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You are what you read – how books can improve you

You are what you read – how books can improve you

Reading can be the water that grows you from the unsatisfied grain into a fruitful success.

Your five-year-old, limp pleather office chair plummets, the screws have betrayed you once again. Scraping your last bit of dignity from the filthy navy carpet, you get up to fix it for the millionth time, while your peers form a mocking circle around your cubicle. For months there have been clouds in your…

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Traces by Denise Weimer - Book Review

Traces by Denise Weimer – Book Review

A book cover should tell you exactly what genre you’ll find inside and this one did not fail. I’m not ashamed to admit that I bought this novel because of the cover and it didn’t disappoint. Traces ticks all the boxes I enjoy in stories, a bit of mystery, suspense, drama, and a wholesome dollop of romance.

A fugitive reality show isn’t a concept I’ve read before which made it all the more…

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What exactly is literary style and tone?

What exactly is literary style and tone?

What exactly is literary style and tone and how can you make it work?

Ever read a scene and wonder how the author manages to make you laugh out loud or cry? They use a lot of tactics but the right style and tone can be magic.  Don’t worry, you’re not alone, we all had to learn this and I still haven’t perfected it.

Style

The Cambridge dictionary defines style as a way of doing something,…

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Why is genre important in writing?

Why is genre important in writing?

The genre you’re writing is more important than you think.

If you hop on over to Amazon or your local bookstore, you already have a specific genre in mind. People are creatures of habit; they know what they like and what they’re looking for. A few weeks ago I wrote about the business of writing and to be successful, you need to cater to a specific market.

Before you jump into the plot or opening…

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Five simple ways to find new novel inspiration

Five simple ways to find new novel inspiration

If you struggle to find new novel inspiration or you’re not sure if it’s marketable, these five simple ways can help.

It’s fascinating how many times I see a question on Quora or Reddit saying, “I want to write a book, but I don’t know what to write about.” That’s nothing compared to the number of queries I receive for ghost-writing biographies. I turn them down because I write fiction, but I’m…

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The Business of Writing

The Business of Writing

When you start treating your writing as a business, you will see the results.

Like every other road in life, writing is not an easy one, but as most of you know, this one is especially hard since it’s artistry. Not only is writing a book a prolonged open heart surgery, selling it is like trying to win the lottery with a single ticket. The internet has made the publishing industry overwhelmingly…

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What if all I want is to be a writer?

What if all I want is to be a writer?

Drop some balls in the air and be a writer.

I just want to write.

So, now I’m writing.

This.

And it’s from a place of passion. I want to let out the stories that are buried deep inside of me. I want to share my view on the world, capture the truest and purest moments with the sharp lens of lyricism.

I want to be a writer.

Sometimes the other branches of being a writer become so overwhelming that…

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Start a short story blog to build a platform

Start a short story blog to build a platform

Every writer should have a platform and a short story blog can help you build one.

“If I start an author blog what would I even write about if I’m not yet published.”

Wow, If I had a penny for every time I see this question on writer groups and social media. A few days ago I was writing a short story for this blog, and this idea sort of centipeded its way down from the jumble of wires in my…

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Five Methods to Help You Squash Self-doubt

Five Methods to Help You Squash Self-doubt

These five methods can help you squash the creativity leech a.k.a self-doubt.

For artists, self-doubt can become a major landmine, crippling their ability to bring fresh and forceful content to the blank canvas. As a writer, I often face this devil myself, which creates a vast ocean between myself and my manuscript. You invest so much time and effort into your projects, only to be mocked by that…

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes review

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes review

Goodreads

Amazon

Background

I imagine writing a prequel to a series with your most atrocious villain as the main character is not easy. While this recipe has been proved successful by the Star Wars saga, it wasn’t so simple for me to latch on. I watched the Star Wars Films in order from episode 1 to the end, so I loved Anakin Skywalker before I hated Darth Vader. This time, it was the other way…

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Six author blogs that can help create your own

Six author blogs that can help create your own

The number one question writers ask when they’re told they need a blog to build a following is, “What would I even blog about?”. I’ve had a blog on Tumblr for years where I rant and rave about television, and books, so perhaps it’s easier for me to navigate, but there are tons of helpful resources. You can search for podcasts, books, and blogs with a myriad of tips on how to get started.

The…

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“And it occurred to me that in this new millennial life of instant and ubiquitous connection, you don’t in fact communicate so much as leave messages for one another, these odd improvisational performances, often sorry bits and samplings of ourselves that can’t help but seem out of context. And then when you do finally reach someone, everyone’s so out of practice or too hopeful or else embittered that you wonder if it would be better not to attempt contact at all.” - Chang-rae Lee, Aloft

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“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.”

