June 2021 – Page 3 – The Western Howl

Find your next page-turner with one of these e-books

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

There’s nothing quite like sitting down with a captivating book and flipping through the pages, but there’s more than one way to enjoy a solid read. E-books, or electronic books, offer a convenient and simple way to discover new authors and novels. Plus, they typically have a “read-aloud” feature, which lets folks enjoy their book whenever and however they want. Kindle has countless bestsellers, all which range in genres and price points. With countless options readily available, there’s bound to be something for every avid reader out there.

“After Alice Fell: A Novel” by Kim Taylor Blakemore
“The Bad Seed” by Jory John
“Bridgerton: The Duke & I” by Julia Quinn
“Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr.
“A Deadly Influence” by Mike Omer
“The Four Winds: A Novel” by Kristin Hannah
“Hadley and Grace: A Novel” by Suzanne Redfearn
“If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood” by Gregg Olsen
“In an Instant” by Suzanne Redfearn
“Infinite” by Brian Freeman
“The Last Sister (Columbia River Book 1)” by Kedra Elliot
“The Light Through the Leaves: A Novel” by Glendy Vanderah
“The Midnight Library: A Novel” by Matt Haig
“The Moonlight Child” by Karen McQuestion
“The Next Wife” by Kiara Rouda
“Not One of Us” by Debbie Herbet
“The Other Emily” by Dean Koontz
“The Shadow Box” by Juanne Rice
“Temptation (The Hunted Series Book 1)” by Ivy Smoak
“The Vanishing Half: A Novel” by Brit Bennett
“Verity” by Colleen Hoover
“The Wedding Game” by Meghan Quinn
“West with Giraffes: A Novel” by Lynda Rutledge
“When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel” by Barbara O’Neal
“Where the Lost Wander: A Novel” by Amy Harmon

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Get inspired and conquer creative block

Five tips for boosting creativity and overcoming artist’s block

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Creative block happens to the best of us, and it seems to happen at the most inconvenient times. Whether a creative medium is needed for a class or work, or it is simply used as an outlet, it can be frustrating to be out of ideas. When inspiration is lacking, try one of these strategies to jump-start creativity.

Set aside time to work: Creativity is a skill, meaning it needs to be practiced regularly in order to improve. Dedicating time to working on one’s craft ⏤ even if it’s only 10 minutes a day ⏤ can continually keep the creative juices flowing. Remove distractions for an optimal work session.

Do nothing for a while: Alternatively, take a complete break from everything, including social media, homework and other stressors. Give the mind a mental break and take the time to recharge. This relaxing time can also be used to daydream or meditate on possible creative project ideas and let the imagination wander.

Try a new medium: When totally stuck, it could be time to do something new, yet still on the creative track. Try a hand at painting, crafting, writing, music, photography, baking or any number of creative outlets. If a friend or family member is skilled in a different medium, ask to spend some time with them performing their activity together.

Change the environment: According to entrepreneur.com, a change of scenery, even a slight change, can boost creativity. This could look like redecorating a workspace or working in a different room or location altogether.

Enjoy other artists’ work: Gather inspiration from others’ creations; any type of media can be helpful for any artist. Listening to music, exploring social media profiles and groups, watching videos or reading books and stories can all be inspiring while also providing some entertainment.

Brainstorm socially: Sometimes, the best ideas can come out of conversing with others. Exchange ideas directly with other artists, providing prompts for one another to work off of. Or simply take the time to have a fun conversation; maybe an interesting, inspiring topic will arise.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Find the ideal to-do list app

Six time management and habit tracker apps to stay organized

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Looking for a new way to manage time and keep track of habits? A multitude of apps exist to do just that — but which to choose? Here I provide an overview of six time management and to-do list apps to help narrow down the options. All are available for free on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

“Focus To-Do”: My favorite of the bunch, this app is based on the Pomodoro technique — work on something for 25 minutes straight, then take a five minute break. List upcoming tasks, estimate the amount of Pomodoro sessions it will take and start the timer to get to work. As an added incentive, users can grow a virtual sapling by completing sessions.

“MyLifeOrganized”: This app is great for those with a lot on their plate. Organize projects, tasks and reminders into multiple workspaces and subsections, and use tags to easily navigate different types of tasks.

“Productive”: With a cute design, “Productive” is aimed at those looking to keep track of daily habits, such as drinking enough water, waking up early and going for a walk. The app logs statistics overtime, and users can complete challenges for extra motivation.

“Remember The Milk”: Remember more than just the milk; this app offers a great way to organize all kinds of reminders while also adding a social element. Sync up specific to-do lists with other devices so that tasks can be managed from everywhere, and share lists with colleagues or friends to check off together.

“TimeBloc”: Keep track of routines and events — both one-time and recurring — in one calendar with customizable color coded labels. Scroll through the day’s hour-by-hour tasks on the main tab, or view added routines on the second tab to plan ahead.

“Todoist”: Focused on making habits by keeping streaks, “Todoist” creates a reward system for completing to-do list items every day. Set goals and check off tasks on different boards in order to reach higher “Karma” levels.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

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This week in completely made up horoscopes

The Western Howl Staff

Theme: No theme!

Aries 3/21-4/19

You have entered the rat zone.

Taurus 4/20-5/20

Be gay, do crimes

Gemini 5/21-6/20

okay google, why does burnt popcorn taste like how cat piss smells?

Cancer 6/21-7/22

Js, i’d sell your soul to satan for a corn chip

Leo 7/23-8/22

EArly summmmmer breakkk plz

Virgo 8/23-9/22

I think, ergo I am.

Libra 9/23-10/22

Hey siri, locate my fwb?

Scorpio 10/23-11/21

Say hi to the gods

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

Hello my little pogchamp UwU

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

If you see a sagittarius today, attack them say hello 🙂

Aquarius 1/20 – 2/18

zzzzz

Pisces 2/19 – 3/20

All I want today is a good gummy shark.

Get inspired and conquer creative block

Find the ideal to-do list app

This week in completely made up horoscopes

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