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How do you submit your books to be published? Valid question, and I'm here to answer it. This week, I've been submitting Emerald (and Amethyst's second edition) to Ingram Spark, so now seems like the best time to write about this. I've got screenshots, and a step-by-step, dos and don'ts. Let's start at the beginning. Finish your book. Quite obvious, but edit, write, and do the final checks. Now's basically your last chance. Format. A lot goes into formatting, and I've talked

Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend, so I thought I’d talk about love ❤️ Now, I don't write very much romance, so I'm focusing on love between friends. For the girls, this is Galentine's. But I'm also thinking about loving yourself and being your own Valentine, because you are enough on your own. Don't worry, this post is nice and quick, and not too lovey-dovey. So, how do you write a friendship with chemistry? The best way to do this, is to have them complete each othe

This is my first (official) book review at TeenageTells. And let me tell you, I'm excited. I read this book in 6 days, during my low-reading time. This means, it was quick. The Last Bookstore on Earth is a dystopian novel about a girl named Liz who survived an acid rain and The Storm which wiped out most of the population. It is post-apocalyptic, but the world is supposedly going to end again. I read the paperback version and rated it 4 stars, because I've found that everythi

I’m back to talking about publishing! As I approach my own publishing date (29th of May), I’m going to focus on the variety of aspects. This week, we’re talking about formatting. First and foremost, I want to tell you this is annoying and I wish it wasn't necessary, or that it'd magically happen on its own. Unfortunately, I haven't found that magic yet. And secondly, there are a few things which are helpful to decide before you write your book, so you don't have to go throu

2 years ago, I was just starting the version of my book which is now on Amazon. But the story begins much earlier. It starts in 2021, when I was in year 5ish (10). I wrote my first non-school-related story. Named Red and Green Destiny. You're going to see this title a lot. It was about two girls, Ruby and Emerald, who sat in a blossom tree at their school, before the earth and fire rose from the ground to gift them powers. They also had a friend called Hazel White. In some dr

Writing is not a casual thing if you want to get your work published. It is a dedication. My first point will be there is no right way. You do you, don't let anyone stop that. But, taking advice and 'critiques' is a skill that also has to be mastered. It's a balance between listening to yourself and to others. My second point is that there are some conditions you can control, so that your writing will be the best it can. Comfort. Whether it's your bed, your desk or in the ca

Fantasy Year: 2978 “Woop woop!” Sapphire does an air pump with her human hand, jumping up. “It’s MAASS!” She taps on everyone’s doors with her bionic hand, causing an echo throughout each of their rooms. “Is that another crazy acronym for something?” Amethyst pushes the door open, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Yes, and no." Sapphire appears before her, some of the others gathering behind her. "No, because it's the official name for this holy day, but also I made up an acronym

Contemporary Christmas Eve? Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve meant last-minute preparations. Christmas Eve meant last-minute shopping. Christmas Eve meant last-minute invites. Christmas Eve meant last-minute cooking. Christmas Eve meant last-minute hopes for what you'll get under the tree. And that's the short version. I could go on for hours! And so could Leon. But I won't bore you with my list, and I won't go through the one he prepared, because it'd take up all of our short ti

Fantasy I take my sword from where it leans against the wall before leaving the longhouse where I live. It's J ól again, meaning fires to light up and hearts to warm! Well, the lighting fires will be the easy part. Being a fire incarnate is not the best for your joyful attitude. Gary is outside my door, and he greets me with a grin. "Good day, Fire Lord." With my hand, I push against his chest playfully. "Good Day, Pathetic Servant." "How mean." He mocks with a pout. "How ann

Contemporary Ding dong. Ding dong. The clock strikes two. He sat on the uncomfortable church pew, staring at the altar, his little heart's beats eachoing through the empty room. His father stepped out "for some air", but the little boy knew it was so he wouldn't have to see his Father and role model cry. The boy's body was weak, so he winced as she shuffled on the hard seat. Each movement was too much, and the air froze around him. A magnificent portrait of the greatest man

Contemporary I, honestly, don't know what to write about peace. It is what it is, and you've heard all about it before. Whether it's you who was craving it, or you were annoying so badly that they were begging for it. Peace is silent. Peace is calm. But there are two types of peace. Victoria sat with the train station's bustle bouncing off her, as if she were immune. Maybe she was. There was a baby crying behind her, delays being announced above her, rain falling all around h

Fantasy? (Yes. That question mark is meant to be there.) Within the Advent candles, Joy is special. It's always a different colour. Hope, peace and love are always (or most of the time) purple. But Joy is always pink. Why is Joy 'special'? Magdalen knew better than anyone. She had experienced it first-hand, many years before, as a young girl. Think the early 2010s. A teenager, maybe 13 or 14. The least eager girl you’ve ever seen. Christmas, to her, was a time to get gifts, a

Contemporary "I am so impressed by all your donations. This is an incredible turnout. It's almost twice the amount we had last year!" As Miss finishes talking, I finally sit back down. Pens given back, register taken, dates written down, all the cards signed... I think that's everything. The five tables are brimming with gifts. Hairbrushes, lotion, fidgets, puzzle books, chocolate, hats, colouring pencils, you name it. It's amazing how 70 kids can give so much when the world

Contemporary They will be torn apart by a silly argument, spiralling from their childhood. Though they will have been close, a single thought will rip them part, sending them to different countries, so they'll never stumble upon each other again. It's a shame, really, because they will have had so much fun together. But their love will be blinded by childish grudges. Mrs Thorne will keep touch with her parents, who’ll be the best grandparents you could imagine. They’ll spoil

Contemporary Zih án wanders through the streets of the marketplace, staring at the flashing lights, holding her best friend's hand. They look fo r t he píngguǒ. Apples: the peace fruit. Zih án is one of the few who celebrate Christmas, though not so much from a religious point of view. In China, Christmas is more of an addition to the New Year, and not much of a celebration. It's a great time to sell stuff, though, as her Uncle does in their local area. There are hundreds of

Contemporary Scene 1: The School. Christmas Play. 2025 Daz, Tuck, Bob, and Wendy, along with the rest of their class, are shuffling onto the stage, ready for their annual Christmas Play. This is their last one, so they want to make sure it shines, but Bob is nervous that he'll forget his lines, and Daz is already embarrassed by his mum standing and cheering. Daz ducks behind Wendy, who has everyone's lines ready to prompt, in case something goes wrong. Wendy: Right! Let'

Contemporary My favourite part of Christmas might be blasting Christmas music at full volume and screaming the words at the top of my lungs. It's beautiful how you can get lost in the rhythm or ask anyone to finish the lyrics of a Christmas classic. And I love to play music. It's magical how I can tap my fingers on a piano or pluck the strings of a guitar and create a melody. Only those who love music will experience the frustrating joy and wonderful fury towards instruments

Contemporary. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday School. Attend Bob's school play. Go to London!!!!! Visit Tina's Christmas concert. Holiday! Drop Millie off at swimming. Hand in long-overdue history project. Pack for holiday. Go shopping. Wrap gifts. School (again). Do that thing I promised someone last week, but completely forgot. And figure out what it was. Oh, yeah. And school. Catch up on everything I missed when I was in London. "Ah! I forgot my philosophy reading