The first post on this blog was written in 2010. That feels like a lifetime ago! The last post was written in 2019… so about that. I had a couple of kids, moved house, and changed jobs… the last four
Hello, Stranger
Gift Guide for the Writer in your Life
What? It’s not the holidays yet? It’s never too early to start shopping for gifts for the writer (or writers, if you’re lucky!) in your life, and I’ve put together this list of gifts writers really want – not just
Should My Characters Curse?
What is your opinion on cursing in books? Do you use it in your own writing? In today’s video, I share my thoughts on this interesting subject. Thanks for watching ibelonginabook! I’m Emily, and I am a writer with a
The Care and Keeping of Ideas
I have heard of a species of writer that keeps only one idea in mind at a time. They live and breathe this one idea, allowing it to consume their minds and all of their spare time. But what does
Summer Reading
Here are some recent reads I’ve really enjoyed, and I think you will too! My Goodreads page Cinder and Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer Winterhouse by Ben Guterson Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol The Wish Tree by Kyo
10 Commonly Confused Word Pairs
Have you ever wondered which words are the right ones to use in a sentence? Or maybe used a word that turned out to be incorrect, when you didn’t understand why? Let’s clear the air a bit by looking at
Writing Tools
Every writer has favorite tools that help them hone their craft. From fancy computer programs to simple notebooks, here’s a list of tools I use or have used in the past, and what I like about them. The Basics: Pen
Short Story VS Novel
What is the difference between a short story and a novel? How does a writer approach each type of story? What are some examples of good short stories? Find the answers to all this and more in today’s video. “Kleptomania”
5 Craft Books I Recommend
There are so many craft books out there, all claiming to show you how to defeat writer’s block once and for all, or how to make time to write every day, or how to turn your first draft prose into
Kleptomania – Short Story Publication!
I am so happy to share my short story “Kleptomania,” which was published this month by the Young Adult Review Network (YARN). You can read it for FREE online, and I hope you do! UPDATE: Sadly, YARN closed its page