We’re all becoming dumb. Well, in the sense that media literacy is dying – and with it the unreliable narrator. Unreliable narrators are (biasedly) one of the best ways to create a compelling and relatable story; they are a key part of what makes storytelling feel human. Just like in real life, not everyone can […]
Tag: Books
Why People Need to Start Reading Again
When was the last time you picked up a book? Based on a national trend, probably too long ago to remember. According to a 2022 survey conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, less than half of Americans reported reading at least one book a year. This makes sense, considering that many of my […]
Libraries Need a Comeback in the Age of Bookstores
When’s the last time you took a trip down to your local library? Today’s readers are usually getting their books by walking into a bookstore or utilizing Amazon’s click to buy feature. With costs rising and environmental concerns ever-present, it may be time to dust off your library cards and remember why borrowing is always […]
Books That Should Be Taught in English Class
Every American student who had to sit through English class from Kindergarten to 12th grade knows the usual suspects: “Romeo and Juliet,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Fahrenheit 451” and more. Don’t get me wrong, these novels are extraordinary and have their place as some of the best novels written, but I think […]
The A Million Lives Book Festival was a Disaster Due to Poor Planning and Something More Sinister
The A Million Lives Book Festival was advertised on TikTok as a festival for independent authors to sell their books and for fans to meet their favorite authors. There was also a panel of published authors, as well as some other activities to entertain the guests. Authors brought inventory based on ticket sales and paid […]
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Writing
If you want to write anything, but particularly a book, all you have to do is start. Don’t worry about if what you say matches what you want to say just yet, that comes with rounds and rounds of editing, which may seem daunting, but don’t let it. Editing is the reason your favorite story […]
Bring Back Reliable Hair Stylists and Hair Salons
These days, Instagram hair stylists are saturating the hair industry and leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths. Those with natural hair in particular turn to Instagram and TikTok to find stylists in their city for wig installations, braids and more, and the stylists that are answering the call are more disappointing than not. Before […]
A Course on Graphic Novels Should be Mandatory for Creative Writing Degrees
Creative writing degrees can be misleading if you don’t know what creative writing is. Some might think it’s just writing novels and short stories, which would make the degree more of a storytelling instead of writing-focused degree, but the writing part is what’s most important. These degrees usually encompass professional, creative and technical writing to […]
Zines Are A Great Outlet for Writers Who Are Scared of The Publishing Industry
Zines are short pieces of printed literature that can be made at home using printer paper that is then folded into a little booklet. You can put anything you want in a zine as long as you can put it on paper. Think pamphlets or small booklets you find at art shows or in museums […]
Why is Fantasy Impossible to Write in Short Story Form
If you’re an avid reader, you might have realized that fantasy short stories are hard to come by. That’s because fantasy as a genre is extremely hard to do in the short story format due to how many rules the writer has to establish and how complicated the rules are. When creating anything in the […]
Banning Books is Banning Freedom of Speech
People have long banned books because of sexual content, differing ideologies, and critiques of the government or religion. I can get past banning a book from schools because of things like sexual content that may be inappropriate for young children but for having a different ideology than what you believe in. That’s just denying freedom […]
The Benefits of Reading are the Same Whether You’re Reading or Listening to an Audiobook
Some people do not consider listening to audiobooks to be the same as reading from a physical book, but the benefits of reading a book, i.e., enriching your mind, introducing you to new vocabulary, giving a creative outlet, etc., are possible when you read and when you listen. Traditional books and audiobooks are both forms […]
