bookspinesandspectacles.

aspiring author | creative writing & tourism graduate | books & travel

[tea-tuesday]

we had a giant snowstorm in nyc 2 weeks ago and i feel like im still thawing myself out of it. life has been busy and kinda sad and really cold but we persist and wait for warmer times 🌞

[therefugeofbooks]

i always find time to visit a new bookstore on my trips 🥐

[creativepromptsforwriting]

How to build a small town

@fantasylover4evr asked what stores and jobs there would be in a fictional small town, so here we are:

Community spaces

Places of worship

Library

Community center

Town hall

Local museum

Theater

Art gallery or craft studio

Park with places for hanging out

Stores/Places of Business

Food & Drink & Entertainment

General store or corner market

Grocery store (often family-owned)

Diner or café

Bar or pub

Bakery

Ice cream shop

Pizza place or fast-food stand

Farm stand

Arcade

Bowling alley

Old movie theater

Retail

Hardware store

Gas station

Pharmacy/drugstore

Clothing store or thrift shop

Bookstore

Tourist shop

Antique shop

Pawn shop

Services

Post office

Bank or credit union

Barber shop / hair salon

Auto repair shop

Laundromat

Real estate office

Insurance office

Funeral home

Old motel or inn

Local radio station

Jobs & Professions

Town Infrastructure

Mayor

Town council members

Town clerk

Public works employees

Sanitation workers

Building inspector

Emergency & Health

Police officers

Firefighters (often volunteer)

Paramedics

Doctor or family physician

Nurse or clinic staff

Veterinarian

Education

Teachers

School principal

School counselor

School nurse

Janitor

Librarian

Coach

Head of the school board

Trades & Skilled Work

Mechanic

Electrician

Plumber

Carpenter

Contractor

Welder

Seamstress

Rural Jobs

Farmers

Ranchers

Dairy workers

Mill workers

Fishermen

Forestry workers

Truck drivers

Feed store employees

Other Jobs

Grocery bagger

Postman

Cashier

Café server

Bartender

Cook

Dishwasher

Newspaper editor

Photographer

Gas station attendant

Babysitter

Lifeguard

Farmhand

Business owner

More: High-paying jobs in the city

[romanticize-until-you-drop]

2025-11-26

Finals season be upon ye

May the caffeine gods bless us

[folkwayss]

winter break - holiday season

🎧 - I thought I saw your face today by she & him

📖 - the library at mount char by scott hawkins

☕️ - smoked cherry chai

🌱 - i learned to knit from my mom over the holidays :,)

[fictionalaffection]

[majestictortoise]

puttering around the house is an underrated form a self-care. make some tea or coffee. put on a podcast. sort the mail. tidy some pillows and fold some blankets. start the laundry. thaw some soup. just casually wander around aimlessly doing little things to make your space and life a little nicer. who cares if you get distracted or only do a little. you aren't being productive. you're puttering.

[dreamyeuphory]

~ Back to city life...~

[penandpaper-love]

November 16, 2025

Had a lot of work to do this weekend but also managed to spend some time outside. It seems like this will have been the last warmish day and now we're heading right into the cold. Not looking forward to that.

[technically-its-mj]

It’s 10:07 p.m. currently as I write this.

Days have been up and down lately. After my exam, I felt an intense sense of confusion and exhaustion. I was sick for a while, and I’m only just recovering now. Locked in my apartment, curled up in my blanket, scrolling Tumblr and Substack — this has become my new normal. A quiet contrast to studying myself to oblivion.

I call my family and message friends for some semblance of meaningful connection, so I’m not totally alone. It’s nice. Since my break-up last year, I’m realizing that relationships with the right people are what I actually need for a pick-me-up. None of that consumerism bullshit.

I think I want to sink into this new normal for the last time tonight. I know I have responsibilities waiting for me tomorrow — my usual normal. But at least I have tonight. And of course, the past two days where I let myself stay here.

[grey-and-lavender]

25/01/05

Start of term is always filled with motivation and excitement about my own work. What a privilege it is to do this.

[iephos]

3.9.25

It’s September! Did some practice q’s today. They were super hard. I didn’t do too well but I’m trying not to get discouraged.

[thecrimsonchariot]

Every time you make a character, make sure you know their motivations. Otherwise, you will go through the story struggling to write this character because you lack the most basic thing a character needs to be in the story: Its want.

On top of that, you will need how you can prevent them from getting it. Otherwise this character will appear rather one-note or boring.

Now this doesnt mean you need to show the full want right out of the gate, but they must have at least a surface-level want, even if you show the true want later on.

[seaphine]

“Do you want to go to the bookstore” is a love language.

[learnelle]

some ‘energy takers’ to avoid in the new year:

overthinking, people pleasing and unclear boundaries -this year is our communication era

dehydration and constantly going without rest - get a glass of water and touch some grass

negativity - everyday may not be good, but there’s a little good in every day

[lost-rxverie]

monday | january 5

drinking from the glug (gel electrophoresis mug) and reading some papers for my bio capstone project.

i had my first grad school interview today – i think it went well, but i'm trying to put it out of my mind as much as possible. nothing to do now except prep for the next one.

[kvothes]

oh someone told me something useful yesterday. she said she’s been thinking about her tbr less as an overwhelming list of books she Must Read and more like she’s cultivating a wine cellar. making a rich collection that will provide the perfect thing when needed. a bottle will get uncorked when the time is right