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Manju Beth Howard

@manjubeth.bsky.social
897 followers 1.4K following 618 posts

Indian American Writer of PB, CB, MG & Poetry SCBWI Indiana RA Inked Voices PB & MG Critique Groups I ♥️ Dogs, Improv Team Member & World Traveler Experience in DEI, Theater, Marketing & Graphic Design

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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 1h
In a starred review of Wrong Norma, PW hailed Carson as “a poet who pushes and renews the medium,” and praised her “her fiercely intelligent, mordantly articulate mind.” www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 7h
“The US government has long criticized Russia and other governments for dodging external scrutiny of their elections,” said Philippe Bolopion, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Now the Trump administration is mimicking that behavior.” #Vote www.hrw.org/news/2026/09...
hrw.org
US: Trump Administration Rejects External Election Observers
The Trump administration’s decision not to invite the leading international election observation body to monitor crucial US midterm polls fuels fears of serious human rights concerns around the upcomi...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 7h
How did the dog drop into the water? There's concern that this was staged by the guy (owner) rescuing the dog.
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
#Vote
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Character misdirection occurs when POV characters and readers misunderstand another character’s role, motives, or allegiance. A character who appears helpful may be a False Ally, while a character who appears antagonistic may be a False Enemy. www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/character-mi...
helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
Character Misdirection: How to Write False Allies and False Enemies
Learn how to use character misdirection, false allies, and false enemies to deepen conflict, challenge character beliefs, and create earned plot twists.
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Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
[A parody of MR ROGERS’ NEIGHBOURHOOD, in which the kindly Mr Rogers takes us to see local things in his town.]
 
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[title]
MR ROGERS’ NEIGHBOURHOOD

MR ROGERS:

Hi there

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Today, I’d like to take you to visit some of my neighbours… 

[He puts his coat on to leave his house]  

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At a wonderful local event,
 
[We see the cute toy-town diorama of his village famous from the TV show. The camera pulls out…]

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The Data Center protest.

[The camera has pulled out further and now we see a huge DATA CENTER at the edge  of town]. 

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MR ROGERS [joining a crowd protesting outside the Data Center]:

The Data Center is an enormous, windowless, endlessly humming building outside of our town

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…Which has tripled energy prices, drank all the water, and created four jobs.

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[to camera, as if kindly explaining to the viewing children]:

Four jobs! Golly!

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LADY PROTESTOR [probably NAOMI KLEIN, holding a sign]:

In a way, the Data Center is kind of a vivid metaphor for a future we feel locked out of!

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MR ROGERS [to camera again]:

A metaphor.

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That’s something that lets us clarify our feelings about something else. 

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LADY PROTESTOR:
How do you feel, Mr Rogers?

MR ROGERS:
I feel like bringing down the government!

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MR ROGERS [now holding a sign and protesting]:

It’s good to have neighbors.

