16 Aug

Posted at 22:13h in Reviews by

Review of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression (Second Edition) As a writer, I've often felt the frustration of not being able to capture the nuances of emotion that live within my characters. It’s like trying to paint a sunset with a box of crayons; the colors are there, but the depth is missing. That’s why The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi immediately caught my eye. Dubbed the "gold standard for writers," this second edition expands upon its predecessor and provides a treasure...

21 Jul

Posted at 13:45h in Reviews by

You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory by Ruta Sepetys When a dear friend recommended You: The Story by Ruta Sepetys, I was intrigued. Not only is Sepetys a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her poignant historical fiction, but this book marked her foray into the realm of nonfiction. As a lifelong reader and aspiring writer, I often find myself searching for guidance and inspiration to help me sift through the tangled mess of thoughts I call my own creative process. With that...

13 Jul

Posted at 15:35h in Reviews by

It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences: A Review As a writer, I’m often plagued by the fear that my sentences might not be up to par—those little combinations of words can feel like a high-stakes balancing act. So when I stumbled upon June Casagrande’s It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences, I felt an electric rush of curiosity. Could this witty little grammar guide really help me tackle one of the most fundamental building blocks of writing? Spoiler:...

09 Jul

Posted at 23:59h in Reviews by

Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Fin… - A Deep Dive into the Publishing World with Courtney Maum As someone who spends her days crafting long-form marketing content and diving headfirst into the vast universe of books, the idea of writing my own book has always lingered in the back of my mind. These days, with my newfound love for bookstagram and interactions with authors and publishers, that curiosity has blossomed into excitement. When I stumbled upon Courtney Maum's Before and After the Book Deal:...

09 Jul

Posted at 21:10h in Reviews by

A Fresh Perspective on Crafting Dialogue: A Review of Fiction Writer's Guide to Dialogue by Hough As a long-time lover of literature and aspiring wordsmith, I was drawn to Fiction Writer's Guide to Dialogue by Hough partly out of curiosity and partly out of desperation to improve my own dialogue writing. Dialogue often feels like the beating heart of storytelling, pulsing with character and emotion, yet mastering it can feel elusive. Hough's promise of a fresh look at dialogue as an essential ingredient of fiction intrigued me, and I...

17 Jun

Posted at 09:08h in Reviews by

You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memoir — A Journey Worth Taking As an aspiring writer, I often find myself standing at the edge of creativity, peering into a chasm filled with potential stories yet untold. So, when I stumbled across You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memoir by Ruta Sepetys, I felt a spark of hope that this book might just offer me the gentle push I needed to leap into my writing endeavors. Known for her bestsellers that navigate the intricacies...

16 May

Posted at 02:52h in Reviews by

Finding Magic in Words: A Review of 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round As a writer who has just survived the chaotic whirlwind of drafting my first fiction manuscript, 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg felt like the perfect companion for my creative journey. Balancing excitement with uncertainty, I was eager to uncover the secrets that other writers turn to when faced with the daunting reality of putting pen to...