Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel "The Remains of the Day" focuses not on dramatic events but on the power of conversation. The story revolves around Stevens, an aging butler, whose careful and often evasive dialogues reveal a man constrained by strict professionalism and emotional restraint. The true strength of these conversations lies in what remains unsaid. Stevens’ exchanges with Miss Kenton are filled with unexpressed emotions and missed opportunities. While their discussions appear to cover mundane household matters, they are laden with hidden feelings. Their talks about a butler's "dignity" illustrate how Stevens uses this concept to keep personal connections at bay. Meanwhile, Miss Kenton subtly challenges his emotional defenses, suggesting she desires more from life. Their dialogue is not just part of the story; it is the story, illuminating the gap between their desires and their ability to voice them. Stevens' internal reflections, often prompted by past conversations, provide deeper insights into his character. He scrutinizes his own words, revealing his anxieties and regrets. These inner dialogues reflect his outer interactions, exposing his self-deception and the unfortunate consequences of his emotional distance. Ishiguro’s portrayal of dialogue in "The Remains of the Day" shows how subtle exchanges can be more powerful than direct statements. He uncovers the complexities of human emotions through what is left unsaid, demonstrating that sometimes the most important conversations are the ones we have with ourselves.

This blog post was written by Isha Popat.

As a teen writer, I feel the need to say that there are so many talented teen writers that come from across the globe. The truth is, their talent can be overlooked amongst the sea of their fellow writers, especially those with more experience and popularity. Even though teen writers have so much passion and potential, it is hard to discover their account. There are so many amazing teen writing accounts I have stumbled across on social media and have been truly awed by their stories, talent, and true love for writing. However, the algorithm of social media – which is the primary way to get exposure nowadays – oftentimes refuses to push out their accounts to a greater audience.
 
This is why exposure is so important! As a teen writer, having someone repost/share/like a post is so important to share your work. Oftentimes, teen writers are underappreciated, despite working exceptionally hard to share their writing out into the world. When someone shows support to a post, it helps it reach a larger audience. Reaching a larger audience can connect teen writers with readers who can truly value and appreciate their work and social media page!
 
The more people help teen writers amongst their path, the quicker they can progress! Being a teen writer can be difficult, especially considering that most teen writers are in school/university, so having exposure in any way possible is amazing! One of my favorite things to do is to interact with their posts, because I love it when people are kind enough to interact with mine.
 
Long story short: The next time you discover a teen writer's account on social media, show them support as much and for as long as you can. It makes such a difference for them if they are able to get their work shown to a larger audience who can really honor their dedication and effort!

Happy reading, writing, and supporting teen writers!

This blog post was written by Ralia Farah.

Let’s face it, if you’re a writer, then you likely have that crushing feeling of self-doubt that maybe your writing just isn’t good enough. In turn, maybe you abandon projects or give up.
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Let me tell you a story that will help you see your writing for the amazing thing it is. I was writing a fantasy novel on one afternoon. The rain was pouring, I was stuck inside, and I was really into making the plot. Midway through the day, I go back and read some of my writing, and my heart dropped to my stomach. What kind of garbage is this? I kept thinking, eyebrows scrunched in disappointment. It was terrible. Absolutely and utterly awful. I shut down my computer just to hide the monstrosity away from the world. Who would read my book when it was this terrible? In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how thin everything was. The plot, the characters, it was all so flat.

So, on this rainy day, I closed the document and gave up on the whole project, moving onto something that I could write better because clearly fantasy wasn’t my thing. So, I went onto mysteries. A month later and 50,000 words in, I came to the same realization. What kind of garbage is this? Who would read my book when it was this terrible? I thought. Well, mystery clearly wasn’t my thing. I did this with project after project, leaving them all behind without so much as a second glance.

Two years later, I opened the document to the original fantasy book that started this downward spiral. Frustrated and considering quitting writing, I wanted to try to remember the last book I truly enjoyed writing. I remembered what happened, but I didn’t really remember the plot too well. A lot happens in two years, honestly, and this book didn’t make the memory cut. I opened up the document and began reading. Ten minutes in, and with complete amnesia to what I wrote before, I was smiling. Smiling. I was smiling because my main character had a bonding moment with her mother and it was so, so sweet. Minutes pass, and I laugh at an old joke I made. Did I write that? I try to recall, because it wasn’t that bad at all. It was…good.

I read all 40,000 words of the story. When I closed my laptop, I entered serious reflection. I was trying to recall why I hated the book so much. What was wrong with it again? I couldn’t remember! Thinking I was crazy, I showed a snippet to my brutally honest friend who had (rightfully) criticized my work for me in the past. To my surprise, she said, “It’s good! 40,000 words is a lot, too. How often do you write in it? Will it be done soon?”

As it turns out, I became my own greatest critique. Looking back, there really was nothing wrong with the book. The only thing wrong in this situation was me. I was too critical and severe to the first 40,000 of my first draft. Sure, it needed polishing, but so does every other novel. At the end, I pushed aside my negative thoughts, and so many beautiful stories were born and finished. What I’ve been trying to get to is this: even if you have doubts about your writing, all you need to do is take a break, you don’t need to completely quit like I did.

Don’t give up on your projects! Time reveals the true beauty hidden between the lines, and even if you can’t see it now, your story will soon come to life. Never give up and always have confident in your abilities! You are a writer, and your gift is the gift of pen (or a keyboard), and it’s time for you to step up and become confident in your gift! Happy writing everyone!

This blog post was written by Ralia Farah.