Why Your Personal Traits Matter More Than You Think
I was taught at many points in my childhood that character determines your fate. The common consensus is that nothing can be more true when it comes to your personal success and happiness. Ultimately, it’s not what you know or even how hard you work that determines your success – it’s who you are. If […]
Why We Must Challenge the Status Quo of Reading Comprehension
Even in elementary school, I felt that reading comprehension tests were little more than exercises in restating the obvious. These tests often seemed to measure little more than our ability to regurgitate facts and details rather than allowing us to truly engage with the material. For me, the sign of good writing is if you […]
Reruns All Become Our History
Isn’t it strange how reruns of old shows and movies somehow become intertwined with the memories of our physical lives? It’s as if we were in the room where all these fictional events took place. Those repeated broadcasts of television shows and movies hold a unique place in our lives.Over time, these reruns shape and […]
Restlessness and Fatigue
Restlessness and fatigue are not good companions with one another. Together, they cause all sorts of mischief, a dangerous pair that significantly affects my well-being. As someone who deals with chronic fatigue syndrome already, restlessness is the worst thing I can have. If I’ve just had a particularly unproductive day, I find myself with my […]
Books as Mirrors
On a rainy afternoon, where the world beyond the window panes blurs into a watercolor haze, I’ll often find myself cradling a well-worn book. Its pages are soft and slightly yellowed with age, exuding a faint aroma reminiscent of vanilla and earth. I often choose the books I read on a whim, as it were […]
What Does it Mean to Be Melancholy?
I’ve spent most of my life dancing with shadows. They’re always with me, silently stretching and shrinking, mimicking my every move. But, sometimes, I’ll walk with a shadow that isn’t just a play of light and dark, but a persistent feeling. It becomes a silent ghost that clings to my soul like dew on early […]
The Two Dollar Tango
It has been a great feeling, watching the numbers on our eBay account tick up each month. But, for all of the successful buy-it-now listings I’ve completed and the green numbers that accompany them, so much more of my inventory sits in the reject pile. So, alas, I must now pivot from the meticulous, methodical […]
8 Tips for Writing a Great Young Adult Fiction Manuscript
Back when I offered manuscript review and editing services, I wrote up 8 tips for writing a great children’s book manuscript. At other points in my life, I myself wanted to dabble in the realm of children’s literature, as E.B. White once did with Charlotte’s Web. However, my own dabbling in fiction has led me […]
Believing in the Beauty of Dreams
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt I think a lot about the future, because it’s good to look forward. Even when contemplating my past decisions and the paths I’ve taken, I’ve come to recognize the importance of considering the future. With its vast potential for […]