[ends]
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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 06/10/2026
Jon unpacks AI’s promise of a better future, from the fate of our jobs to an "age of abundance"
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
PEN America: “Schools should be doing everything possible to connect kids with - engaging stories and formats. Instead (of)banning books that help kids see themselves in literature, deepen their understanding and empathy of others, and develop their imaginations.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
US book bans in public schools reach record annual high of 12,000
Texas tops list with 8,100 bans while Stephen King is again most banned author, PEN America finds
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Inspiring talk! Registration closes today. #kidlit www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
In Indiana, I've been canvassing for my friend and experienced educator, Dr. Bryan Duarte. Your local candidates matter in your day-to-day lives. Please #vote this election cycle! And consider helping a grassroots candidate with experience and empathy WIN!
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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“I think the tariffs and the war in Iran have hurt Iowa more than any other state.” Democratic senate candidate Josh Turek lays out the burden Trump’s policies have placed on Iowans. New pod out now! @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social
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Unite Against Book Bans @uabookbans.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Banned Books Week starts today! This year’s theme is: #LetBooksBe What do you think books should be? Share your answer in the comments: ✨ Let Books Be Free 🎉 Let Books Be Fun 🌎 Let Books Be Diverse 💡 Let Books Be Thought-Provoking ❤️ Let Books Be Themselves
Drawn image of a woman reading, surrounded by books, birds, flowers, clouds, vines, stars. Text reades: Protect the Freedom to Read - Let Books Be - Banned Books Week, Oct. 4-10, 2026. American Library Association. ala.org/bbooks
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Free Online PEN America Talk Wed. October 7, 6:00 PM ET pen.org/event/from-a...
pen.org
From Ally to Co-conspirator: Leveraging Your Power
Join us in conversation with Patricia A. Jackson and Ben Hodge, founders of the Panther Anti Racist Union (PARU) and authors of Ban This!
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Its collection of scientific specimens is widely recognized as one of the most important in the world. And its sudden demise comes amidst a continuing decline in funding for cultural and scientific institutions. www.npr.org/2026/10/03/n...
npr.org
Just short of its 200th birthday, a landmark natural history museum shuts down
Beloved for its dinosaurs, Philadelphia's storied Academy of Natural Sciences closed down this week, amid an intense fight by local residents, politicians and scientists to save it.
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 02/10/2026
The White House is coordinating with the Justice Department to hide its abortion agenda from voters until after they've voted in order to try to influence the results of the election.
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Art & Nature @capecodfairytales.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
#Poetry #Painting #Morning I start the morning gently In a quiet sort of way Just grateful for the time And another beautiful day - Sarah Sarna 🎨 Andrea Calisi
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 02/10/2026
Calling all NYC artists — painters, filmmakers, poets, musicians and more! Did you know our city provides grants to support your work every year? And this year, we're DOUBLING the amount — from $5,000 up to $10,000 per artist! Deadlines are approaching fast — apply today at nyc.gov/artistgrants.
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
NEW episode of our Paper Trail podcast just dropped: Who’s the Shadow President?
propublica.org
Who’s the Shadow President?
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"It’s a kind of magical realm, the mind of a kid." #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2026/09/30/w...
afuse8production.slj.com
Who Needs Donuts When You've Got Lovely Interviews Like This? A Talk with Mark Alan Stamaty - A Fuse #8 Production
If Maurice Sendak, Nora Ephron, Patty, and Bob Odenkirk were all fans of a bizarre cult-classic picture book from the 1970s, wouldn't you want to learn more? We host the charming and loquacious Mark A...
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SCBWI @scbwi.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Join the SCBWI Illustration Community in October for 31 days of illustration prompts under the hashtag #scbwiArtober2026!
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
24 noteworthy new and forthcoming children’s titles in translation and originating from countries across the world. #kidlit www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
publishersweekly.com
In Other Wor(l)ds: Children’s Books from Around the Globe, for Fall 2026 and Beyond
As the 10th annual World Kid Lit Month draws to a close, we bring you a list of 24 noteworthy new and forthcoming children’s titles in translation and originating from countries across the world.
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Teresa Robeson @teresarobeson.com · 28/09/2026
More actions via Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/28 chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/chop-wood-...
chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com
Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/28
