Month: October 2017

Book Reviews: Excerpts from No Grey Areas by Stuart Hopkins

Trigger Warning: Today’s book, No Grey Areas by Stuart Hopkins, depicts scenes of domestic abuse, including mental, emotional, and physical abuse. If you or someone you know have suffered through similar abuse or otherwise wish to avoid such topics, proceed with caution.

 

Happy weekend, everyone! Mine is off to an unusual and rather bumpy start, which led to me being unable to post a Friday Fun-Day Writing Prompt or any other content yesterday. I’ll try and post one later today or tomorrow, but for now I want to start the weekend with a book review. Today’s review is a special one, very different from anything I’ve done on this blog. Last week, I was given the opportunity to read and review excerpts from a book that will be published in December and I am presenting my thoughts on them in this post. The book which I have sampled is No Grey Areas, a memoir written by and about Stuart Hopkins.

Before I start my review, I want to provide a little information on the author. Stuart Hopkins is a professional pianist, businessman, trained pilot, and traveler. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Hopkins has been to Malta, Southeast Asia, and many other places around the world. He will even fulfill a dream of going to India in 2018. More than that, he’ll be journeying on the Maharajah Express, the most luxurious train in the world which can cost up to US$50,000 for a week-long journey.

We all know that the most extraordinary lives also tend to harbor the worst traumas. Hopkins’s life, unfortunately, is no exception. He has had more than his fair share of tragedies, from an abusive father and alcoholic mother to a half-brother who committed suicide before Hopkins had the chance to reach out and connect with the troubled soul. He has been poked, prodded, bullied, beaten, and taken advantage of. Most recently, Hopkins had a business partner in 2009 while in Thailand who tried to steal the company out from under him by having him arrested for fraud, a charge which took him three months in prison to clear himself of. (You can learn more about that fun time on his Quora blog. That blog is where Hopkins jots down the first draft of everything, so keep in mind that the book has been edited and polished more and don’t judge it based on how the blog is written.)

No Grey Areas covers these experiences and more. Starting with his formative years, Hopkins takes readers on a journey from his tumultuous upbringing and budding talent for the piano to his days playing professionally in hotels and on ships and—the icing on the cake—three separate, narrow escapes from death. Hopkins admits on his website that some of the events may seem “outlandish” but that “every word [he’s] written is absolutely true”.

To be honest, I never doubted these experiences for a second, no matter how extraordinary they seemed. Hopkins writes with such raw emotion and bitter humor, constructing a feeling of sincerity which the most hardened skeptic could not challenge, that he could probably sell ice to an Eskimo just by sending him a letter. They say that truth is stranger than fiction; nowhere does this statement ring more true than in No Grey Areas.


Image retrieved from Hopkins’s Facebook page
Hopkins’s passions and emotions seep into every word of these excerpts. You can feel his love for the piano—and when that love waned—and the adrenaline which rushes through him when he flies a plane. You’ll grow sympathy for him as a teacher prods his chest black-and-blue for a minor grammatical error and nurture an appreciation for the man he has become while reading about the decline of his childhood home life.

Even though I have not experienced much of what Hopkins has experienced first-hand, I easily found moments in his life which I could latch onto as a connection between us. I cared more about him due to these small connections and the humor he puts into the darkest situations, making his brutally-honest and relatively-unfiltered thoughts more palatable.

Of course, such emotional investment also means that, at times, I wanted to smack Hopkins upside the head, either because he did something stupid or because he said something that I found annoying or offensive.

I both shook my head and laughed when he had to make the decision between spending his evening with a drunk, middle-aged man from Malta or a pretty, kind Swedish girl his own age. I rolled my eyes when he slipped into an aside about how today’s youth isn’t prepared as well for life as his generation was (the only thing missing from that statement was something about millennials and avocado toast). I also took slight personal offense to something involving a larger-than-average girl, being overweight myself. With that last issue, I should point out that one of the reasons I took offense was because the incident was so hilarious even though I knew I shouldn’t laugh due to my own condition, which testifies to the captivating power of Hopkins’s writing.

