCS Pearson itself, and still altered the ultimate recipients' standings. But, as Boston College warns, grading errors actually exist as disconcertingly systemic issues NOT relegated to only one company.

20. Computerized tests might alter scores

    Although humans and technology have come a long, long way together, through the hard times and the good, discrepancies still exist between pencil-and-paper and computer-based exams. Kids who enjoy regular computer access at home and/or school hold a distinct advantage over their peers going without. But even beyond unfortunate socioeconomic biases, techie tests might actually result in compromised scores, regardless of the students' skills and backgrounds. The one-question-at-a-time structure oftentimes doesn't allow them to review answers, and digital formatting proves far more conducive to cheating. Plus, many students practice on traditional pencil-and-paper exams, only to find themselves completely thrown off course once plopped down in front of a monitor. So scores do fluctuate based on how these tests were taken, either bolstering or hindering depending on completely external factors.

12 Crucial Factors to Career Satisfaction

By Kimberly Wilson

Education expands one's career opportunities and skill set but isn't exactly a guarantor of contentment or success. While degrees open doors, they don't necessarily mean a particular position — or even path — will ultimately prove the most viable, comfortable fit. Some pretty basic factors need meeting before true happiness settles in. Basic factors requiring give and take on the part of employee, employers, and even consumers must take place for a positive career situation, and we'll take a look at the 12 most important here.

1. Low stress

   Many people enjoy touting how much they thrive under pressure, and most of them probably do. But that momentum, often propelled by youthful vigor, almost always stalls and sputters eventually. And once it does, the stress really starts ravaging one's health. A truly satisfying, sustainable career is a career lessening the risk of heart disease, obesity, depression and other not-so-enjoyable medical conditions. Which, in turn, also saves a right fair amount of money.

2. Positive work environment

   Despite laws protecting against workplace harassment, the issue annoyingly persists year after year. Negative environments, traditional office settings or not, compromise career satisfaction for obvious reasons. Most workers don't enjoy feeling unsafe or dehumanized day after day after day after day after you get the idea. And if the problem trickles down from higher up in the hierarchy, filing reports only renders the situation even more desperate. Even genuinely rewarding, enjoyable responsibilities lose spark when surroundings get off on humiliation and degradation.

3. Productivity

   Save for the most ardent slackers, most workers like feeling as if they've accomplished something, even if they still have a ways to go before finishing a project. Productivity increases positivity, and while positivity doesn't cure mental health issues, it is a nice, supplementary self-respect boost. And those who love their careers but hate their companies have something to flaunt once resumes get sent out.

4. Fair wages

   Greed isn't good, but everyone must meet their basic needs, hopefully with a little cushion leftover for savings and bit of fun. A fair salary (and benefits, if applicable) should be a basic human right, although one rarely met when one considers global economics. Nobody who works tirelessly to support him- or herself (maybe even a family or loved one) should have to worry about food, shelter and nourishment. Gratifying careers cannot sit on a foundation of hand-wringing over necessities.

5. Safety and security

   Everyone's risk-taking comfort levels vary, of course, but even (especially!) Hollywood stuntpeople and deep sea welders deserve the utmost safety standards. All employers must ensure their staff should never show up to work afraid their number may be up today. In fact, it really should stand as the utmost priority, with no expense spared. Most adrenaline junkies and seemingly fearless individuals still want some degree of security while doing their jobs.

6. Stimulation

   The majority of workers, from the most isolationist to the resident social butterfly, still need something piquing their senses and intellects. Stimulation doesn't have to be interpersonal: satisfying careers keep both bodies and brains happy in multiple ways. Individual workers should seek out jobs preventing slippage, while companies themselves might want to consider initiating activities promoting better mental flow.

7. Inclusion

   People like being asked for their input and ideas, even if what they have to say doesn't necessarily come to pass. Satisfying careers make sure to include everyone wanting to be a part of things, and while it's impossible to implement everything, just taking time to listen often proves enough. Managers and executives should especially exert the effort. Feeling valued bolsters motivation and productivity, so dehumanizing workers won't get a company terribly far.

