No “Qualified” Critics anymore?
As Old Media dies and Influencers take over, are there no “qualified” critics anymore? So asks Dwight Garner of the […]
The First Quarter Debate
As the protagonist resists engaging with the external plot. the First Quarter Debate powers the first act of a novel.
No New Stories Only New Twists
Sequels, re-boots, and ‘reimaginings:’ are there no new stories only new twists? What happened to originality?
The Book Club podcast
The Book Club podcast does literature a little differently, as much about the authors and their time, unpacking the historical
Magic Conjures a Plot Hole
This is a problem with the fantasy genre: magic conjures a plot hole. Usually an entire Swiss cheese of plot
Six Essential Action-Genre Story Beats
What are the six essential action-genre story beats? The lack of which strips the novel of both genre and story?
World Book and Copyright Day 2026
April 23 is World Book and Copyright Day 2026. when UNESCO celebrates the power of books as a bridge between
Likable, sympathetic or just compelling?
What’s the priority for a protagonist in fiction: likable, sympathetic or just compelling? It seems counter-intuitive, but not every protagonist
Fantasy Book Cover Cliches Gallery 3
It’s time for Fantasy Book Cover Cliches Gallery 3. Many elements contribute to a cliche cover: concept, composition, typeface, character
When YA Tropes Turn Toxic
They are the mandatory elements of the genre, but what happens when YA tropes turn toxic? Are we offering impressionable