Any urges to smack him aside, Hopkins’s memoir promises to be a very engaging, funny, heartwarming, and heart-wrenching read. I went through the excerpts fairly quickly, so I suspect that the memoir itself will read just as quickly and have minimal lagging in the narration. Hopkins clearly does not hold back, no matter how painful the memories might be.

While the title is No Grey Areas and the author claims to see things in black-and-white, there may be some debate as to whether the memoir truly speaks in black-and-white or if, in a touch of irony, grey areas abound in the novel. I personally lean towards the latter interpretation after reading these excerpts, and it’s this subversion of expectations which makes me excited to read more once the book is released in December. After all, can we really choose to avoid grey areas in life and morality? Or do they persist despite what we claim to believe?

To read these excerpts, follow this link to Hopkins’s website. They are available individually on the website as well as together in one document for multiple e-reader formats (look under the “Downloads” tab). You can also find out more about his future trip to India and about the author himself. Most importantly, make sure to sign up for his newsletter so that you can be among the first to get news regarding the memoir and its release.

An extra bonus to accessing his website is that you can pre-order No Grey Areas for US$4.49, half of what it will be after its e-book release; just scroll to the bottom of one of the excerpt web pages and click on the PayPal button below the text.

Do you know of any books I should read? Any books about to be released that you think we should spread the word about? Want your book reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Some Thoughts on the Novella

For our first fiction webinar of the year, my Master’s class discussed a form which does not often cross the modern writer’s mind: the novella. It’s not so easy to keep all the definitions straight in the writing world, so I found a rough definition of “novella” from an article on The Writer. When separating novellas from short stories and novels, word counts usually create the boundaries; typically, novellas have between 20,000 and 50,000 words.

Beyond the definition of “novella,” the article from The Writer also raises an interesting question which my webinar debated as well: could the novella survive on the commercial market?


A famous novella

Image retrieved from Wikipedia

The author of this article, Jack Smith, argues for pursuing small presses when attempting to publish a novella. As hard as it is to get a larger publisher to give you the time of day as an unknown novelist, it’s even harder when you’re pushing a novella. Smith points out that more of the smaller presses are open to accepting novellas. However, he also explains that, due to financial or quota restrictions, smaller publishers can’t take anything less than an exemplary novella.

Some publishers don’t want novellas because they don’t seem to sell. Others want them because they’re shorter than a novel and, therefore, cheaper to produce; as long as the writing is high quality and compelling, it could be a very wise investment. This potential makes me wonder if the form is truly as undesirable to consumers as market trends suggest.

Consider this: a common complaint in regards to society becoming overly-dependent on technology is that it shortens our attention spans. If that complaint contains a grain of truth, novellas would be preferable to the average reader rather than the novel. The novella immerses the reader in its world as thoroughly as a novel with the writing economy and punch of a short story. What’s better for the impatient millenial reader? (I am so sorry I used that term.)

Another aspect of the digital age may also give novellas an advantage: e-books. E-books allow readers to find quick distractions when they don’t have physical books, like when they’re waiting at the doctor’s office or standing in line for a movie. Short stories and short story collections may thrive better in these shorter waits, but novellas would fill the void during medium-length waits, such as day trips and nights spent at the airport.


Another famous novella

Image retrieved from Wikipedia

For both self-published writers and smaller presses, the digital revolution could reignite the commercial possibilities for novellas. That doesn’t mean you should self-publish or send out your novella willy-nilly. As with all forms of writing, you have to make your novella the best you think it can be, including undergoing several rewrites, edits, and beta readers as you find prudent (and then add a couple more sessions to be sure). Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to pitch or publish your work because it’s a novella. If you like it, if you see more promise than failure in it, proceed as you would with a novel or short story.

To get you novella writers started, be sure to check out the aforementioned article from The Writer for some small presses open to receiving novella submissions.

What do you think? Are novellas dead? Or are they just waiting to rise again? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Writing and the Persistence of Eye Strain

In an average week, I read over 200 pages. During my busiest weeks, that number can easily reach 1,000. Schoolwork, editing jobs, book reviews, and reading for this blog–not to mention reading for fun–can really add up. I shouldn’t complain; reading is, after all, one of my favorite things to do and I love my work and education. Still, there is one huge side effect common to all writers and avid readers, one which can hinder our writing and reading pursuits, if not put a stop to them: eye strain.

