Ruby Galvez, RL

Let’s be honest: most of us buy those Starbucks planners because they’re pretty, not because we’re planning to become meticulous schedulers. At least, that was my initial intention—until I realized it could be the accountability tool I desperately needed. Now, my Starbucks planner is less about appointments and more about keeping track of my daily battles with self-discipline. Here’s how I use it to monitor three key areas of my life: resisting the urge to smoke, watching my calorie intake, and moving my body. 1. The Smoking Tracker This is the toughest section to fill out because it demands raw honesty. At the end of each day, I mark whether I resisted the urge to smoke—or if I gave in. There’s no judgment here (okay, maybe a little self-judgment), just a simple note: "Resisted" or "Gave In." I also jot down what triggered my cravings. Was it stress? Boredom? A sudden existential crisis while folding laundry? Writing it down helps me notice patterns, and when I...

Handwriting doesn’t have to be a lost art, even in today’s digital world. Whether you’re taking notes, writing a letter, or just doodling in your journal, legible handwriting is a skill worth mastering. Let’s start with three quick tips to make your writing more readable: 1. Pay Attention to Spacing Spacing is one of the most overlooked aspects of legibility. It’s tempting to let your letters and words run together, but that’s the quickest way to turn your notes into an indecipherable mess. Make a conscious effort to leave some space between each letter and word. This breathing room allows the reader to clearly distinguish one word from the next. Slow down, and you’ll find your spacing naturally improves. 2. Hold the Pen Correctly You might not think much about how you hold your pen, but it plays a big role in your handwriting. Too tight a grip, and your hand tires quickly, causing shaky lines. Too loose, and you’ll struggle to control the pen. Aim for a relaxed but steady grip that le...

Every Halloween, when dusk began to settle over Willowdale, Eleanor Marwick closed the public library with a smile that was as much mischief as it was politeness. By day, Eleanor was the quintessential librarian: quiet, precise, and draped in an earthy cardigan. But as October 31st arrived, she was, for one night, something else entirely. Tonight, as soon as the clock chimed seven, she shed her librarian guise and stepped into her true role: the witch of Willowdale. Her cardigan transformed into a flowing cloak, her sensible shoes became lace-up boots that clicked against the cobblestone paths. A grimoire appeared in her hands, pages filled with spells in looping ink, all waiting to be unleashed. The first stop was Mrs. Haversham’s house. Sweet, gray-haired Mrs. Haversham never missed a due date and handled every book with reverence. Eleanor whispered a soft incantation, and immediately Mrs. Haversham’s garden burst into a spectacle of flowers that would bloom all winter. Mrs. Haversha...

When I was a kid, the word “library” meant one thing: boredom. It conjured up images of stuffy silence, stern librarians, and endless shelves of dusty books that seemed more interested in gathering cobwebs than capturing my imagination. Yet, I’ve since learned that this perception couldn’t be more wrong. The library is not a place where fun goes to die; it’s a playground for the mind. So why do we, as adults, so often pass it off as a dreary destination for last-minute study sessions or research marathons? I can’t help but think we’ve done our children a disservice by failing to frame it as what it really is: a place of adventure, discovery, and, yes, play. Imagine for a moment if the library wasn’t treated like a "last resort" when you've exhausted all other options for entertainment. What if, instead, it was seen as a treasure chest waiting to be opened? Each shelf a new map to a far-off land, every book a ticket to a new world where anything is possible? This shift in ...

I have designed a Story Seeds Journal on Amazon, and you can see it via this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJD1NCC1 What is this journal for? It can serve as a personal idea repository . It serves as a personal vault of story seeds, allowing writers to store and revisit ideas, which can be developed later into full projects. It increases story output . By encouraging the regular recording of new ideas, it can lead to a larger collection of potential stories to work from in the future. It builds writing confidence . Structured guidance helps writers see their ideas grow, building confidence in their ability to generate and develop stories.

Lisbeth Salander from  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo   can be seen as a heroine, but she’s not a traditional coming-of-age character. Instead, she embodies elements of personal evolution and self-discovery, though in a much darker and unconventional context.  Here’s why she fits, and why she doesn’t, into the coming-of-age mold.        Why She Fits: 1.     Self-Discovery and Growth    : Like a coming-of-age protagonist, Lisbeth grapples with understanding her own identity and place in the world. Her journey involves reclaiming control over her life and confronting the traumas of her past, similar to how coming-of-age stories often depict a young person learning about themselves. 2.     Emotional Evolution    : Lisbeth starts off as a loner, distrustful of nearly everyone, but over time, we see her form complex relationships, particularly with Mikael Blomkvist. Though not sentimental or soft, she gradu...

A  coming-of-age novel  has distinct traits that set it apart from other genres, primarily through its focus on personal growth and self-discovery. Here’s what makes it unique:        1.     Focus on Character Development        -     Core Theme:     The central theme of a coming-of-age novel is personal transformation. The protagonist, usually a young person, matures through experiences, gaining insight into themselves and the world.    -     Compared to Other Genres:     While many genres focus on external conflicts (e.g., fantasy battles or mystery puzzles), the coming-of-age novel centers on   internal   conflicts—struggles with identity, morality, and self-understanding.        2.     Transition from Youth to Adulthood        -     Rite of Passage:...