May
2016

Fiction Friday: Recoil by Joanne Macgregor

categories: Books, Reviews

RecoilRecoil by Joanne Macgregor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I feel this review should start with a warning- this book is part of a series (which will all thankfully release this year).I don’t generally like dystopian fiction but I really enjoyed this book. I feel like with the hundreds of dystopian novels that are already out, you can either go very right or very wrong with the genre. My first impression of Recoil was that it was very strange but in a good way. This is a world where people can die if they go outside without proper protection. A lethal plague poses a danger to everyone and they are forced to remain at home 24/7.Jinxy is a teen who is an eager gamer. (What else would she do with all her free time?) Jinxy is soon recruited to join in the force against the terrorists and meets Quinn. However Quinn seems to suspect that their new job is a part of something bigger and more terrifying. What I loved about this book (besides the hot Irish male- I have a weakness for boys in books AND the Irish so obviously I loved Quinn) was that it was pretty different from the usual dystopian book. Unfortunately I can’t say any more without giving spoilers but trust me, if you like dystopian books you’re going to love Recoil.

View all my reviews


May
2016

10 Tips for The Instagram Newbie

categories: Blogging Tips

When I first got an android device, Instagram was the first app I installed. This was about two years ago. I’ve only just started figuring out how to use Instagram and use it well. If you’re a newbie to Instagram, here are my tips:

Instagram Mobile

1) Always add hashtags: Hashtags increase the visibility of your posts. Don’t know what hashtags to use? I always use “Instaworthy” (if a pic isn’t Instaworthy why would it be on Instagram) and other variations with “Insta” such as “Instatravel” or “Instapets”.

2) Interact with others: Like all social networks, Instagram is a place to be social. I’ve met so many great people through Instagram.

3) Return likes and comments: if someone likes or comments on your pictures, it’s always a good idea to return the favour.

4) Try to take as many shots as possible in the daylight: I don’t know if I’m the only one who didn’t know this but natural light is the best for pictures. Take out as many pics as you can during the day.

5) Photo-editing apps are made for Instagram: okay no they’re not but they make your photos look so much better. My favourite apps are Photo Editor and YouCam.

6) People are less likely to follow you if your profile is on private: With private profiles there’s always the risk you might be rejected and who wants that?

7) If your profile isn’t on private, ensure that there’s nothing that would give a future employer a bad image of you: you don’t want or need your employer seeing your Friday night out on the town.

8) Don’t overload people’s feed: Don’t post so often that your photos are the only ones that appear on your followers’ feed. That’s like Instaspam (which, if it’s not a thing, should totally be one).

9) Post regularly- Don’t post once a month either. Post on a regular basis so your followers know that you’re still around. If your last photo is from ages ago, chances are people are going to unfollow you thinking that you’ve abandoned ship.

10) Find your community- I think this is the most important thing. There is someone out there Instagramming the same shots that you are. This may be someone who Instagrams their German Shepherd (if you’re this person, kindly leave your Instagram link in the comments thanks) or pictures of beautiful sunsets. Find the people who Instagram the same things you do and connect with them. I love seeing pictures of German Shepherd puppies and pretty bookstagrams when I log in to Instagram.

What are your tips for Instagram? What do you post on your account? Feel free to leave a comment below.


May
2016

How to Balance Your Blog with College

categories: College

College is hard. Being a college student with a blog is infinitely harder. However with some handy tricks you can learn to balance your blog with college.

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1) Schedule everything- You might have noticed by now that I’m a huge fan of planners and to-do lists. Scheduling your commitments ensures you don’t forget them and are aware of them long before they occur. Write down both your college deadlines and important blog post dates. For me every Friday I write a Fiction Friday post so I write this in my diary.

2) Work in advance- Do things before they’re due. Write a few posts before they’re due to be published and queue them up. I usually write an entire week of post on the first day of the month and then work from there.

3) Delegate work- Ask for guest bloggers to post on your blog or ask a friend to help you study when college gets overwhelming.

4) Combine the two- Blog about your college experience. I especially like this option because anyone who is/has been in college can relate to the stress of it.

What are your tips for balancing college and a blog?


May
2016

10 Signs You’re Meant to Be an English Major

categories: College

Considering majoring in English? (The answer to this question is always yes btw). Here are 10 signs that you’re meant to be an English major.

UPDATE: It’s been 7 years since I posted this and it’s still one of my most popular posts. As an English graduate I have no regrets (unless you count the crappy job market but that has nothing to do with my studies). Here’s a more recent post that I did about the 5 useful skills I picked up as an English major

1) You enjoy reading

via GIPHY


2) You enjoy writing
3) You’re good at both reading and writing
4) Your literary collection consists of more than just the latest bestsellers. You have the classics too.
5) You can write an essay in your sleep

6)  You’ve written something that wasn’t for school (poems, short stories, fanfiction)
7) The idea of having to read and be rewarded for writing about what you read, excites you. Hello easy A
8) You’ve read a classic novel without it being compulsory for class.
9) You don’t mind putting in work for a module that most believe will only lead to you working at McDonalds or Starbucks.
10) Well you’re reading this so you obviously believe you’re meant to be an English major.


May
2016

Tips on Preparing for Finals

categories: College

It’s that time of the year again. Finals are upon us even though it feels like we JUST finished writing our last paper. Here are my tips to help you prepare for finals:

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1) Tailor your studying for the type of exam- I used to study for all my papers in the same way. Read the notes, read the textbook and hope for the best for exams. Don’t do that. It’s far more effective if you study depending on what the exam question is. Draft out essays or outlines of essays for an essay question. Test yourself for multiple-choice questions and practice answering “long questions” to the best of your ability.