We’re all familiar with the headaches, burning eyes, fatigue, and other symptoms which come with eye strain. Whether it’s from reading too much or writing too much, all writers have experienced the phenomenon at least once, no matter how minor the case may seem. Sometimes it can even lead to–or be a symptom of–a larger problem. For some migraineurs, eye strain can go so far as to trigger a migraine attack.

Fortunately, Mayo Clinic claims that eye strain usually doesn’t cause any long-term damage. It’s just irritating as all heck and can bring a grinding halt to our work as we try and alleviate the issue.

Still, writers–as both writers and enthusiastic readers–can suffer much more damage than eye strain. John Milton went blind before he even wrote Paradise Lost. As I type this post, my eyes are starting to hurt and I can hardly concentrate. The digital age has brought on a new slew of sources for eye strain, the most notable ones for readers and writers being e-books and laptops.


Image retrieved from The Eye Solution

What can we do to combat this menace?

Some people need to see an optometrist if the eye strain becomes too severe. In those cases, glasses for reading and/or screen time may be necessary. Most times, however, lifestyle changes are all that you need to prevent and alleviate the irritation. Mayo Clinic has an extensive list of these measures, but I think the following are particularly useful for writers in the modern era:

  1. Blink often. This may sound obvious but it can be pretty easy to forget to blink. Mayo Clinic points out that people tend to blink less when staring at electronic screens, and I can personally vouch for that. How often have you blinked while reading this post? I’m guessing not as much as you would expect. Blinking often will refresh your eyes by producing more tears, which will help keep your eyes moist while staring at a computer, tablet, e-reader, TV, or phone.
  2. Take breaks. Again, obvious but not always the first thing that comes to mind. It’s also not the easiest thing to do. We’re busy and working under deadlines, how can we afford to take breaks? Suffice to say, ten-minute breaks here and there will save a lot more time and preserve the quality of your work better than headaches, blurred vision, and eyes that won’t stay open.


    Image retrieved from Pinterest
  3. Adjust the lights. My dad is particularly fond of this one, although he alternates between it being because the lights hurt his eyes and because he thinks even two fluorescent bulbs heat up a room. He insists on most–often all–lights being off when he’s in a room, day or night. This approach doesn’t help eye strain, either. Trying to see in such little light is just as bad for your eyes as lights that are too bright. You have to adjust the lights depending on your activity and what’s comfortable for your eyes. If you’re in a room with someone whose eyes are as different from yours as my dad’s are from mine, good luck. That’s all I can say.
  4. Adjust your screen. I don’t just mean the back light, although adjusting that according to how your eyes feel can really help. You should also experiment with how the screen is positioned, the angle and amount of external light surrounding it, and even the font size can make a huge difference. On top of that, you need to keep the screen clean in order to keep dust from messing with the contrast and worsening any glare issues.

All in all, the best thing anyone can do for eye strain is to not focus on any one surface too long, especially if that surface is an electronic screen. It’s easier said than done, especially for writers. We eat, breathe, and sleep the written word (and often the moving pictures, too), and most of our days are spent staring at screens, books, and papers. Nevertheless, unless you want to get a patient relative or friend to transcribe your work like Milton did, you should preserve your sight now for your future writing endeavors.

Do you suffer from eye strain frequently? How do you deal with it? What was your worst experience with eye strain to date? Leave your thoughts and stories in the comments below!

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Book Reviews: Driving Grandpa by John Redstand

With a few exceptions, we all have at least one relative who loves to tell stories about their youth, whether we ask them to or not. We may be bored when we first hear their stories as children but we long to know them later in life. Besides, they make a great springboard for stories, poems, and essays. That’s one of the reasons why I created this week’s writing prompt and why I’m discussing a particular short novel. In fact, reading this book got me thinking about family stories and led to me setting such tales as the focus of the prompt. Today I’m talking about Driving Grandpa by John Redstand.

Driving Grandpa is a “fictionalized memoir,” as the Amazon description claims, of the last few months of Redstand’s grandfather’s life. A no-nonsense World War II veteran from the South, Redstand’s grandfather, Roy, leads an exciting life, even while in his 90s. He’s a hard worker and a man of honor, if not also stubborn, opinionated, and headstrong. With wit, a lively spring to his step, and an arsenal of war stories, Grandpa makes the most of every day right to the end of his life.


