10+ LGBTQIA+ Reads

Happy Pride Month! There are a lot of awesome LGBTQIA+ books out there that don't get the spotlight as much. So, here's a list of some great stories (with their Goodreads blurbs) to check out. Amulet of Wishes — Rita A. Rubin The Guardians are the protectors of Aloseria. They are the keepers of the … Continue reading 10+ LGBTQIA+ Reads

POV talk: first person

There are many POVs with questions surrounding them. I want to break them all down and discuss the biggest concerns in different posts. Today, I'll talk about first person POV. FIRST person First person is intimate between the reader and the main character (MC). You get front row seats through the MC's eyes. It also … Continue reading POV talk: first person

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”

Book review – We Are Okay (Spoiler Free)

“I wonder if there's a secret current that connects people who have lost something. Not in the way that everyone loses something, but in the way that undoes your life, undoes your self, so that when you look at your face it isn't yours anymore.” Title: We Are OkayAuthor: Nina LaCourGenre: FictionPages: 236 pagesPublication date: … Continue reading Book review – We Are Okay (Spoiler Free)

Best books of 2019

I'm not the best with consistency. The first time I did the best books of, I wrote about my favorite books that I read that year, despite when they came out. In 2018, I wrote about the best of the best that came out that year with Goodreads blurbs. So... This year, I decided to … Continue reading Best books of 2019

Book review – Mirror, Mirror (Spoiler Free)

"The princess had accepted her fate in an effort to make the best of things, but she refused to do so any longer.It wasn't till she was outside those walls that she'd realized the truth: the only one who could truly break her free was herself. That's why she was back. To claim what was … Continue reading Book review – Mirror, Mirror (Spoiler Free)

Writing a book is two jobs

A while back, Hank Green made a Vlogsbrothers video, talking about writing. He mentioned what Tommy Orange said when he saw him speak at the University of Montana. "At one point in the talk, he referred to himself as a kind of duality. There are times when he's a writer, and there are times when … Continue reading Writing a book is two jobs

Common writing mistakes #2

#2 — Vagueness for tension A novel I edited recently kept saying him and his death for about twenty pages before actually explaining who he was. Instead of feeling a sense of curiosity, I was confused. I kept wondering who he was and why he mattered. I’ve run across this type of vagueness before. Some … Continue reading Common writing mistakes #2

More than writers

Every Tuesday and Friday, I watch the new Vlogsbrothers video like any other Nerdfighter. But—at the time I'm writing this post—the newest video from John struck me. John, who is the John Green by the way, talked about his wife, which is rare. He didn't gush over her or talk about an issue they have … Continue reading More than writers

Common writing mistakes #1

#1 — Using multiple adjectives "The house on the hill was old, broken, and abandoned. I always passed it on my way home. It stared back at me with its empty, death-glaring eyes." Adjectives help, but too many of them back-to-back can weigh down a story. It sounds more like a bumpy ride on a … Continue reading Common writing mistakes #1