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Punctuation: Brackets
Definition: a punctuation mark; a pair of square brackets [ ] used to set apart certain words and sentences, mainly in quotations to add extra information that wasn’t in the original quote. Note: Do not rely on grammar or spelling checkers to identify missing or misused punctuation. Although a checker may flag possibly missing or…
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Review: The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne In high school, a classmate of mine read and made a presentation about this book. Since then, I’ve wanted to read it for myself, so I bought a copy when I saw it at Coles. Read: June 17 – July 20, 2023 Book contains: public shaming, talk of religion,…
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Angels & Demons in Fiction
Since finishing another of Cassandra Clare’s series, The Infernal Devices, I was inspired to write this article, talking about angels and demons, and how they are typically handled in fiction. Since both (and especially demons) show up in religious texts all over the world, there are many different interpretations of them, though most of the…
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Review: Clockwork Princess
The Infernal Devices book 3: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare I’ve been absolutely loving this series, and the books just keep getting better. I was so excited to dive into this book but waited until Monday as according to my reading schedule. Read: June 10 – July 14, 2023 Book contains: foul language, referenced torture,…
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10 Tips for Fantasy Writers
Fantasy is a genre that’s always amazing to read. How crazy is it that a simple block of paper can transport us to a whole other world? You may even want to write your own fantasy story, to build your own world set in the ancient past or the distant future. If you are, here…
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Review: Clockwork Prince
The Infernal Devices book 2: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare After absolutely loving the first book, I dove right into this one. Literally, the same day. I even finished it quicker than I typically give to books (in just three and a half days!) before giving myself the weekend before starting the third. Read: June…
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What is a Query Letter?
For authors looking to publish traditionally, query letters are a one-page letter used to pitch book ideas to agents and publishers, to get them interested in the work you’d like to send them. Most of the time, you’re sending a query letter for a manuscript you’ve already written, but sometimes, usually for non-fiction, you send…
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Review: Clockwork Angel
The Infernal Devices book 1: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare After reading The Mortal Instruments, I bought the other two series by Clare, The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices. (LOVE the covers!) I recently finished watching both the movie and Shadowhunters TV series, and I’m excited to get back into this world! Read: June…
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Spelling: Capitals
To capitalize or not to capitalize? The answer isn’t as philosophical as to be or not to be. In other languages, capitalization rules can vary drastically, but the rules for English are, I’ve found, fairly straightforward. Beginning of a Sentence Capitalize the first word of every sentence. *Note: dialogue tags do not count as their…