Image retrieved from Amazon

Redstand does not utilize a plot, not as we usually see in fiction, but that doesn’t mean the events depicted are random and unrelated. Much like the rest of us, Grandpa’s days feed into each other, and his war stories connect in one way or another. The driving force behind Driving Grandpa is not a desire to see how it ends, to see how some plot resolves, but for the joy of reading about Grandpa, his stories, and his dog, Old Gray, as he rides along with Redstand on his job cleaning foreclosed homes and switching out the locks.

Redstand pulled me in right from the first chapter, picking the perfect moment to introduce his grandfather: when he is driving to Grandpa’s house and finds the old man walking along an unfriendly (to pedestrians) road after thinking that Redstand’s uncles are trying to put him in a home. At first, I thought it was something straight out of a sitcom, but I’ll be darned if his ninety-something grandfather hadn’t just walked two miles from some senior’s apartments towards his home by himself. The rest of Grandpa’s days are just as hilarious and so unbelievable that you know it has to be true, or at least close to the truth.

My favorite aspect of the book, by far, are the voices of the narrator and Grandpa. They are genuinely, distinctly Southern; there’s no mistaking that. Both of them are also frank and blunt, although Redstand has a much better filter than Grandpa. I appreciate that Redstand doesn’t only state the facts of Grandpa’s last days but captures the essence of the characters and their relationship. It’s the same sort of Southern flare you’d expect to encounter with characters in a Flannery O’Connor story.

Driving Grandpa is an incredibly quick read. As the book clocks in at 133 pages and utilizes fast-paced, crisp writing, I could have easily finished it in a day if it weren’t for constant interruptions. That does not mean that Redstand’s work lacks depth. Instead, I became so engaged with Grandpa and his stories that I flew right through it.

To my great relief, I only found a couple minor proofreading errors. In fact, if I had not been on the look-out for problems, I might not have noticed any at all. The book has clearly been thoroughly edited and even the most professional books can contain errors after extensive proofreading, so these couple tiny errors do not detract from the reading whatsoever.

The one problem I have with Redstand’s Driving Grandpa is not the lack of plot, which I originally suspected I would have a problem with. Truth be told, I did not feel any deficiency in that area at all. Instead, my only real problem came at the very end of the book. The ending is rushed, but Redstand admits that and makes a very good point: it felt abrupt in real life and that’s how he portrayed it. I find, in that way, the ending fit Redstand’s writing style.

The last two lines, however, are cheesy. In a book about such a complex man, someone who is both likeable and flawed, to end with “God bless America. God bless the Greatest Generation” feels forced. Those last two lines, in my opinion, seem to be trying to force an agenda, something which I did not detect in the rest of the novel. I don’t have anything against the sentiment and, by all means, Redstand should include it if he wishes. Nevertheless, I think the ending would have resonated with me better if he had cut it off just before those two lines. Those two lines feel almost like Redstand doesn’t trust that the audience will get what they should out of his grandfather’s stories, and such perceived doubt on the part of the writer always bugs me.

Something else I wish Redstand had touched upon in the ending, although it doesn’t detract from the story as a whole, is Old Gray’s fate after Grandpa died. The poor dog had no one before Grandpa found him, where did he end up? Of course, it says a lot about Redstand’s writing that I came to care so much about the old dog (for full disclosure, I’m an animal lover anyway).

Overall, Driving Grandpa surprised me. I half-expected some sort of “my grandpa was a great veteran who could do no wrong” memoir but, right off the bat, Redstand shows that his grandfather was a great man but could definitely do wrong. The glimpses into Grandpa’s and Granny’s families had me on the edge of my seat laughing. I often had to stop reading to read one of the stories aloud to my mom, both because they were so funny and because they reminded me so much of the Southern half of my mom’s family (her mom’s side). If I do that, a writer is either doing something really wrong or really right; in this case, it has to be because Redstand did something really right.

To check out Driving Grandpa for yourself, follow this link to the Amazon page.

