What Makes A Novel Beautiful? Here Are Six Criteria For Great Literature
It is easy to label a song, building or painting as ‘beautiful.’ The same applies for sculpture, fashion, poetry and cinema. Unfortunately, novels receive little mention in discussions about art and beauty. When the topic arises, the discussion is limited to ‘pretty...
Are You Mature Enough To Write And Publish?
One interesting observation of writing communities is the insecurity regarding age. On forums like Reddit, many teenagers and young adults enquire whether they should publish or even write at all. Most answers are encouraging. However, there is a need to convey that...
Mind-Magic: Creative Non-Fiction
My father and I walk along the caves where water awaits. Our suburb, Lane Cove, is home to Riverview. There, you’ll discover an elite Jesuit all boys school named St. Ignatius College. It covers vast amounts of space and former farmland, where cars and trucks must...
The Moral Duty of Novelists: Excellence And Truth
The conflation between an artist and their moral responsibility is a controversial topic. On one hand, you have a libertarian approach, where a novelist has free reign and no moral duties to society, literature or to themselves. Yet the alternative is also...
The Cathars Posed A Serious Threat To Medieval Christendom
Ideological warfare dominates our past, present and future. As empires rise and fall among the many civilisations known to mankind, we must understand the role of ideology. As Aristotle points out, we are ‘political animals’ prone to ideology and emotion. The concept...
Why Modern Historians Should Study The Middle Ages
Over the past week, many have become aware of the current controversies gripping medieval studies. One example involves the authors of the Bright Ages, where accusations of racism gripped Dr. Matthew Gabriele and Dr. David M. Perry. This event, and the ludicrous...
Revenge Is The Worst Reason To Write: Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Revenge is the worst reason to write. Although I firmly believe in artistic freedom, it makes for poor literature when writers use storytelling for personal grudges. A clear and unfortunate example comes from the recent Manhunt, a horror novel from Gretchen...
Thoughts On London: The City of Dreadful Night
Rome is the greatest city of all time, and Paris is not far behind. Yet London dominates my mind; the English capital has a towering presence found in literature, cinema, art and politics. Of course, London is not the only city with this affect. No serious traveller...
Characterisation: The Strongest Element of The Handmaid’s Tale
Two years ago, I bemoaned the worldbuilding of The Handmaid’s Tale, taking issue with Atwood’s politics and characterisation. However, this topic requires revisiting. I still stand by everything I wrote. Yet nuance is required, especially in discussions regarding the...Welcome To Snowy Fictions
Frequent essays on literature, history & culture. Dedicated to liberty.
