Blog

The Center blog is teeming with tips and inspiration for starting and maintaining your writing practice.

Beyond a Book Review_Beginning at the end in Tomb Sweeping over image of an open book

Beyond a Book Review: Beginning at the End in Tomb Sweeping

Tomb Sweeping is a collection of 15 character-driven short stories about Chinese or Chinese-American characters written by Alexandra Chang.
beyond a book review_the what if of the deep sky, purple text over lightened image of an open book

Beyond a Book Review: The "What if?" of The Deep Sky

The future Yume Kitasei imagined for us is one that mirrors our present when it comes to diversity.
6 books to read during Black History Month heading in red over a photo of a stack of books with the top book open on a black background

6 books to read during Black History Month

What better way to celebrate Black voices than through books?
closeup of an open book with a red ribbon bookmark under headline 6 publications for aspiring essayists to bookmark

Six publications for aspiring essayists to bookmark

Where I go on the web to read nonfiction that expands my understanding of what essays are and what they can do.
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5 books to read this fall

Fall 2023 book recommendations—because go ahead, buy more books!
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Beyond a Book Review: Grief and Hope in All We Are Told Not to Touch

Why do we write? How do we navigate grief? What gives us hope?
beyond a book review_once upon a time in dovelion, purple text over lightened image of an open book

Beyond a Book Review: Once Upon a Time in Dovelion

Read Shawna's review of a novel with a built-in writing prompt for you to try.
beyond a book review_narrators and compassion in finding la negrita, purple text over lightened image of an open book

Beyond a Book Review: Narrators and Compassion in Finding La Negrita

Shawna Ayoub highlights the technique of using multiple narrators to foster compassion in a story, and offers an exercise so you can practice doing the same.
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Show your Pride with these summer reads

In honor of Pride month, we encourage you to buy books by LGBTQIA authors from LGBTQIA-owned independent bookstores, starting with these five selections in various genres.
beyond a book review_research as connection in through the banks of the red cedar, purple text over lightened image of an open book

Beyond a Book Review: Research as connection in Through the Banks of the Red Cedar

Shawna Ayoub moves "beyond the book review" in not only recommending great books by diverse writers, but highlighting a technique to apply to your own writing.

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