Juxtaposition might sound like one of those intimidating literary terms you learned in school and immediately forgot, but it’s actually one of the simplest (and coolest) writing tools you can use. At its core, juxtaposition is all about placing two things side by side to show contrast. Light vs. dark....
Commas have a funny reputation. They’re tiny, fussy, and somehow responsible for starting more arguments between writers than plot holes, Oxford commas, and whether “said” is dead combined. But there’s one place where commas quietly wield real, sentence-saving power: right between those rowdy adjective pairs we call coordinate adjectives. If...
Some things in life are impossible to forget: your first crush, your worst haircut, and apparently, certain book titles. Ever notice how The Great Gatsby or The Hunger Games glide into your memory and refuse to leave, like glitter after craft day? That’s not an accident. Famous book titles aren’t...
There’s a special kind of magic in opening the first book of a series. One minute you’re promising yourself you’ll “just read one chapter,” and the next you’ve forgotten your errands, your coffee’s gone cold, and you’re mentally drafting an apology to everyone you were supposed to meet today. That’s...
If you’ve ever written “he said” so many times your document started echoing, you’re not alone. Dialogue tags are those little signposts that tell readers who is speaking in a conversation: she whispered, they shouted, he asked, and so on. They may look small, but they’re the unsung heroes of...
If you’re a writer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the game for years, having a writing portfolio is essential. Think of it as your personal “showcase”; the digital equivalent of a business card that actually works. It’s the place where potential clients, employers, or readers can...
When it comes to expanding your vocabulary, words that start with d offer a surprising mix of everyday descriptors, uplifting positives, and unique gems you may have never heard before. Are you looking for adjectives that start with d to describe a person? Or looking for positive adjectives to describe...
When it comes to expanding your vocabulary, adjectives that start with a b offer a surprising mix of everyday descriptors, uplifting positives, and unique gems you may have never heard before. Are you looking for adjectives that start with b to describe a person? Or looking for positive adjectives to...
Ever notice how the right turn of phrase can make words sparkle? That’s the magic of figures of speech. They transform plain sentences into something memorable, funny, or even goosebump-worthy. In this guide, we’ll break down what figures of speech are, why they matter, and share 30+ clear examples (from...
Ever read a poem that gave you chills and thought, how did the writer pull that off? Chances are, they used poetic devices. These are the little tricks, like rhythm, imagery, and metaphor, that turn ordinary words into something that sticks in your mind. In this guide, we’ll break down...
You know that moment when you’re writing and suddenly stop because you are not sure how to format something? Book titles are one of the most common culprits. Do you italicize them? Do you underline them? Do the rules change if it is a series or a children’s book? The...
We’ve all met that guy in a story before, the wise old mentor who knows the answers to everything, the bumbling sidekick who exists mainly to trip over furniture, or the brooding villain who really needs a better hobby. They show up across genres, centuries, and cultures, so familiar you...
