The Latest


Writing And...Popcorn?
While exciting, I’ll be the first to admit that writing is also uniquely daunting. It’s one thing to have an outline; it’s another thing...
Sep 29, 20202 min read


Is Your Subject Your Subject? (Two Meanings!)
Psst… you can read the new vocabulary-boosting short story I mention in the podcast here! As we wrap up our writing mini-series, I have...
Sep 27, 20201 min read


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 ideas ? you ask. Maybe you turn to Google and find some witty but ultimately meaningless response from the author, or nothing at all. For aspiring writers, this can be maddening! If each book is an invention, ideas are the schematics and blueprints. I want to know how you built this! Most of the books I referenced above were written by Eliza
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