Keeping track of what I read in a year has turned into a fun annual project that helps me read more consistently. Each year, I try to read a bit more than the last, clawing back time from social media and doom scrolling. There are lots of ways to do this. In 2023, I made … More Making My First Reading Journal
Sometimes I go to my local library and pick a book the old fashioned way: by reading only what’s on the cover or inside flap. Maybe with a cursory glance inside to make sure the writing style works for me. I picked out 3 books that way recently. Here are brief reviews of several very … More Horror, Humor, and YA Fiction: Penpal, Several People Are Typing, and Remedy Book Reviews
In December, during some time off around the holidays, I went down the reading journal rabbit hole. I’d never done it before. I decided to make an aesthetically pleasing one for 2024. More on that (with pictures) in a future post. I didn’t do a fancy bullet journal in 2023. However, I did write down … More My 2023 Reads – and Keeping a Reading Journal
Writing prompt! Large family gatherings can be stressful. Write a short story about a wedding or funeral, and throw a kink in the plans. Use the photo above as a starting point. Make a minor problem spiral out of control. Or, include one or more of the following characters: A drunk relative making a speech … More Fiction Writing Prompt: Weddings and Funerals
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is the 4th book in my personal challenge to read and review 12 books in 12 months. You can see the rules I’m following for this challenge in a previous post, here. To read my first review, click here. In this review series, I will do my best to avoid major spoilers. … More Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is the third book in my personal challenge to read and review 12 books in 12 months. You can see the rules I’m following for this challenge in a previous post, here. To read my first review, click here. In this review series, I will do my best to avoid major spoilers. I … More Book Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is the second book in my personal challenge to read and review 12 books in 12 months. You can see the rules I’m following for this challenge in a previous post, here. To read my first review, click here. In this review series, I will do my best to avoid … More Book Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood is the first book in my personal challenge to read and review 12 books in 12 months. You can see the rules I’m following for this challenge in my previous post, here. In this review series, I will do my best to avoid major spoilers. I personally define a spoiler as … More Book Review: Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
I really want to read more. I used to be a chain reader. (It’s like a chain smoker, but with books.) I never finished a book without a new one to start, and I always spent most of my free time reading rather than doing other things. That’s great and everything, but I’m an adult … More New Series: Monthly Book Reviews
Now that my poetry challenge is over, I have a lot of revision to do. It’s time to sort through everything I wrote and see what’s going to turn into something worth submitting for publication. I also have more revision to do for that short story I mentioned in a previous post. Since I’ve got … More 5 Revision Tips
The Fountain Pen Blog 