8. Health

   Like safety, health also significantly factors into overall career contentment. Even beyond stress-related medical conditions, workers might fall victim to inadequately-ventilated or moldy buildings, food- and water-borne illnesses in company commissaries and other hazards. Although no solution for 100% prevention exists — and never will — businesses should still consider healthy, safe and secure customers and employees their utmost concern.

9. The job doesn't take over everything

   All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. All work and no play make Jack … something something … Go crazy?! DON'T MIND IF I DO!!!

10. Room for growth

    If businesses and career paths hope to grow, there's no way they'll sustain success if they don't allow the individuals involved to do so as well. Few people stay the same as they age, and most improve their valuable job skills over time. It makes perfect sense that they want their positions to accommodate their promise and abilities rather than shoving them into a rigid, restrictive box.

11. Honesty

    It is the best policy, after all. A career path littered with liars, cheaters and other underhanded folks is really only gratifying to liars, cheats and other underhanded folk. All of whom must constantly look over their back and worry about whether or not their cockiness will finally signify their downfall. Really, staying honest with everyone just makes life that much easier. Just don't forget to pair it up with…

12. Respect

    No matter one's career path, earning respect from coworkers, higher ups and customers (if applicable) renders even the most groan-inducing tasks at least a shred bearable. "Earning," of course, is the operative word here. But few things conjure up more dehumanizing emotions than genuinely caring for others' needs and receiving nothing — or, even worse, outright degradation — in kind. Retail, education and service jobs often needlessly inspire shoddy treatment, hence many individuals' reluctance to even bother with them.

50 Eye-Opening Blogs for Get Organized Week

By Kimberly Wilson

Get Organized Week happens as soon as October hits and makes for a perfect excuse to start cleaning, fixing finances, starting new home improvement or DIY projects, driving better business, and plenty more. Not that any specific time should dictate the whens and whys behind ordering life's little chaoses, of course, but the sort-of holiday still offers a neat benchmark. College students, many of them on their own for the very first time, often fall prey to the disorganization demons, though they certainly don't comprise the only vulnerable demographic. Anyone juggling multiple factors might stumble. But nobody suffers in a vacuum, so those grappling against money, business and home woes have plenty of excellent resources they may consult. These, by the way, are just a few.

DIY and Home Improvement

1. The Pegboard: When reorganizing and repairing a home without contractors, read up on tool reviews and advice from the DIY Network's experts.

2. Young House Love: Find inspiration and information from this popular young family as they get all DIY up in their house.

3. The Inspired Room: Melissa Michaels hosts a highly well-received resource regarding interior design, home décor and DIY projects, with plenty of amazing, valuable organization advice available.

4. This D*mn House: Tackling home improvement and decorating projects is far less romantic in reality than many people think, and This D*mn House provides a refreshing "warts and all" perspective. Anyone working on an older home will probably relate to some (if not all) the related headaches.

5. Pretty Handy Girl: Seriously cool DIY home repair and craft projects abound here, making it an excellent reference when sprucing up a space, fixing an issue or completely overhauling an entire space.

6. Centsational Girl: Even the heavily budgeted can still flex their DIY sensibilities, and Centsational Girl shows them how with her eclectic instruction assortments.

7. IKEA Hackers: Space, storage and organization solutions, along with plenty of other fascinating, creative IKEA hacking projects, burst forth from this essential DIY, home décor and home improvement blog.

8. Lifehacker: Honestly, Lifehacker fits under every category featured here. It features some of the web's most valuable, innovative and handy instructions and advice on organizing, planning and improving just about everything.

9. TheHomeRenovationGuide.com Blog: Whether meandering down DIY way or not, anyone renovating or restoring a home should bookmark this exceptional resource, with plenty of information about bettering (and organizing!) living spaces big and small.

10. About.com: Home Repair: About.com's Home Repair portal maintainer and blogger Bob Formisano dishes on everything homeowners need to know about keeping everything properly, safely maintained.

