The Latest


The Golden Rule of Writing: Show Don't Tell!
The most important piece of creative writing advice you’ll ever receive? Show. Don’t. Tell. You might have heard it before, but it...
Sep 20, 20201 min read


How Helpful Are Character Sketches (And What Did Elizabeth Peters Do?)
Well, hello! If you’re new to Vocabbett, I help students painlessly improve their vocabulary through stories; as such, I tend to do a...
Sep 15, 20201 min read


How a Bestseller Gets Ideas (With Inspiration From Elizabeth Peters)
Have you ever loved a book so much that when you finished it, you just sat in stunned silence for a moment? How did the author get these...
Sep 6, 20203 min read


Writing Lessons Learned From 'Ahead of Her Time'
Aspiring writers are often told to “write what you know.” It’s valuable advice, no doubt, lending verisimilitude to an otherwise...
Sep 1, 20201 min read


And the TV Character With the Biggest (And Funniest!) Vocabulary Is...
Isn’t it a shame that shows only seem to become cult classics once they’re over? That’s what seems to be happening with Schitt’s Creek, a...
Aug 23, 20201 min read


'Brave New World' TV Series Review
Lately, I’ve been bombarded with ads for shows on NBC’s new streaming service, Peacock TV. And among their new shows, it seems, is Brave...
Aug 22, 20201 min read


Is *This* Sneakily Sabotaging Your Grammar? (P2!)
Let’s be honest: music is no good for reinforcing proper grammar habits, even if we all love it. However, I think for most songs, we kind...
Aug 18, 20201 min read


A Word That Makes Everything Better
If you’re like most people, you’ve got goals or dreams—you’re looking for something to make your life even better. I can’t promise that...
Aug 11, 20201 min read


Fear and Fascination: Secrets of the Italian Bus System
A perplexed looks steals across my face as I re-read my host sister’s enigmatic text message. “You go towards down,” she writes.
Aug 9, 20203 min read
