Jars of Words

I will now post every other Sunday, twice a month due to pressures in life and school. Plus, this new schedule will allow me more time to work on my novel and extracurricular activities. Thank you for understanding!

John Cleaver by Dan Wells Romantic subplot: … yes. Humor: Yes, it’s darker. Moving: YES. Sad parts: YES. Mystery: YES. Summary: The series follows the sociopathic teenager John Wayne Cleaver as he fights inner and external demons. John has enough trouble fighting his sociopathic tendencies, and when murders start occurring in his small hometown, he struggles to stay afloat in his own twisted mind. The main character’s cunning and wit make him a unique protagonist, to whom the villain is a successful foil. It’s definitely a deeper, more poignant series. It can be slower at certain points because it primarily falls into the mystery and horror genre. However, the plot never stalls out or fails to be amusing, and the supernatural elements and deep psychological aspects make it a novel anyone can read and enjoy. It is a character-driven, unforgettable series. Rating: 4.5/5. For young adults, but can be enjoyed by anyone. Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman Romantic ...

1. Make both the hero and their friend likable and full characters. This means the friend needs strengths, weaknesses, and a life outside the hero. Their problems don’t have to be subplots, but they should be clear and present. 2. Give them reasons to be friends. Why do they like each other? What do they bond over or agree on? They must trust and care about each other despite their disagreements, and this love must manifest itself based on their personalities. Do they show affection through witty jabs or heartfelt conversations? 3. The friends should complement each other, meaning they must be different somehow. Based on your theme, what opposing viewpoints do they hold? What conflicting flaws could cause tension? 4. Give the friendship an arc. How can you allow them to care about, trust, and communicate with one another through escalating difficulties? Conflict and perseverance will both show what their friendship is made of and change it for better or worse. 5. In...

I’m sick of my standard oatmeal recipe, which means it’s time for some upgrades. Below are some savory options that take no more time to make than the sweet. Enjoy! ¼-⅓ cup of cooked oats ½ of an avocado 1 egg Salt, pepper, and/or garlic to taste ¼-⅓ cup of cooked oats 3 oz of leftover shredded chicken 1 tbsp of tahini Soy sauce, salt, pepper, and/or garlic to taste ¼-⅓ cup of cooked oats ¼ cup of shredded bacon 1 egg ¼ cup of cheddar cheese Salt, pepper, and/or garlic to taste ¼-⅓ cup of cooked oats 1 tbsp of pesto Handful of green beans/asparagus ¼ cup of sundried tomatoes Salt and pepper to taste ¼-⅓ cup of cooked oats ¼ cup of chickpeas/black beans/hummus Handful of spinach or cooked veggies Salt, pepper, and/or garlic to taste Let me know if you tried any of the recipes and how they tasted!

Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan Romantic subplot: Yes. Humor: YES. Moving: Yes. Sad parts: Sometimes. Mystery: Yes. Summary: The novel follows a man in his early twenties as he seeks employment in future San Francisco. He discovers a 24-hour bookstore that is more than it appears to be. The novel is humorous and meaningful with vibrant characters and a fast-paced, twisting plot. It displays the relationship between technology and books through a story that is reminiscent of classic magical adventures like Harry Potter . Rating: 4.5/5. For anyone. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Romantic subplot: No. Humor: Some. Moving: YES. Sad parts: YES. Mystery: No. Summary: The novel follows a thirteen-year-old boy named Conor whose mother is dying of cancer. However, in the midst of all his pain, he finds a monster who may be able to help him - or very well destroy him. A touching and heartfelt story that made me cry several times. If you’...

Have you ever tried warm Nutella? It’s impossible to articulate how much better it is than when it’s room temperature. However, I rarely buy Nutella. So I found and edited this recipe for when I want a chocolatey, warm snack. Note: I do not use hazelnuts for this recipe. I suppose any nut will do, but I use walnuts since that’s what’s around my house. 2 tbsp crushed walnuts 1 tsp cocoa powder 1 tsp honey ½ tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp coconut oil Melt in microwave (20 seconds) and stir *Makes roughly two servings

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...