With actions on → Trump’s illegal ads / the Dream and Promise Act / CORCA / Defund ICE / an IRS citizenship question / how to push back on anti-trans messaging / And more!
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KidLitGN @kidlitgn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
About 11 hours left to enter to win a Scrivener License for MacOS or Windows: wp.me/pcVwAl-2kn A big thank you to Scrivener for their sponsorship of #KidLitGN’s annual pitch event, which opens in 2 weeks. See kidlitgn.com for details. @scrivenerapp.bsky.social #pitchevent #scrivener #prize
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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Denmark is trolling Trump.
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"Actually, the easiest part of addressing writing weaknesses is fixing them. The hard part is often identifying them in the first place." #kidlit #mglit www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/identify-wri...
helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
5 Ways to Identify Your Writing Weaknesses (and Become a Better Writer)
Not sure what's wrong with your writing? Learn 5 ways to identify writing weaknesses, recognize recurring patterns, and strengthen your fiction.
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Betsy Bird @fuse8.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"We were hoping to help readers, writers, teachers, librarians and students all connect around the humanizing powers of reading and writing together." A talk with two powerhouse authors/podcasters. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/09/25/d...
afuse8production.slj.com
DiCamillo! Yang! Talking! Right Here! It's a Dive Into the StoryKind Podcast with Kate DiCamillo and Kelly Yang - A Fuse #8 Production
"We were hoping to help readers, writers, teachers, librarians and students all connect around the humanizing powers of reading and writing together." A talk with two powerhouse authors/podcasters.
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Dr Charlie Gardner @charliejgardner.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This year has been brutal, and like most people you probably want to do more about climate change. But what, and how? Great news – I’ve written just the book for you! It’s called What One Person Can Do and it’s a clear and simple how-to guide, a roadmap to help you make influential changes...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
secure.ngpvan.com/2RRq_c3co06B...
secure.ngpvan.com
Join a star-studded lineup of authors and influencers to champion the freedom to read. Sign up now!
Join a virtual variety show featuring a star-studded lineup of freedom to read champions celebrating books, authors, and readers. We’ll SHOW UP by making a plan to vote, then SPEAK UP by calling our r...
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TW @twesq.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
this is fantastic and I learned something new
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Educators will have the chance to win books, a virtual author visit, and even an IRL visit from Kwame! Educators of students ages 9-14 Next Showdowns: October 13 & November 12. firstbook.org/us/marketpla...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Highlighting Susan Collins and her corrupt pay-to-play, millions in U.S. defense contracts. #Vote www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
propublica.org
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Join authors Hilda Eunice Burgos (The Bodega Cats series), Abel Veloz (The Last Bodega in Jersey, Vol. I), and Amaris Castillo (Bodega Stories) for a conversation on writing Dominican-owned bodegas as living, breathing characters. #kidlit #mglit brooklynbookfestival.org/event/behind...
brooklynbookfestival.org
Behind the Counter: Stories from the Dominican Bodega (Virtual) - Brooklyn Book Festival
For many Dominicans, the neighborhood bodega is more than a corner store. It is a gathering place, a cultural archive, and a second home. Join authors Hilda Eunice Burgos (the Bodega Cats series), Abe...
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Infrastructure is politics @rational.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Lina Khan has pointed out that have robust and well-developed theories of product liability law. What we are missing is *enforcement* www.commondreams.org/news/ai-liab...
commondreams.org
AI Firms Can and Must Face Liability for 'Dangerous, Unvetted Products,' Says Lina Khan | Common Dreams
Former FTC Chair Lina Khan demands action on dangerous AI, calling for accountability for companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Should lawmakers impose regulations to prevent AI from causing harm? The ...
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WWF-Canada @wwfcanada.org · 19/09/2026
❤️🐼 Red pandas understood the assignment: eat bamboo. 🎋 And trust us, they eat more of it than you might think. 👀 Watch the Reel and see if you can guess just how much makes it into a day. Happy #RedPandaDay! ❤️🐼 #Wildlife
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The dangers facing orangutans in fire-affected habitats were highlighted by the recent death of Sampurna, an adult male orangutan found in a weakened condition near an oil palm plantation in Ketapang. #WhyIWrite #BorneoWildlife news.mongabay.com/2026/09/resc...
news.mongabay.com
Rescuers race against time as fires ravage orangutan habitat inside Indonesian oil palm concession
JAKARTA — Conservationists are racing to rescue orangutans from a fire-ravaged peat-swamp forest inside an RSPO-certified oil palm concession in West Kalimantan, with smoke still rising and the ground...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Tiger cats are small, spotted wild cats found across Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Bolivia and Argentina. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species
