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 But let’s talk about issues I often notice in the body of unpublished manuscripts.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 […]
When reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I was constantly annotating the cynical witticisms running rampant through the novel. They were absolutely delightful, and some made me chuckle out loud. The majority of the quotes I highlighted were the sayings of Lord Henry, because even though he could be a bit sexist […]
When people discover the extent of my chocolate infatuation and connect that with my love for writing/reading, they are bound to eventually suggest, “Write about chocolate!” My immediate reaction is always, “How?” My creative ability doesn’t extend to thinking up an entertaining manuscript entirely about a single consumable product. I just really enjoy eating it. […]
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 […]
After Chocolat, which was charming, whimsical, and subtle in its writing, reading its sequel The Girl With No Shadow was disappointing. I ended up skimming the majority of the novel because neither the characters or the writing could hold my interest for long. The writing style in The Girl With No Shadow felt contrived and […]
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 […]