— Friedrich Nietzsche

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My thoughts on The 100 7x05

Hey, guys,

Sorry for not doing any comments on the last two episodes. I’ve been a little busy and I struggled to connect to the show, so it hindered my enjoyment, but it’s all better now. Liked episode 4 and 5 was even better, jampacked with info and it answered a lot of questions.

Welcome to Bardo

Badass Octavia is da bomb (people don’t say that anymore, right?). When she was captured in episode two, I thought she had lost her fighting spirit, but it’s back, bitches. Well, until she runs into an invisible wall trying to escape. She’s captured and transported to M-cap (whatever that means). Then we get a welcome little flashback to Lincoln but it’s obvious that Bellamy would be the hand reaching out. He’s her rock, like she’s expressed many times.

Unlike John Murphy who is not quite a friend, or family and definitely not a lover. Introducing so many new characters in the final season of a show is never a good idea, because this is the time to wrap up all the stories of the existing ones, but come on, who cannot love Levitt. Even when he first meets Octavia, he doesn’t want to hurt her. Jason, you better not harm one hair on this precious little puppy’s head!

As he binges The 100 through Octavia’s eyes, he starts rooting for her, and he actually gives a damn, unlike most people on this show. He understands her strengths and weaknesses and he makes her see it too. “You’re a warrior to be sure, but your heart is pure.” Wow, what an honest and beautiful line. (Scroll down for my shipping comments.)

So is O and Hope’s fleeting little reunion. It’s amazing to experience this deep loving side of Octavia after her darkness. She’s truly one of the most diverse and developed characters on the series. Now Hope and her resilience is quickly making it to the top as well.

While Hope is trying to send her back home, we learn that memory loss is due to the time dilation. One quick note on this, it’s not linear, there’s no easy equation to calculate it unless you’re Stephen Hawking or Einstein. I don’t think it’s constant either. 10 years on Skyring = 11 days on Bardo = a few minutes on Sanctum. In the current time, 5 years on Skyring = 1 day on Sanctum = 7 days on Bardo. So, it’s clear that the planets are moving, and other factors are playing into the phenomenon. It’s more important to understand the time relative to each planet.

Levitt was the one who tattooed Hope’s code onto O’s back, also the one who planted the note into Hope’s arm. Indeed the kind of man you want on the inside, he even accepts a blow to the face as thank you.

Sheep-ish?

Thirty minutes on the clock and the trio gets led to a congregation to praise the shepherd. I never thought it was Anders, I do, however think it might be Cadogan. The Bordoan’s built the underground forest because they destroyed their planet. Ugh, what’s new? The shepherd herded his sheep from earth to Bardo via the stone. Cadogan and his second dawn cult?

Back to Clarke. So, after last episode I thought ‘the key to winning the last war’ line was an artifice for luring Clarke to disciples, but now it’s clearly true. They’ve located the key and they will win the last war. Levitt was interested in Clarke surviving the City of Light with the flame in her head, they probably assume she still has it. Cadogan burned Becca alive. Could it be because of the flame? Is this all because of that damn little chip that can’t seem to die?

Bellamy is not dead, I repeat, Bellamy is not dead! I believe that memory could be staged or implanted for a reason. Also, there’s no body, he jumped through the bridge. In the promo photos, he wears a ring but his actions towards Octavia seem a little cold and generic. On first watch, I thought it was bad acting but if he was programmed to do this, it makes sense.

Note the sequence of events. Octavia returned 7 days ago and was asked to talk her brother down, but we don’t see the actual scene. Instead we’re shown a memory. They could have implanted it to make her vulnerable and perhaps more susceptible to the procedure. I don’t know, but this theory could lead to Robot-sheep!Bellamy on Nakara, where he’ll encounter Clarke and the gang.

I have to be honest, I really don’t like this character arc for Bellamy. It’s unoriginal and a mime of Peeta’s storyline in Mockingjay. Sorry, but so far it feels like the writers were so over the show, they just wanted to get it done. And that attitude really bleeds into one’s creative concepts. I could be completely wrong, in fact, I hope I am.

Echo spins a Finn

My word, I lost the love of my life once, but I sure didn’t kill anyone. When Echo received that vision of Roan, I was hoping for some progression on her individual arc, they’ve made me care about her, and now we get the opposite. Why? One thing I have to admit, a killer performance from Tasya Teles! No pun intended.

