Ramble ahoy! Does labelling something as "deep" have meaning? I mean, obviously it's subjective, just as any other label—sad, inspiring, disgusting, too salty—is, but the subjectiveness of those labels don't do away with their meanings.
Being Excited About Your Writing
Raise your hand if getting excited about your own projects is a rarity. Just me? Well then, consider this a personal post. I talk about fear a lot...okay, constantly. The already often daunting task of writing your first book or editing your umpteenth draft isn't helped with the constant barrage of "Thou Must, Thou Mustn't" … Continue reading Being Excited About Your Writing
How do we do the language learning thing? A Review of Language Learning Strategies in Independent Settings
I should start this off by admitting I haven't yet read the entirety of Language Learning Strategies in Independent Settings, edited by Stella Hurd and Tim Lewis, and I doubt I will for some time. This isn't some comment on the quality of the book, but rather the extent of what I found currently useful … Continue reading How do we do the language learning thing? A Review of Language Learning Strategies in Independent Settings
Elementary (skills) My Dear Watson
You know that moment when you go across a stage, or in front of a busy store front, or past someone you'd like to know better, and quite suddenly you question every movement of your legs as your brain spontaneously forgets how exactly you walk? That's a little what reading How to Read a Book … Continue reading Elementary (skills) My Dear Watson
Advice or Definitions?
A lot of advice comes in very negative formats. Old hat, I know, but important to continuously acknowledge nevertheless. I mean really, how much writing advice out there is made in fear of consequences? "You must never commit the cardinal sin of [insert your favorite writing tip here] or else [often unfounded consequence] will occur!" … Continue reading Advice or Definitions?
In Defense of Background Characters
Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here today to commemorate that which is present in most, if not all, novels: those shadowy effigies and blank, expressionless faces, those drab clothes and children running through the streets. We are here today to commemorate the background characters, young and old and bland as breakfast foods as they may … Continue reading In Defense of Background Characters
The Ego in the Woods
Why is it that we define nature as not-human? When we talk about nature, we usually define it as being something that we, or more specifically, the I in the sentence, could not do. I could see myself being an engineer, or a sweatshop worker, or a cook, and so I view those things as removed from nature. … Continue reading The Ego in the Woods
But what are you saying at the heart of it all?
I recently finished writing the first draft of a project and, in that blank, void filled interim between finishing and beginning again, started reworking an old, old manuscript. The first full length one I ever finished, to be exact. But that's not important, not really, because in that interim I've also started binging BookTube. Why not? … Continue reading But what are you saying at the heart of it all?
Lessons from YA Fiction
...Instead, I want to take this opportunity to look at all the (positive) lessons you can learn from YA fiction.
Look Up From Your Book
These aren't orcs. there's no evil king, no grand-goblin to slay no magical person to take down that would allow everything to be as it should. There's no singularity. there's not some lone person you can defeat turn things into a happy ending. There's not some Evil One, Evil Duo Evil Trio. Look … Continue reading Look Up From Your Book