Know of a book I should read? Want me to review your work on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Friday Fun-Day Writing Prompt: Family Stories

Happy Friday, readers and writers! It’s been a long week with no real sign of slowing down. I know my days won’t slow down for a while but, in a way, it’s probably better that way. My mind drifts into odd or bad places when I’m idle. Anyway, today’s writing prompt may require a little research on your part, including calling any living older relatives that you can stand talking to. I’m talking about telling family stories.

With a few exceptions, most people have family stories to share. I know that both sides of my family have their fair share of out-there true tales and flat out fabricated lore. My mom especially has many stories to tell; she’s obsessed with genealogy, after all. Of course, I usually just want to listen to my mom’s stories about her and her uncle getting into trouble during church. (Lester!) Yet there’s more than just personal amusement behind our predecessors’ ramblings.


Every branch of the family tree has its own story.

Image retrieved from Discover Downtown Bangor

Even writers don’t often recognize the gold mine in these family stories. Better yet, they may be afraid to tap into them for fear of backlash from relatives. As far as the latter goes, you’re probably going to upset at least one relative with the views you portray in your work or if they even think that a character with negative traits is based on them. There’s no way to avoid that, so you shouldn’t let all that potential go to waste.

Others, however, truly do not realize that family stories could make for a better book than the most convoluted fiction. That’s where this writing prompt comes in.

As I usually do, I’m leaving this prompt pretty open-ended. All you have to do is pick your brain–or a relative’s–for a family story that a grandparent, great-aunt/uncle, parent, or aunt/uncle has told you time and time again. Once you find the right tale, turn that story into a short story, essay, poem, novel aspect, whatever you want. You can change the names but try and keep core facts the same, like setting, emotions, events, etc. Feel free to embellish some (that’s the best part of carrying on family stories) but maintain as many of the original elements as you can without copying down the story you were told word-for-word.

This exercise is relatively easy, and for a reason. I’m not trying to stretch you as a writer today. Instead, I want to stretch your imagination and your ability to recognize a good story when you come across it. Writers always struggle to find inspiration, but sometimes the inspiration has been in front of us all along; we just never stopped to look at it.

Please feel free to share your family stories in the comments below. I love hearing them and if you share yours, I have a few whoppers of my own to share.

Until then, have fun writing and remember to give a big hug and thanks to any relatives who go the extra mile to share their life stories with you.

Do you have any ideas for writing prompts? Want to share one of your works on this blog or want to tell others about available contests and publishing opportunities? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

October Monthly Newsletter Giveaway

AMUCK! Amuck, amuck, amuck, amuck, amuck! My fellow Hocus Pocus fans know what that means: it’s finally October! Halloween is less than 27 days away, 26 if you’re on the East coast or across the Atlantic. Cue the horror films, corn mazes, costumes, and, of course, candy.

via GIPHY

With a new month we also have a new monthly giveaway. The October monthly newsletter giveaway is a special one, one which you’ll learn, in a future post, pairs perfectly with my October festivities.

By now, you’ve probably surmised that I’m a huge Disney fan. I make a lot of Disney references and I’ve dedicated a series of posts to the company and its films. I try and go to Disneyland at least once a year, and I live all the way up in Northern California. It’s a family matter, really; my parents would give an arm and a leg each to work for Disney.

The October monthly giveaway pays tribute to this obsession. For this month only, I will be giving away free, personalized guides to having a great Disneyland vacation. It may not sound like much but, trust me, it can take multiple trips to get into a good theme park rhythm. I also know that kids don’t help much (my brothers certainly didn’t). Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, but only if you know how to navigate the crowd and explore the overstimulating surroundings.

To get your free guide, you’ll have to sign up for our newsletter, The Scrapbook, which you can do by following the link provided in the blog’s menu. Then you’ll find the instructions for the giveaway in this month’s newsletter.

I normally charge $5 – $20 for these tips on Fiverr, so make sure to take advantage of this giveaway before October ends.

Also remember to check back regularly as Halloween approaches. You’ll especially want to keep an eye out for a special announcement I’ll be making towards the middle of the month.

Until then, have a fun and festive October, my dearies!

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011

Commercial Writing Prospects

Many writers dream of making writing their sole jobs. There are some who genuinely enjoy their day jobs and are lucky enough to have the best of both worlds. Kudos to them. Still, several writers would prefer to paying the bills with their books, short stories, poems, or essays. Unfortunately, most of us won’t be as lucky as J.K. Rowling. That’s where commercial writing steps in.

