"You decide to order a new boyfriend. You don't exactly need a new boyfriend, not yet. Your old one is just fine. Sure, he's running a little hot these days, his fan whirs a little loudly, his memory a little slower than you would find on new models. But in all the particulars, he's serviceable." … Continue reading Book review – Boy Oh Boy (Spoiler Free)
Tag: because
We can’t tell a “single story”
So, I watch Ted Talks from time to time. One of them caught my eye recently, and I decided to share it with y'all. It's called "The danger of a single story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Toward the beginning, she mentions how: "All my characters were White and blue-eyed. They played in the snow. They … Continue reading We can’t tell a “single story”
Dear Readers
Dear Readers, Don’t think the fantasy world in my manuscript is anything like Earth. I wrote the novel to escape Earth, not to be trapped by its walls. So, it may seem a bit more anachronistic than most. Let my stories be filled with overpowered bombs, no electricity, and advanced magic. Just because we developed … Continue reading Dear Readers
Quiet now, pay attention
My university is always quiet when people leave and that’s when you notice things. You’ll find broken, empty branches, hiding behind the leaves. Or the discolored rock that has been there for at least five years and will be there for another ten. You’ll notice black paint peeling off the railing because the school only … Continue reading Quiet now, pay attention
Is having too many projects bad?
I might work on too many projects. I have a novel and a novella in progress, editing away. I also edit on different critique sites like Critique Circle. I edit my query, and I also edit other queries so they may glance over mine. I'm trying to write more to get a small publication as well. … Continue reading Is having too many projects bad?
11 editing tips from a professional
At the ACES conference, one session had many editing tips for editors and writers. Here are some: Check all quotations (to see if it is a verified source) Don't ignore your inner voice (when it says something's wrong) Omit needless words Favor active voice (because we need passive voice sometimes) Edit out loud Advice is … Continue reading 11 editing tips from a professional
A writer’s journey (part seven) – dead stop
It's been a while since I wrote one of these because I've been at a dead stop. I have multiple projects going at once, so it's hard to make a lot of progress in such a short time. I've been editing a query, which has gotten better. I've been going through my novel once more, … Continue reading A writer’s journey (part seven) – dead stop
Book review – The Hate U Give (Spoiler Free)
“That's the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?” Title: The Hate U Give Author: Angie Thomas Genre: YA Fiction Pages: 444 … Continue reading Book review – The Hate U Give (Spoiler Free)
Which side of the story?
Stories get pieced together strangely. I can tell you a story about a hero. She saved many children by keeping them away from harm. She may have used violence to stop her enemies, but the children were safe at the end of the day. She gave the most she could and never asked for a … Continue reading Which side of the story?
Difference in success
At an English Major panel, I got advice for success in life-after-graduation. It was a cozy room, stuffed with English nerds. Afterward, I talked with a professional author. One of the first sentences she said was, "I don't agree with what she said during the panel." She pointed toward a CEO in the publishing field. … Continue reading Difference in success
Robin LeeAnn 