Books

Here is where you will find my reviews of books I've read and my recommendations. 

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The Middle

The middle (or second act) of your novel will consist of your protagonist trying and failing to achieve their goal. Act 2’s structure begins after the First Plot Point with Pinch 1, then the Midpoint, then Pinch 2. Pinch points should raise tension by reminding the reader of what the protagonist has to lose or of the villain’s power. Make the situation life-or-death through a reveal or reminder. These Pinch Points both lead to and extrapolate off of the Midpoint. Pinch 1 - 1/4 of Act 2 Pinch 1 is just after the First Plot Point, so the protagonist is still scrambling to adjust to his new circumstances. He is already confused, so it’s the perfect time to throw him further off balance by introducing new clues about the nature of the conflict. Pinch 1 should show readers that the story is bigger than they expected, so there is more riding on the protagonist’s decisions. Reveal something about the context of the novel or apply new meaning to something the readers already know. T...
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10 Tips for Writing Humor

Every novel should contain humor, as it creates endearing characters, lightens tense situations, and enhances the reader’s experience. While humor is subjective and difficult to pin down, some of the tips below may help you create meaningful humor in your work-in-progress. Remember, practice makes perfect! Generally, humor boils down to unpredictability, so don’t let readers know where the punchline is. Play on the knowledge the audience knows but some characters don’t. Let’s say one of your characters just killed a demon, making him miss his curfew. His mom asks him why he was late and he says, “I was ending world hunger,” or “I was protesting the experimentory use of cosmetics on living creatures.” Either response is unexpected and far from what he was really doing, so readers find it amusing. Contradictory traits or actions from your characters can be humorous. Let’s say your main character is a jock who bullies the geeks at school. Maybe one day his mom walks in on...
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Basic Hummus Recipe

I am in love with hummus. It’s creamy, healthy, and delicious. It's perfect to share with your writing buddies or to savor alone. Here's my favorite clean hummus recipe:   Simply blend: 3 tbsp water 1 can chickpeas (15.5 oz) ¼ tsp cumin ¼ tsp paprika ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp olive oil 2 tbsp tahini ⅛ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp onion powder
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