Books like these not only help us imagine worst-case scenarios but, hopefully, inspire us to fight against tyranny.
Writers and Readers Share the Love: The Rise of the Romance Novel
Romance is no longer just about a woman settling down; today’s heroines are career-driven, independent, and multifaceted. Relationships are more varied, representation is expanding, and consent is an explicit and sexy part of the narrative. “Romance is ultimately about self-love,” McKinlay says. “The right person isn’t Prince Charming—they’re the person who truly sees you, helping you see yourself.”
Rarefied Air? – Notoriety is the Newest Award for Acclaimed Authors
When your favorite author goes from The Pulitzer Prize list to the Registered Offenders list, what’s a reader to do?
Stuck in the Middle: The Revision Process
A summary of author Laura van den Berg's invaluable advice on novel revision, and reflections on how I am applying it as I work my way through the "murky middle."
Endings: How Do You End Your Novel?
Sometimes Endings are like ice cream sundaes with the right amount of toppings.
A Round-up from The Muse & the Marketplace 2024
A sampling of stand-out quotes from my weekend at the Muse.
Operating the POV Camera
To reduce POV to whether the narrator uses first person (“I”) or third person (“He/she/they”) is deceptively simple, as though POV is a point and shoot camera, when in fact, it’s more like a manual one, with various controls that can be adjusted to alter what the reader sees.
