Instagram story viewer> @jean.ryam.tera> Posts

Jean

@jean.ryam.tera

74

followers

131

following

❤️‍🩹 Writing the story that younger me wishes she could have read (and healing a little as I do)
📚 Adding to my ever-growing TBR
🚫 No genAI

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

This is probably an odd thing to say, but sometimes I feel self-conscious about my reading tastes, primarily because they lack any apparent cohesion.

My TBR is a multi-genre mishmash of adult, YA, and even middle grade titles. Some are fiction, some are nonfiction. A few were penned over a century ago; others came out earlier this year. Some are book club picks or buddy reads; others have been culled from reading lists or have simply caught my eye in passing. They come from the shelves of my friends, my local library, and my personal collection.

There’s no single unifying factor to what I may be reading in any given month, and though I know there’s no rule saying that there has to be, part of me wishes there was commonality, wishes I could hang my reading identity on something more specific than “I saw it, and it piqued my curiosity, so I added it to the list.”

It’s probably because I’m in a stage of life where I’m trying to discover who I am apart from the systems that previously (and narrowly) defined my life. When the structure you were born into and expected to build your life around comes crashing down, it opens the door to freedom, but freedom can feel like chaos at first. It makes you want to find something to cling to, some concrete identifier that will provide a sense of security and belonging, even if it’s only the (relatively insignificant) distinction of being “a nonfiction reader” or a “reviewer of contemporary novels.”

(Continued in the comments.) by @jean.ryam.tera

3

19

3 days ago

Writing has generally been a solitary activity for me, but this year I wanted to make more in-person connections, so I recently attended a writer’s cafe meet up and tried to not let my natural introversion scuttle things. Come along to see how it went! ✍️

••••••••••

As always, this post was made without the use of generative AI. Grammar errors, quirky phrasing, and verbosity are of my own making.

••••••••••

#writingcommunity #introvertedwriters #writersdoingwriterthings #writergram by @jean.ryam.tera

3

16

15 days ago

I’m a writer, but I’m also…

A crafter when time permits🧵,

A reader of multiple genres 📚,

A houseplant nurturer (of the low-maintenance types only) 🌱,

An artist with an inconsistent art style🙃,

An enjoyer of tea (who can’t do coffee 🥲),

…and perpetually late when it comes to social media trends! 😆

Nothing earth-shattering here, just a few of the many things that occupy my time when I’m not writing. Do we have anything in common? 😊

(It occurred to me that these are all hobby-related. One day I’ll do a proper “Meet the Writer” post, but this one will suffice for now. It also occurred to me that this account has grown to 50 followers despite my sporadic Instagramming 😅. Thank you so much for being here! 🩷)

#meetthewriter

••••••••••

All photos in this post were taken by me and edited in Procreate, and all writing and art was done by me without the use of generative AI. (I hate that this even has to be stated, but such are the times we live in.)

•••••••••• by @jean.ryam.tera

3

11

5 months ago

Still here, still chipping away at my WIP (this is technically 201 days of writing, but I was too busy yesterday to post 🙃).

As usual, I don’t have any wisdom to offer, but I can share what I’ve been learning. I hope it helps. 💛 We are more than the products we create, and our journey is about more than just the final destination.

#creativeprocess #writerlife #workinprogress

••••••••••

As always, this post was made without the use of generative AI.

•••••••••• by @jean.ryam.tera

3

12

3 months ago

I’ve been trying to figure out a good format for book reviews because I always have so many thoughts that it’s hard to organize them in a coherent fashion. 🙃 Going with this for now; may make adjustments later.

I really enjoyed Behind Five Willows. It was a charming nod to Pride and Prejudice with enough differences to keep it unique. I especially related to Seojun’s struggles as a writer and as a child who knows their parent would not approve of their work. Writing is, indeed, both a “[wrestling] with despair and inadequacy” and a “haven” for the one putting pen to paper.

I am grateful that @junehwrites wrote this book and that I came across it. I’m also very happy that I got to buddy read this with @marireadabook 💕📚

More reviews to come! If you took the time to linger with this one, thank you. ☺️ And if you’ve read this book, I’d love to know what you thought of it!

••••••••••

As always, this post was made without the use of generative AI. Amateur layouts, annoying grammar errors, and convoluted thoughts are my own.

•••••••••• by @jean.ryam.tera

3

8

a month ago

Being vulnerably honest for a moment and hoping it reaches someone instead of just sailing off into the void 😆. Maybe one day I’ll make a post with ten saveable takeaways, but today is not that day.

If you are currently creating something and feeling lost in the messy middle, you are not alone. 💛

#creativeprocess #writerlife #writingcommunity

••••••••••

The images for this post were made in Procreate using visual elements I photographed or created myself. The text was written by me and added using Canva. (I hate that this even has to be stated, but I want to make clear that I don’t use generative AI for any of my writing or social media content).

•••••••••• by @jean.ryam.tera

3

25

6 months ago

Today is Library Giving Day! 📚

I know there are so many worthy causes out there, but if you’re at a place where you can donate to your local library fund, please consider doing so. Libraries are wonderful resources and so very needed in these times. 🫶🏼

(Pictured in the first image: my recent library haul. Most of these are recommendations, and I’m hoping to get through them all this month, but we’ll see! 😅 If you’ve read any of these books, what did you think of them?)

••••••••••

I was very fortunate to have grown up within walking distance of my local library. My family went through seasons where money was tight, and access to books meant access to hours of imaginative adventure—no payment required.

The library was also a quiet, safe, and non-judgmental space where my painfully-shy self could find solace. In the years that followed, it gave me several firsts: one of my first volunteer opportunities, my first chance to get published (writing book reviews for a teen newsletter), and my first chance to learn from established authors through a county-wide writers’ summit.

Even though I’m no longer that child who spent hours browsing the bookshelves, I still visit the library on a regular basis. It has given—and continues to give—so much to me, and today I am thankful that I could give back in a very small way.

••••••••••

Photos taken by me, text added using Procreate (first image only) and Canva.

•••••••••• by @jean.ryam.tera

3

11

7 months ago

Thoughts I’ve had as the first month of 2026 draws near its end. I am so grateful for the (far more eloquent) people who have shared their reflections, resources, and creativity, helping to light the way. ❤️‍🩹

••••••••••

Background photo taken by me and edited in Procreate. Text written by me and added using Canva.

•••••••••• by @jean.ryam.tera

3

4

9 months ago

🎄 The 12 Days of Christmas: Aspiring Author Edition 🎄

(Some numbers may have been exaggerated for comedic effect 😉.)

I made significant progress on my WIP this year, but also had my share of frustrations, so it felt only right to poke fun at the chaos that’s ensued. Here’s to the joy of storytelling, and to the character-building moments that come from the creative process!

Happy holidays to my fellow writers, readers, and friends. May your hearts be full, and may you enter this coming year with clarity, grounding, and strength for the meaningful work you have been called to do. 💛

••••••••••

Background photo taken by me. Text written by me. Clip art added using Canva.

•••••••••• The twelve days of Christmas: aspiring author edition by @jean.ryam.tera

3

12

10 months ago