A blog about books, the publishing world, and maintaining ultimate litness.
Previously, I published a post on “How NOT to Start your Novel: Common Mistakes to Avoid.” That post is helpful for optimizing the first 5 pages of your manuscript, which is important if you are querying literary agents or editors. But let’s talk about issues I often notice in the body of unpublished manuscripts. I’m […]
When Oscar Wilde first wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray, he was faced with backlash from critics who may or may not have been familiar with the term “unreliable narrator.” They accused him of writing an “immoral book.” At first, he contested that claim by saying that the moral of the book was clear; in […]
His sigh rippled through his body. Instead of deflating, he shook, full of feelings he couldn’t brook. Exhaustion and anger diminished him. Guilt made his coordination shoddy and the glass slipped from his hand But to his surprise, he could easily stand. He rid himself of warmth, limb by limb. The chill was […]
The river below rushed and wound for momentary rest. The facade so renowned. I know now it’s not worth it. Somehow the universe knew my fears. Even the sky was moaning amidst its tears. Up here I could have sworn I could hear its heartbeat and I could discern the irony. I too never breathed […]
What is the first thing you notice? The first indication that something’s wrong? It makes your heart trip; the lifeforce inside you freezes, your mouth has two weights on each edge, and your brow can’t seem to lift. It’s the concern and fear that borrows your breath but it’s the constant circular commotion […]
This playlist is a bit different from the other ones, because I usually try to order the songs into a chronological story, but this playlist is in no specific order. It’s rather based on a central theme: holding each other hostage in an unhealthy relationship. I was listening to “Skinny Love,” Birdy’s version, and I […]
I could have sworn I was mad at you a minute ago. But lo and behold that smile full of abandon and beguile that speaks of late night coffee runs from the shabby local gas station. Strutting across the lot, the world our mansion. We laughed into the night, daring the haunted corridors […]
While reading War and Peace, Andrei broke my heart a million times, and so of course he was my favorite character in the book and now one of my favorite characters in all of literature. Although I knew Andrei’s ending prior to reading, I was hoping against hope for my favorite character’s contentment. Alas, *spoiler […]
I wrote this short story as an assignment for a class in college. It’s curated for a good grade based on the professor’s apparent preferences, so it’s not really my style. But it’s good to be taken out of your comfort zone. It’s speculative fiction and fantasy, and I usually like to write realistic fiction. […]
I have always heard people say, “I forgot who I was.” But I had no idea how literally they meant it. Now, as I look through pictures of myself taken just 3 months before, a stranger looks back at me. Her smile, the way her eyes held the faintest shimmer, her vibrant aura, even the […]