Home Economics, Homemaking and Housekeeping

11. The New Home Economics: Homemakers striving towards sustainability and self-sufficiency might find this blog inspiring, especially since both factors require considerable organization and planning.

12. Homemaking Cottage Blog: Stay-at-home or balancing parents working towards a more stable, organized and balanced household will undoubtedly find at least one valuable snippet here.

13. Homemaking Organized Blog: Like the title states, Homemaking Organized Blog offers up great tips on keeping homes safe, satisfying and tidy for all inhabitants.

14. The Clean Sweep's Housekeeping Blog: Bay Area-based housekeeping company The Clean Sweep certainly knows how to keep a home looking great within a manageable budget and time frame!

15. About.com: Housekeeping: Overflowing with product reviews, resources, advice and plenty more, Sarah Aguirre's About.com website and blog is a must-bookmark for any harried renter or owner.

16. Home Ec 101: No matter how many individuals occupy a space, the basic cleaning, cooking and budgeting skills shared on Home Ec 101 apply to all households.

17. Wendy's HOME EConomics!: Wendy Perry's award-winning blog targets "domestic gods, goddesses and wannabes" who want to maintain healthy, organized homes — or at least pick up some neat recipes. Although she doesn't update as often as some other resources here, she still posts sufficient worthwhile content.

18. Inside the Institute Blog: Although one of Good Housekeeping's official blogs contains most excellent product reviews, the entire surrounding site warrants reading as well.

19. Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Learn budgeting, cooking and a few housekeeping tips at the very useful Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, which also boasts some truly mouthwatering recipes!

20. The Creative Homemaker: Almost anything stay-at-home or well-balanced parents need to keep a home organized, safe and happy comes courtesy of these two dedicated (and frequently crafty) moms.

Management

21. The New Entrepreneur: BusinessWeek's small business blog, owned and maintained by Nick Lieber and John Tozzi, isn't exclusively about management, but still posts excellent insight about whipping offices into shape all the same.

22. Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog: Check out this in-depth resource for handy little tips and tricks on streamlining, organizing and personalizing management styles.

23. Management Skills Blog: Management Skills Blog, as one can probably assume, hopes visitors will use their prodigious resources in the interest of forming better businesses and business relations. Pretty much anything they need receives at least a little attention here.

24. Management Blog: The Australian Institute of Management presents a handy-dandy read covering a nice, wide array of relevant business and leadership topics.

25. How to Change the World: Seeing as how Guy Kawasaki consistently earns beaucoup praise for his management and entrepreneurial acumen, it might be a good idea to read his blog. Just a suggestion!

26. Management Craft: Supplement lessons on how to best hone managerial and organizational skills through this blog, which emphasizes the latest strategies and trends.

27. Create Learning: Successful management requires some degree of engagement and innovation, so Create Learning's postings should help make a splash in the office and boardroom alike.

28. The Leader's Journey with Lee Thayer: A former coach for CEOs and other executive and manager types shares the leadership lessons he's gleaned over the past few decades.

29. SMALL BUSINESS CEO: Running an entire company requires far more savvy than managing a few people, so executives (and wannabes) should read up on what skills need sharpening.

30. NOOP.NL: Jurgen Appelo promotes "agile management" and delivers commentary on the latest relevant trends and techniques. Content involves an array of business topics, however, but most postings help form a more productive, organized work environment.

Organizing and Time Management

31. Natalie M. Houston: Both a University of Houston professor and a life coach focusing on time management and organizing, this informative lady posts some excellent, if not outright essential, tips and tricks. Although she mainly targets creatives, almost anyone can benefit from her advice.

32. I'm an Organizing Junkie: One doesn't have to wait for spring to start cleaning and organizing a cluttered home! Find some amazing (and often affordable) solutions here.

33. Creative Organizing Blog: The Simplify 101 blog and website both easily help visitors streamline lives and organize homes. Even the most Type A individuals might very well find something new and useful.

34. Unclutterer: Between Unclutterer's highly recommended blog, forums and website, organizing issues both massive and obscure have probably received coverage.

35. ceo blog — time leadership: For the manager, executive or small business owner looking to improve both leadership and time management skills, this blog might very well prove exactly what's needed.

