Writing
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Writing “Rules”: Said Is Dead
Everyone has pet peeves. Little, innocuous offenses that immediately annoy us or, in some cases, unholy rage. The range of offenses is wide, from bad drivers to slow walkers to open-mouthed chewing (I feel like I might be triggering… Continue reading
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Writing “Rules”: Show, Don’t Tell
New writers are inundated with advice. Whether you’re in a workshop, discussing ideas with a friend, or watching an interview with a famous author, everyone wants to tell you how to write well. Even I, your friendly neighborhood hobbyist, am… Continue reading
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Planners vs. Explorers
Every book is a journey, from the copyright pages to the acknowledgments. It could be a literal journey, a fictional hero traveling great distances to accomplish their goal like Frodo or Odysseus. Others are more cerebral, characters going on an… Continue reading
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Giving & Receiving Critique
There’s a special kind of dread that comes with finishing a second or third draft. Every rewrite sits in front of you looking like a finished piece. And, to some extent, it is: it’s as finished as you, alone, can… Continue reading
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Navigating Writer’s Block
Artists of all stripes have a difficult time describing where their motivation to create comes from. Some chalk it up to inspiration (a famously fickle mistress); others, to hard work and rigid schedules. I’m of the personal opinion that the… Continue reading
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Sketching the First Draft
Every art piece starts with an idea. There’s usually a gathering of materials, some excited muttering, and a vague plan for execution formed. Then the artist will sit down in front of their blank canvas, fingers buzzing with potential, maybe… Continue reading
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Writing: Building Your Foundation
As someone who enjoys making things, I’ve found that the word “hobby” does a lot of heavy lifting. Most hobbies are creative, usually involving the physical creation of something from a set of tools and raw materials. For instance, woodworking:… Continue reading
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Welcome to Tea Reads
Hi there! Welcome to Tea Reads: a blog about reading, writing, and drinking unholy amounts of tea. As this is the inaugural post and I, quite frankly, am quaking in my metaphorical boots, I’ll do my best to keep it… Continue reading
Tea Reads 