Look, this show hasn’t explored Bellamy and Echo’s relationship enough to make her murder believable. It was the exact same thing with Finn. I wasn’t invested in Finn and Clarke’s connection, so his actions of killing a grounder tribe was more repulsive than understandable. Sure, Echo loves Bellamy and her sole purpose is to save him, but I’ve never truly witnessed their love for each other. They had one or two intimate scenes which cannot compel a deed like this. And in the process, she screwed Hope and Diyoza.

Anyway, I don’t think there’s any coming back from it. She murdered an innocent person in cold blood. That’s sure to open a door to the dark side.  Just look at Octavia after killing Pike and her actions were justified by jus drein jus daun.

Say Sanctum three times slowly and it sounds like… Sanctum

Blind faith

Look, I’m just gonna come out and say this song is getting old. Every episode featuring Sanctum is the exact same thing with different lines. Can we please move on from it, already? Yes, we know the COG want Russel dead, and the adjusters will go to extreme lengths to free Russel and the prisoners are background noise.

I did appreciate Nelson stepping in to try and save the girl, though. Still doesn’t save the fact that it’s repetitive. The Sanctum plotline is really struggling to take shape and I hope it happens soon. Dramatic eyeroll.

At least in the drought of a desert, you can always count on Murphy. “…I say we live and let die.” Typical cockroach line, right, but it’s ironic when he’s the one to step up, even if it is for Emori. Under the magnifying glass it’s the exact same plot as episode 1 and 3. He hesitates to take action, and eventually becomes the hero.

I mean, he saved that poor kid from being burned alive. Can you imagine sacrificing your own child in such a horrific away? Cults are beyond whacked, and, unfortunately, it’s reality that cult members are so blinded by their faith that they do not see rhyme or reason.

How did Murphy fail that test? I didn’t. When Trey named the four pillars, I thought, isn’t rejoice one of them? Surely, a cockroach would have smelled that trap a mile away.

Indra the great

Can we just give a massive round of applause to Adina Porter!!! That powerhouse walk vibrates strength and majesty, damn, she should be a false god, I wouldn’t dare threaten her with or without an army.

Three little words was all it took for her to recognize evil. “There’s a spider on your shoulder.” Smooth. Too bad she can’t kill him. Why not, how many of the faithful are left to cause an uproar? Wonkru doesn’t know it’s Sheidheda, they won’t care, the COG will fall in line and the prisoners will be happy as long as they get their compound. Sorry, I don’t get it and I don’t understand why she doesn’t tell anyone.  Someone please explain?

Granted, JR Bourne as Russel is way better, but I still don’t understand his actions. I hope they explore and explain him more, because he still feels flat unless he knows something of this final war. I’m hoping these two storylines align soon since it’s really driving a wedge between me and my love for the show.

Shipwreck

I’ll start with the easy stuff, Murphy, Emori and the perfect dress gets a heart eye emoji from me. They are so damn cute this season, can they please live happily ever after in the palace?

Octabriel vs Levittavia

Now, I enjoy Levitt fangirling over Octavia. I feel like he has a deep sense of her through her memories. If I have to root for an underdeveloped relationship, it will have to be one where the characters share thoughts and experiences even if it is through a sick, sci-fi procedure.

On the other hand, Gabriel and Octavia have immense chemistry, two seconds of them together bends my mouth into an “Aah, cute” pout. This will also add some approval and representation for mixed racial relationships.

I really don’t mind either way as long as they make me care through showing and not telling.

Bellarke

So, if my theory is correct, and Bellamy does end up on Nakara, Bellarke will encounter each other quite soon. Bellamy won’t be himself though, but he might pretend to be Bellamy to win Clarke’s co-operation. Is there hope for Bellarke yet?

Echo is now trotting a dangerous path and Bellamy might be pledged to a cause, so I doubt there will be a happy ending for Becho. Since 7x01 I’ve been thinking that the writers might want to develop something between Clarke and Gaia but if they are separated, is there enough time? Guess we’ll see.

This monster of a review is finally done… If you read through everything, you deserve a gold star! Let me know what you think, till we meet again…

#The 100 #the100 7x05 #the100 season 7 #octavia blake #levitt the 100 #hope diyoza #bellamy blake #echo #john murphy #indra kom trikru #gabriel #bellarke #sheidheda

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This is your hand, these are my hands, this is the world,  which is round but not flat and has more colors than we can see. It begins, it has an end, this is what you will come back to, this is your hand. 

You Begin by Margaret Atwood

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“I felt sure of this. However much I loved him, and as beautiful as the world was, none of it was powerful enough to take the weight off his heart, that heaviness that dragged him down, into the beyond, making him yearn to be at peace.” - Banana Yoshimoto, The Lake

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“District 12: Where you can starve to death in safety.”

literature posters; the hunger games by suzanne collins