• A book, its pages fanned open
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    Cliché, You Say? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a trope as, “a common or overused device: cliché.” This carries a distinct negative connotation. Why is that? Familiarity doesn’t equate to laziness. I argue it takes talent and imagination to put a unique, entertaining spin on an established literary device. Some readers will seek certain tropes because ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    Trigger warnings, also known as sensitivity or content warnings, are a way for authors to caution the reader about potentially upsetting topics included in the work. First coming into popularity on fan fiction platforms and other online media, they are now reaching mainstream literature. While some authors and readers are embracing this trend, others are ...
  • woman blowing snow
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    The holidays are busy for everyone. It’s a flurry of presents, loved ones, and memories. Honestly, after all the celebrations, I’m lost on how to move forward every year. Goal setting is helpful, but routines are difficult to keep. The first few weeks are good, and then life has other plans. Here are a few ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    ‘Tis the Season All the bookish folks I follow on social media are releasing their year-in-review posts. There they are, with stacks and stacks of books, artfully arranged by color, or genre, or by the order in which they were read. They boast of reaching and surpassing their triple-digit reading goals. I am in awe ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    Collecting books is an entirely separate hobby from reading them. It is an easy habit to fall into. After all, books are everywhere, even at yard sales and the supermarket. Although hardcovers can be a little pricey, paperbacks, ebooks, and second-hand purchases don’t cost an arm and a leg. Compared to some other leisure pursuits, ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    Book Fair Day! I recently attended The Write Women Book Fest in Bowie, MD. As soon as I walked into the hotel ballroom and saw the rows and rows of author tables, I thought, “Ah yes. These are my people.”  I found myself reminiscing about the annual school book fair from my grade school days. ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    Independent authors and publishers aren’t ruled by the almighty bottom line like the big publishing conglomerates are. Therefore, they can put out literature that don’t fit neatly into current market trends. Indie books have more freedom to experiment with narrative structure, mix genres, and tackle unconventional themes. The result is fascinating, innovative stories. Did you ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    Is there a reading version of a double take? I suppose instead of a turn of the head, it’s a flick of one’s eyes back over what they just read. It’s a jolt of familiarity, a sense of déjà vu. In that moment, you feel all your synapses light up, forming new connections of understanding. ...
  • A book, its pages fanned open
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    When I tell someone that I want to read all the books, they often respond with a polite chuckle followed by a good-natured remark about knowing I am a nerd. If they are avid readers, they may nod in understanding and companionable agreement. I could leave it at that. I would have communicated that I ...
  • A person walking during a sunset
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    This year has been about figuring out what I need to put my best foot forward. Change is hard and takes time. Patience is not a virtue I inherited. New routines can make a person feel like they have lost sight of their life. I was so focused on getting through the day that I ...