JUVEN

5 books with interracial (and/or cross cultural) non-white romances for your bookshelf

8/7/2022

 
As a product of an interracial and cross cultural marriage I have come to love the beauty of interracial and cross cultural romance. The idea of meeting a different way of life as you slowly fall in love with a person has always enticed me.

Western (U.S.) media has come a long way from when Captain Kirk kissed Lieutenant Uhura (rest in peace Nichelle Nicols) in 1968. However, our stories are still significantly lacking on interracial romance were both (or more) of the characters are people of color.

Therefore today I bring to you 5 novels with romantic love stories between people of color who do not share the same ethnicity (and/or race).

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Research for creative writing

8/5/2022

 
Many, if not all, creative writing projects require research to get started. Science fiction requires a heavy understanding of science (you need to know the rules to break them), and historical fiction requires a lot of history. Even if you’re not writing in one of these genres, research is still an important skill to learn for any writing. Even if you write a close-to-home contemporary romance novel set in your hometown, you will still probably find some kind of blind spot that can only be filled in with outside information. For this reason, it is essential for every writer to also become an excellent researcher. 
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Transitioning in Writing - What to expect when you move from Poetry to Prose, or Short Stories to Novels

8/5/2022

 
I’d say that most (or at least a good amount of) people aren’t very welcoming to change. Sure, it’s inevitable, but the general goal is to find a specific routine and stick with it (with few exceptions). This is also how it is for writers as well. You find a genre or two you're comfortable with, create a writing style that works for you and you’re pretty much set for life. The only change we have to expect in our writing is it slowly getting better more and more as the years go by. But what happens when your writing changes more than that? What happens when you’re looking to change the format you write in? 

For those of us who choose to venture into other forms of writing, learning how to write again but in a different way can be challenging, especially for writers who make the conscious effort to try something new (such as a hardcore prose writer to poetry). So, as someone who writes in many different formats, here is my take on transitioning in writing, how to be successful at it, and what worked for me.


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The Six Essential Beats in Every Character Arc

8/5/2022

 
You know your character from head to toe: eye color, dreams, hobbies—the works. But you don’t have a plot, and you don’t know how they will change. What you need, fellow writer, is a character arc. Read on to discover the six beats you need to nail it.

Let’s get on the same page about character arcs. A character arc is a journey of growth from one internal state to another. These can be positive or negative—think Prince Zuko from Avatar the Last Airbender—and a character can have multiple arcs, although typically one is contained in a story. Arcs are important because they show not only that our characters are lifelike and capable of change, but also their agency. Active characters are what we strive for in stories, and that is why the journey is so important.

Writing is subjective. This is in no way an official, objective guide to character arcs, but I hope you’ll consider my observations in your own stories.


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Show & Tell

8/3/2022

 
One of the first pieces of advice that you will receive when entering the writing community is “show, don’t tell”. But, what exactly do these terms mean? This is a practical guide to showing and telling, which will hopefully help you recognize when to use each one, and how to do so correctly.

If you tell us what is going on in the scene, you use direct descriptions. This means that you write down exactly the character’s feelings, their manners, and the room’s ambiance, among others. Notice that telling often has an abundance of adjectives. Since it is straightforward, it does not leave space for readers to draw their own conclusions. In consequence, when overused, telling can make a piece less engaging. But, if you use it wisely, it will help you make a point clear.


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Where can you publish your short stories? Really, where?

8/3/2022

 
If you have reached that moment in your writing journey when you feel ready to share your short stories with the world but are unsure about how the publishing process works for them, this article is for you.

If you are looking to get paid for your short stories this article may not be for you. 

Master class describes 4 ways in which you can get your story published: online submissions, Audio Fiction Podcasts, the traditional publishing route, and the self publishing route. (How to get your short story published).

I have decided to take these four and add other ways I have discovered through my own research.
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The Importance of Traditionally Feminine, Empowered Women in Media

7/30/2022

 
While it isn’t practical to keep eyeliner and hair on point while going on a quest, I want to see more female characters that see their reflection and love the way their hair, their face, and their body looks. It would go a long way to present girls with characters such as this from an early age, instead of the protagonist who has never paid much attention to her physical appearance or thought of herself as beautiful.

When it comes to YA, feminine traits are often seen as flaws. If a female character takes care of her appearance she is vain. Or worse, she is sexualized —I’m looking at you superhero franchises—. And the matter goes well beyond physical appearance. If she is graceful and kind she is often portrayed as weak.  Characters that start their journey with these traits are commonly forced to change them during the course of the story. Transform them into traditionally masculine traits, to prove that they are strong and independent. See the problem?

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How to Tackle Your TBR in 2022

7/29/2022

 
Did you just go to the bookstore and already have an itch to go again? Does your bookshelf have years of unread books? Do you feel guilty about the books you own and haven't read, or the books on your wish list you’ll never get to? Well, that ends today because we’re bringing you 10 tips to tackle your TBR in 2022 (try saying that five times fast).


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Beautiful World, Where Are You and Adult Coming of Age

7/28/2022

 
Beautiful World, Where Are You is Sally Rooney’s third and most recent novel. It follows four different characters throughout a portion of their lives. Alice, Eileen, Simon and Felix all have difficult and overlapping relationships with one another. The book kicks off when Alice meets Felix on a dating app and then invites him on a trip to Rome with her. The book then follows all four of the characters, as they come to terms with their adult coming of age. 

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8 Queer Graphic Novels You Need to Read

7/27/2022

 
If you’re looking for a feel-good, tearjerker graphic novel, read on.

1. Nimona
Nimona is by ND Stevenson, the mastermind behind She-Ra. It follows Nimona, a shapeshifter who joins the villain Ballister Blackheart to overthrow an organization called The Institute and defeat their champion, Ambrosius Goldenloin. What starts as a lighthearted story about an overzealous girl and a villain with a code of ethics quickly turns into an exploration of flawed characters and complex relationships. Making me laugh out loud and cry, Nimona is one of the sweetest, most poignant works I have read.

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  • Home
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  • Issue IV
    • What if Eurydice Only Loved Living?
    • Asparagus Fern
    • take my hand
    • loverboy hyacinthus
    • Summer Evenings Warm and Sweet
    • Magic Mirror
    • The Perfect King
    • A Night's Stroll
    • the first time I held a girl's hands
    • The Girl Who Touched the Stars
    • A Plant's Outhouse | Zen by Kayla Vasilko
    • Immortal Chains
    • Dreaming & Alone
    • A Lucid Drizzle
  • Home
  • Read Juven
  • Submit
  • Blog
  • Masthead
  • Contact
  • Issue IV
    • What if Eurydice Only Loved Living?
    • Asparagus Fern
    • take my hand
    • loverboy hyacinthus
    • Summer Evenings Warm and Sweet
    • Magic Mirror
    • The Perfect King
    • A Night's Stroll
    • the first time I held a girl's hands
    • The Girl Who Touched the Stars
    • A Plant's Outhouse | Zen by Kayla Vasilko
    • Immortal Chains
    • Dreaming & Alone
    • A Lucid Drizzle