36. Simply Stated: Real Simple's resource serves as a one-stop-shop for anyone's organizing, homemaking and life streamlining needs — beauty tips and other neat bits round out the content.

37. zenhabits: Leo Babauta extols the virtues of simple, minimalist and mindful living for today's harried worker bees and/or homemakers.

38. Adventures in Organizing Blog: As an industry leader, with storage devices of all shapes and sizes available, the folks at Rubbermaid know a thing or two about staying organized.

39. Breathing Space: Hit up Jeff Davidson's blog for inspiration and information on sloughing off workaholic tendencies without sacrificing productivity.

40. IHeart Organizing: Another Simplify 101 joint, this time analyzing organization from a mom's perspective. But don't think for one second that dads and the childfree can't learn a thing or two, either!

Personal Finance

41. Wise Bread: Wise Bread emphasizes "living large on a budget," with amazing, absolutely essential postings on personal finance, budgeting, life hacks, bargain hunting and plenty more topics.

42. Money Under 30: It's pretty obvious where this blog's target demographic lies, but that definitely doesn't mean the older crowd won't benefit from its sound budgeting, personal finance and investing advice.

43. MintLife Blog: Personal finance phenomenon Mint conveys simple advice via free software, apps, a website and blog, making money management just that much easier for disorganized savers and spenders.

44. Get Rich Slowly: Whether looking to eradicate debt, invest wisely, pay for a home, or maneuver those pesky credit cards, Get Rich Slowly probably hosts exactly what financial strategies visitors need.

45. Walletpop Canada: Some of the nation-specific articles here might not work for international readers, but when content turns towards personal finance tips, tricks, and advice, anyone looking to budget, save, spend, and invest wisely benefits!

46. The Simple Dollar: The straightforward, informative tone here is intended for anyone who often finds deciphering financial task a dizzying, daunting undertaking.

47. Blogging for Change: Organizing personal finances in undeniably an emotional, stressful process, but Blogging for Change's positive postings put a lighter, softer spin on things, without compromising efficacy, of course.

48. Dough Roller: Stop by Dough Roller when seeking assistance with saving, spending, investing, handling credit cards, understanding mortgages and everything else relating back to personal finances.

49. fivecentnickel.com: When individuals without a banking or accounting background must make sense of the fields' often nauseatingly confusing tenets, they head to this blog for some easy-to-follow translations.

50. 20 Something Finance: Young people needing a firmer grasp on their precious money and hoping to either reduce or avoid debt would do well to seek out 20 Something Finance's counsel. However, older readers might easily find something of value here as well.

Ensuring You Attend a Nationally Accredited Online College

There are many horror stories floating around the internet of diploma mill online universities and other similar colleges which promise endless degrees that turn out to be worthless.  These students do not escape the high load of debt either, and are forced to pay back thousands of dollars to institutions which present themselves as accredited online colleges, but lack a true accreditation. 

Ensuring that you attend a nationally accredited online college is the first step in demonstrating your responsibility as an adult in researching for potential online schools.  Many of the schools that “trick” students are typically named after a similar traditional university which typically makes the “imposters” easy to spot.  Either that, or their accreditation lacks a certain form of sincerity.  Simply typing in the institution that the school is accredited from is one way to determine whether it is an actual school or one of the diploma mills that online students fear. 

One thing you do not want to end up with as an online student is an incredible amount of debt and no useful degree to show for it.  Typical college graduates leave school with around $20,000 in debt; while this number is drastically reduced for students of online colleges, racking up a similar amount of debt for a school that is not nationally or regionally accredited is one of the most wasteful uses of both time and money. 

Simply researching into potential online colleges can save you years of regret if you end up falling into one of these schools traps. Nationally accredited online colleges are easy to pick out in the search for online schools and are typically the schools with the highest ratings within the online community.  Earning a useable college degree has become a pricey endeavor, but it does not have to be without reward.  Accredited online colleges offer students the same opportunities that traditional classroom studies offer as well, but simply offer a new alternative for earning a degree.