A Day In The Life Of An English Teacher In South Korea

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,


The weekend had disappeared quickly, too quickly, and when I opened my eyes, I realized that the fluttering in my stomach meant that it was Monday and even if I wasn’t entirely prepared for it, my official first day as an English teacher had arrived.

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The 6 Golden Rules For Being a Good Writer

by Lindsay Shapka in ,


I have found that one of the best sources of advice and inspiration on writing comes from other writers.

We all approach our work in different ways — keep in mind that there is no right way — and sometimes we need to be shaken out of our comfort zones. This can be attained by things like reading each other's work, conversation, or attending lectures.

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No Worries! The Legend Of Guatemalan Worry Dolls

by Lindsay Shapka in ,


What are worry dolls and where does the tradition come from?

A common souvenir to bring home from your travels, Worry Dolls are tiny (anywhere from half an inch to three inches tall) hand-crafted dolls created by the highland indigenous people of Guatemala.

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How Important Is The First Line of A Book?

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,


One thing I hear a lot in the publishing world is how important the first line is to a story.

Whether it is a short article or a 600-page novel, everything seems to rest on hooking the reader in that first sentence, that first thought, that should (in theory) set the tone for the rest of the piece.

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Which is the correct term for the game — Soccer or Football?

by Lindsay Shapka in ,


Whenever an event like the FIFA Women's World Cup or the Summer Olympics comes around, the inevitable debate begins — soccer or football?

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Reads For The Road: "The Swerve — How The World Became Modern" by Stephen Greenblatt

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,


While this is definitely not a read-before-bed book (it's fascinating, but the content requires a more alert mind), The Swerve is well worth the read. And that's not just my opinion — it is a National Book Winner, and won the Pulitzer Prize!

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