Rewriting Is Worth It
Rewriting sucks. Writers spend months on their first drafts – some, even years. It takes time to turn loose ideas into a full-fledged story with characters and a cohesive narrative. That is why, for nearly all writers, the prospect of rewriting seems nightmarish and...
Writing Magical Schools: Ten Creative Tips For Storytelling Success
Readers never forget a captivating magical school. Since the success of Harry Potter, there has been considerable attention to magical schools. Notable examples include The Magicians by Lev Grossman, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Vita Nostra by Maryna...
Why History Matters To Gothic Literature
Gothic literature cannot exist without history. In Elizabeth Kostova’s marvellous novel, The Historian, the readers encounter castles, mosques, medieval manuscripts, ancient churches, Oxford sidewalks and cathedrals. It’s a story dripping in history. Hence, the title....
Physical Books Are Great, Here’s Why
On Instagram, readers frequently upload lavish pictures of bookshelves and books in an aesthetically pleasing way. The reason is clear: books are beautiful. We can recall the scene in Beauty and The Beast, where the latter surprises Belle with the magnificent library....
Repetition Helps With Language Learning
In 2017, I decided to learn Russian. I began the Russian course on Duolingo and watched grammar videos on YouTube. Whilst I learnt the Cryllic alphabet easily, it took nearly six years until I could mutter some sentences, and this was only after incorporating other...
On Medieval Studies and the Far-Right
In the past decades, medieval scholars have voiced concerns about the misuse and abuse of the Middle Ages, particularly within pop culture and among right-wing politicians, whether populist, neoconservative, or fascist. I’ve covered this topic previously. For those...
Harry Potter Has Plot Holes. So?
Not everyone is a fan of Harry Potter’s worldbuilding. A recent viral Twitter thread demonstrated the ‘flaws’ inherent in the Wizarding World. Why does poverty exist where magic replaces labour? Do Scottish students have to travel to London, then take the Hogwarts...
A.I. Will Never Write A Great Novel: A Response to ChatGPT
A revolution is gripping artists: Artificial Intelligence. With the recent advancements in ChatGPT and deep fakes, artists were quick to voice concern. The fear of robots taking over creative output loomed over these discussions, like a dark cloud ahead of the...
War Stories Refuse To Please: The Art of Otto Dix
In the sphere of literature and film studies, it’s not uncommon to critique portrayals of war. Certain ‘war stories’ have provoked controversy: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littel, Schindler’s List by Steven Spielberg and...Welcome To Snowy Fictions
Frequent essays on literature, history & culture. Dedicated to liberty.
