Your fingers hover the keyboard. You inhale deeply. Then you do it: you type the words “The End.” You exhale. You blink back tears of joy. You’ve finished the first draft of your story! It hasn’t been easy, but you’ve pushed through. You’ve done the thing. You finished your draft. Then you think, “Now what?” First, take a break. Read that book you’ve been putting … Continue reading How to Edit Your First Draft
I should read more, but I just don’t have time. We’ve all heard it. You may have even said it at some point. Either way, it’s most likely a lie. It’s a known fact that our world is busy. People race from work to pick up the kids from school or soccer practice to go grocery shopping and make dinner to play sports or video … Continue reading Making Time to Read, Not Excuses
As writers, we’ve all been there. Staring at a blank page, an idea humming in the back of your mind. You write a sentence. Read it. Delete it. Rinse and repeat. You know what you want to write. You have ideas and characters and a general idea of the setting or aesthetics. But the words won’t come. The story won’t spark. What do you do? … Continue reading How to Spark Your Writing with Mood Boards
You did it. You finished the last episode of Stranger Things 3, thoughts screaming through your head at the [spoilers redacted] in the [spoilers redacted]. Then as the credits continue to roll, you stare blankly at the screen, wondering what you could possibly do to fill your time now that it’s over. After you cry into your pillow (justice for [spoilers redacted]!), see how many … Continue reading Your ‘Stranger Things 3’ Summer Bucket List
Stranger Things 3 arrived in a blaze of fireworks, Russian conspiracies, and mind-melding monsters, but after binge-watching all eight episodes, we’re right back where we started, wanting more. If, like us, you’re eager for more Stranger Things vibes, check out one—or all—of these books while you wait anxiously for more information about a potential season four. The Stranger Things Tie-In Books The easiest fulfillment for … Continue reading Books to Read After Watching ‘Stranger Things 3’
Where can you find multiple iterations of Spider-Man, every anime character you can think of, and a man dressed as “Dorito Pope” all in the same place? A convention. Specifically a fandom convention. With San Diego Comic-Con just around the corner, con season has arrived, and with it comes extended weekends of geeky panels, fantastic cosplay, and more merch than your bank account can afford. … Continue reading The Introvert’s Guide to Surviving a Convention
*Spoilers included for Toy Story 4* Like most people, I thought the Toy Story franchise would end with the tear-jerker of Toy Story 3. What could be better than ending their tale with them saying goodbye to Andy as he drives off toward college and adulthood? So it came as a surprise when Pixar announced that a fourth movie would be made. This time, however, … Continue reading Why Woody Deserves the Ending of ‘Toy Story 4’
*Spoilers included for Avengers: Endgame* As with most popular blockbuster films, Avengers: Endgame was barely released in theaters before the grumbling and criticism began. No movie is perfect, of course, and not everybody will be happy with the events that transpired in Avengers: Endgame. But there is one character whose arc has many people up in arms against the beloved Russo Brothers: Thor’s. In the … Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Gives Thor a New Beginning
In ancient times, libraries were created to archive collections of writing, such as clay tablets or papyrus scrolls. Over time, libraries shifted to collecting and sometimes making copies of important manuscripts. As the printing press took off and Europe discovered an appreciation for scholarship, private and university libraries were established. Eventually, the public library emerged and libraries as we know them today became pillars of … Continue reading What Your Local Library Workers Want You to Know
If you’ve been anywhere on Instagram in the past few years, you’ve probably seen someone post an aesthetically pleasing photo of a book, maybe with a cup of coffee or tea, a perfectly positioned candle, or more bookmarks than any one person would ever need. Welcome to #bookstagram. Whether you’re considering becoming part of this book-loving community or you’ve been posting about books for years—or … Continue reading What They Don’t Tell You About Bookstagram