You probably already know about many commercial writing opportunities: magazine/newspaper articles, guest blog posts, general website content, résumé writing, etc. Yet far more opportunities await freelance writers than the obvious choices.

The world is full of commercial writing prospects. You just have to know where to look. Fortunately, you don’t have to look hard but smart. Even the technology and medical sectors need writers from time to time.

What sorts of commercial writing opportunities are there?

  1. Slogans: Every service and product needs a slogan, and those catchy one-liners have to come from somewhere. While many of the larger companies have their own slogan writers, the smaller ones often have to outsource the project to freelancers who charge less. (Be careful not to undersell yourself.) I have two tips for this option: research the product/service before writing the slogan and provide your client multiple slogans from which to choose.

    Image retrieved from S-USIH
  2. Product Descriptions: It’s not glamorous but it’s necessary. From the specifics of a landscaping service on the business’s website to the Amazon description for nail clippers, every product and service must be described succinctly, accurately, and persuasively in order to sell. That’s where writers come in. Again, larger companies will most likely hire from within to write product descriptions. However, smaller companies and their owners do not have the time, money, and/or the skill necessary to write these descriptions themselves or hire a high-rate marketing professional. Freelancers once more shine.
  3. Brochures: From tourist traps to hospitals, almost every business uses brochures to get the word out about their service or product. The larger companies have built-in departments for that sort of thing and the owners or employees of small companies may design brochures themselves to save money; middle-of-the-road companies, those that aren’t quite big-time but aren’t necessarily new to the game, will probably look for cheap(er) freelance writers to write the text of brochures and designers to do the rest. The same goes with e-newsletters, e-mail campaigns, mailers, magazine inserts, etc.
  4. Book Reviews: You can be paid to write book reviews for magazines, websites, blogs, etc. Rates depend on the place you want to be published, the length and genre of the book, and so on, so research such services before looking for any openings. You also have to be careful with this commercial writing prospect. Mostly, you have to know where not to put your reviews. Namely, don’t advertise paid reviews for Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, or similar places. Most importantly, it’s often a violation of their terms and services. No use getting into trouble over one review. You can post reviews of books on these websites once you’ve finished reading them just because you want to, but I suggest avoiding advertising it as something authors, publishers, agents, or editors can pay for. Instead, make it a nice surprise out of your desire to let others know your opinion of the book.
  5. Book Blurbs: Indie writers and publishers can’t do everything themselves. They need to outsource many steps in the publishing process, from editing to book cover design. Sometimes they also need help with something as seemingly-mundane as the blurb at the back of the book or in the sleeve of the cover. Don’t be fooled; writing a blurb that both represents the book and makes it appealing to the potential reader isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Where can you find such jobs? To start out, I would suggest checking out freelancing websites. You can find information on these websites on my earlier post about side-jobs for struggling writers. However, my recommendation is to try Fiverr first. It’s easier, more freelancer-friendly, and the customers come to you.

I’m not going to lie, commercial writing isn’t the most glorious of freelancing jobs. Heck, it’s not always the most rewarding, either. I’ve jumped into commercial writing a lot the last few months. I’ve written book reviews, slogans, answers for quiz sites, and even hashtags.

I love writing book reviews; there’s nothing like being able to tell people that you have to read a science fiction book for work. I also like slogan writing and don’t mind the social media jobs. Still, it’s not what I thought I’d be doing at this point. I thought I’d be writing and selling books and short stories. Until I get my first book/story written and sold, commercial writing isn’t a bad way to go. I get to flex my writing and creativity muscles and earn some money to pay the bills, all while writing my stories and running this blog. Commercial writing may not be the most dignified option for “serious” writers, but no one really wants to be a starving artist, either.

What kinds of commercial writing opportunities have you encountered? Would you use commercial writing to supplement your other income, whether your main income be writing or a standard 9-to-5 job? What’s the one job, writing or not, that you absolutely refuse to do no matter how much you need the money? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

If you would like to hire me for book reviews, pun writing, slogans, editing, or something similar, check out my profile on Fiverr.

 


Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011