2) Use Past Papers- Speak to your lecturer or tutor about papers that have been used previously. I overheard a conversation about our university papers being in the library- something I hadn’t known before.

3) Keep Calm- okay I’m not the best student out there but I’m pretty proud of my marks. I’m also pretty proud that I never crack under pressure. No matter how stressful exams are, be certain to always remain calm. Freaking out will only stress you out and cause you to forget what you’ve learnt.

4) Use more than one medium of learning- Learning the same thing over and over again is boring. Switch it up by changing the way you study. I usually write notes down but when I get bored I move on to typing them in my own words on my phone. I’ve also been known to sing but only when numbers are involved.

5) Ask for help when you need it- Whether you need extra revision with a tutor or you need to step away from some of your responsibilities, ask for help if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

What are your tips for finals?


May
2016

How to Save Money on Books

categories: Books

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1) Join a library: Joining a library gives you access to hundreds of books without having to pay a cent. The only problem is that you can only borrow a certain number of books for a certain period of time. My local library doesn’t allow that many renewal and their staff is pretty rude so I don’t go with this option but for the rest of the libraries with genuinely helpful staff this is an excellent idea.

2) Buy books second-hand: Second-hand books can sometimes be in pretty good condition (which makes me question HOW are you selling such great books?) and they have such amazing prices.

3) Buy eBooks: eBooks are usually cheaper than print books. Amazon also has great Kindle reads that can be bought for FREE.

4) Join Readers Warehouse as a book reviewer: If you review books for Readers Warehouse you earn a small amount in Readers Warehouse vouchers. These vouchers can be used to order books from the Readers Warehouse online store (which just by the way, is ridiculously cheap).


May
2016

How to Write an Essay

categories: College

As an English major and a blogger, you’d assume that writing essays would come naturally to me. It doesn’t. There’s nothing I hate more than having to write an essay. Three years of college have made me create a strict no-fail routine when it comes to writing an essay. Here are my tips for writing an essay:

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1) Rewrite the essay question in your own words- Sometimes essay questions are worded in the most difficult way possible. Rewriting them helps you to understand precisely what it is that the question is asking. It also helps in writing your introduction.

2) Decide on your main points- I do this so that I know precisely what I’m going to include in my essay.

3) Write out your essay- the first two steps above should help you in writing your introduction. Your introduction should introduce the topic and discuss how you’re going to approach it.
Your body should consist of the main statements (and supporting statements) that prove the view you’re taking on the topic. Your conclusion should sum up everything you’ve said in the essay. The easiest way to remember this is: “Say what you’re going to say, how you’re going to say it (The introduction), say what you want to say (The body) and then say what you’ve said (The conclusion).

4) Edit- Be sure to edit your essay before you hand it in. I usually do a edit on my own before getting a member of the university to check my essay for me. Editing helps you to polish up your essay so you can get the best possible grade.

What’s your writing process when it comes to essays?


Apr
2016

Lessons Learnt from Disney Movies

categories: Welcome to The Real World

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1) Just keep swimming

2) You don’t need a man to save you

3) Look beyond outward appearance

4) Don’t eat anything from strangers (how did Snow White not know this???)

5) Never sign contracts without reading (and very carefully thinking) it over. Especially if it’s a contract from an octopus-like person

6) Never trust a guy who proposes too soon. Especially if too soon happens to be one day.

7) If you don’t invite people to your party they may get upset and curse your child. Always invite people even if you don’t like them (maybe just give them the wrong date/address?)

8) Speaking of curses, never make deals with someone who can spin straw into gold (who does that??? That’s dodgy on it’s own)

9) Keep Moving Forward

What lessons have you learnt from Disney movies?


Apr
2016

How to Take Notes From a Textbook

categories: College

Taking notes from a textbook is difficult. They’re bulky and usually worded in the most difficult way possible. Here are my tried and tested tips for taking notes from a textbook:

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1) Read the summary first- Most textbook have a summary of each chapter. Read this before you begin reading the chapter. This will give you an overview of what it is that you’re studying.

2) Skim through the chapter- reading is for novels. Skimming is for college. If you read your textbook word for word, you would be wasting time. Skimming allows you to get the most important information instantly.

3) Highlight the important points- Highlight or underline the most important concepts in your textbook. Can’t write in your book? Copy the concepts down instead. Do something to make them stand out to you.

4) Read and reread- Revise the summary and the relevant concepts whenever necessary. Personally I like to copy them down all on a page so I have my own study guide.

How do you take notes from a textbook?


Apr
2016

How to Adjust to Being Back at Campus

categories: College

Sacrificing late nights out for study sessions sucks. It sucks even more if you’re returning to campus after a break. Here are my tips on how I adjust to returning to campus.

How to Adjust to Being Back at Campus

 

1) Get Enough Sleep- it’s very important that you get enough sleep. Try using a sleep calculator and follow it a few days before you go back to campus to allow your body to get used to the new sleeping time. This prevents any issues when it comes to waking up when it’s time to attend classes.

2) Stick to a Routine- For the first few days at campus, create a routine and follow it. This a) allows you to be more organised about your time and b) you’ll adjust easier when you know you have a routine you’re supposed to be following.

3) Give Yourself Time to Adjust- Rome was not built in a day and it’s unlikely that you’re going to return to campus and already be ready to be your best. It’s going to take time for your body to realise you’re giving up TV for tests and sleep for studying. I like to have atleast a week in which I let myself be lazy and not officially on “work” mode.

4) Get Working- At some time you’re going to get off your butt and say bye to your lazy days. This may happen when all your projects are due at once or it could happen days before your exam. It’s important that you start working as soon as you can to (for me I insist on doing some sort of work as soon as my lazy week is over) avoid stressing yourself out when the bulk of your work is due.

How do you adjust to being back at campus?

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