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Harry Potter and the Cursed Memory
September 28th, 2016
Memory has always been an important element of the Harry Potter series. From Neville Longbottom’s Remembrall in Sorcerer’s Stone to Gilderoy Lockhart’s backfiring memory charm in Chamber of Secrets to the prominence of Pensieves from Goblet of Fire onward, memory as physical object is probably the most fascinating ideology of author J.K. Rowling. She also builds on the idea of memory being vital to the formation of identity over the course of seven books.
Read Column →They’re All Going To Laugh At You!: 5 Ways To Overcome Anxiety While Writing Your First Novel
September 26th, 2016
I’ve slowed down on the freelance work.
Read Column →LitReactor Community Spotlight: September 2016
September 23rd, 2016
It's been a little while, but the Community Spotlight is back! It's my first time putting the Spotlight together, and just in case it's your first time reading it, let me tell you why this matters. Because it's a lot more than just a list of stuff to read.
Read Column →LURID: Branwell Brontë—Wastrel or Romantic Hero?
September 23rd, 2016
Branwell Brontë died 168 years ago this weekend, on September 24th, 1848. His cause of death was listed as “chronic bronchitis and marasmus”, a polite way of saying he was a coughing, half-starved, alcoholic, laudanum-addicted wreck who finally, mercifully, proved unequal to the struggle of drawing breath.
Read Column →Why A Little Writing Jealousy Is Healthy
September 22nd, 2016
Every writer has felt it—that twinge of jealousy when you read a sentence so perfect, it makes you angry that you didn't think of it first. Sitting around feeling envious of others' work can be detrimental, but it can also be a healthy motivator when kept in check.
Read Column →6 Annoying Things Writers Are Asked To Do And How To Ask Anyway
September 21st, 2016
"Hey, you're a writer, right?" Whenever I hear that, it's not because someone recognizes my name or photo (although I have been mistaken for Stephen King. Whether or not the Stephen King I was mistaken for is the one from before or after his accident, I refuse to say). When people say "Hey, you're a writer," it's because they're about to ask me to do something for them.
Read Column →10 Standard Texts for Junior High and High School English Class: Just How Great Are They?
September 19th, 2016
image courtesy Schplook / flikr.com It is now mid-September, which means many
Read Column →7 Reasons Why Every Writer Should Journal
September 16th, 2016
I have three physical journals and one electronic journal. I also use the Notes application on my iPhone to write thoughts and observations down if I’m caught journal-less. The three journals are all pocketsize so I can take them everywhere. The first journal is for quotes, life lessons and realisations I pick-up throughout the day. The second is for story ideas, snatches of dialogue and observations. I like to keep the first journal positive so it can inspire and uplift me on those darker days but the second journal is ‘anything goes’.
Read Column →6 Independent Comics and Graphic Novels You Need To Read This Fall
September 16th, 2016
There are so many excellent independent comics that it's easy to miss them. They often fly slightly beneath the radar, making it even easier to neglect a title that would otherwise be perfect for a fall day and a mug of apple cider.
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