One particular teacher I had in elementary school had a habit of harping on hundred-dollar words at every opportunity. Other teachers brought it up from time to time, but it was pretty much her thing. Saying hundred-dollar words was meant to encourage kids to, dare I say, use an enriched vocabulary when writing. Using words like gigantic or massive instead of big. Often, it was explained that using these hundred-dollar words over simpler alternatives would make your writing

In case you missed the exciting news, I've recently started my own YouTube channel! 📖🩷✨ As the spunky and sparkly little sister to this blog, my channel is meant to be a space to chat about writing, life, and whatever else comes to mind. For one of my first videos, I'm taking part in a longstanding tradition and doing the AuthorTube Newbie Tag. If you're unfamiliar, it's essentially an icebreaker activity where newcomers introduce themselves by answering this set of questio

Spring cleaning is upon us! It's a great reminder to downsize and tidy up your space as we enter a new season. Spring cleaning can go beyond dusting baseboards and donating clothes you no longer wear. In fact, this decluttering mindset can be helpful for writers who need to tighten up their manuscripts. In this post, I'm sharing some of the things that might be creating clutter in your writing. Remember: there can be a time and a place for all of these things, but everything

Many moons ago, I wrote about my decision to start a blog over a YouTube channel or other visual media. There were several reasons at play, notably where things were at in terms of my schedule, my mental health at the time, insecurities, and my setup. It just wasn't feasible, but it was something that was in the back of my mind. A "someday" type of thing. Today is that someday! At long last, it's time for me to finally broaden the horizon on this blog. I am excited (and nervo

Candles are an essential for many of us writers. They're an easy way to add a cozy ambiance to your writing space, and the aromatherapy aspect can be helpful for getting into a writing headspace (and staying there , too). More recently, you may have seen candles used as timers in study-with-me videos. Some writers may even designate a "WIP candle" or "story candle," often chosen because its scent reminds them of their current project. Writers tend to be a crafty bunch, and a