A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.
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SCBWI Indiana @scbwiindiana.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It’s FREE! Grab your art or writing supplies and join us for an hour of doodling, drafting, and connecting. You choose whether to doodle or draft a response to a given prompt. There will be time to share and connect at the end. To join, click the zoom link here: www.scbwi.org/regions/indi...
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Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I think we’re gonna see a continued hunger for cozy, especially in unique genres, and several editors have asked me for dystopian books (in kids and adult!) lately. Also horror, cause I don’t think the supply can meet the demand. I think it’s the hardest thing to write. #AskDV
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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Lindsay Owens, author of Gouged, explains how smart carts have made it easier to target specific consumers with higher prices. New pod out now! @lindsayowens.bsky.social
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Fall Reading #writing #kidlit #mglit
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Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 16/09/2026
Rising temperatures have coincided with a saltier Mediterranean Sea, as the water separating Europe from North Africa heats up at a faster pace than the global ocean surface.
bloom.bg
Mediterranean Getting Saltier at ‘Alarming’ Rate as Sea Heats Up
Rising temperatures have coincided with a saltier Mediterranean Sea, as the water separating Europe from North Africa heats up at a faster pace than the global ocean surface, according to a fresh study.
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This list includes books that introduce readers to ideas of censorship, freedom of speech and activism in a concrete, relatable way. #BookBans #kidlit #mglit fromthemixedupfiles.com/depicting-ce...
fromthemixedupfiles.com
DEPICTING CENSORSHIP: kids standing up to book banning - From The Mixed Up Files
The recent rise of books being taken out of libraries has made an impact on young readers. Now, more than ever, young people have less access to titles representing diversity. “The ALA Office for Inte...
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
“The question is whether an agency with a third fewer staff, no science board, no confirmed director, and a presidential request to halve its budget can run them.” - Joel Widder, former senior NSF official and congressional staffer www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
NSF memo implementing Trump’s ‘golden age’ of science unsettles researchers
New document emphasizes support for White House priorities over curiosity-driven ideas
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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 14/09/2026
Supermom @desilydic.bsky.social makes packing a lunch fun, easy, and hopefully not explosive
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The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · 15/09/2026
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie reads articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth. About. Damn. Time.
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Jay Willis @jaywillis.net · 15/09/2026
Genuinely an insane paragraph from Sam Alito. “Voter fraud is real and scary and we have to stop it, so the fact that implementing Trump’s mail ballot rule will disenfranchise millions is legally irrelevant.” Brain melted. A right-wing podcaster in a robe. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
___, (slip op., at 9) (internal quotation marks omitted).
As for the equities, the Government has a strong interest
in enforcing the rule, and implementing it will also “en-
hance the visibility of Federal Ballot Mail” in order to better
detect election fraud. 91 Fed. Reg. 54972. On the other side
of the balance, the plaintiff States invoke the practical ef-
fects of implementing the rule close to the midterm elec-
tions. I take that problem very seriously, but it is not
enough to convince me to deny the application.
First, as the District Court acknowledged, the States dis-
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Jocelyn Anderson Photography @jocelynanderson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
A Black-capped Chickadee checking out the Poison Ivy bush. The berries are bad for humans (no surprise there) but are perfectly fine for birds. Birds' immune systems don't react to urushiol, the sap that triggers the allergic reaction in people.
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
As an Improv performer, I agree with this found message - Chatgpt is much like an improv comedy group 1) you are the audience, giving it prompts 2) it produces things roughly shaped like your prompt 3) it is trained to respond with Yes, And 4) it has the factual accuracy of improv
static.klipy.com
Extreme Improv: David Pustansky & Performers
ALT: Extreme Improv: David Pustansky & Performers
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Manju Beth Howard @manjubeth.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
"Studies suggest that we may simulate a fleeting sense of movement when reading verbs." #mglit #kidlit #write www.writersdigest.com/7-things-wri...
writersdigest.com
7 Things Writers Should Know About Verbs
Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Sarah L. Kaufman shares seven things that all writers should know about verbs.
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