Columns

Book vs. Film vs. TV Series: 'Hannibal'

January 21st, 2016

Good evening, LitReactor readers.

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Self-Editing For Dummies

January 20th, 2016

Should you hire an editor for your novel?  Yes, you should. But if you write short fiction and are looking to submit your writing for publication, you probably need to self-edit your stories. Having an editor on call isn't feasible and it can get real expensive, real fast. At the same time, you want your writing to be the best it can be, even when you know your manuscript is going to be edited by a professional before publication. Novels or shorter work, you're here because you want to know how to do the grunt work yourself.

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30 Much Anticipated Young Adult Novels for the First Half of 2016

January 18th, 2016

It’s January, and that means looking forward to all of the highly anticipated novels that are releasing in the coming year. 2016 is bringing the young adult community many new and wonderful books, from sought-after sequels in well-loved series, to fresh, new debut voices. Here are thirty of the most talked about young adult novels of 2016 to get you started.

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Lessons From Martin Luther King Jr., The Writer

January 18th, 2016

Jan. 18 marks over three decades of national celebrations dedicated to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. King is known around the world as an activist and humanitarian, but his skill as a writer and communicator played an important role in bringing his advocacy to a broader audience. His speeches have been praised for their rhetoric, and he wrote one of his most passionate essays from an Alabama prison cell. King's words were not only transcendent in their message, but in their linguistic elegance.

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6 Self-Help Books That Actually Help

January 15th, 2016

It's far enough into the new year that we've all given up, right? Given up hope. Given up being on time. Given up on that gym membership because, meh, the ID photo stinks anyway. But you know what works better than resolutions, those champagne-fueled promises that are meant to be kept by a soberer, future you? A little help. 

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SMART Goals: 5 Steps To Setting Goals You Can Achieve

January 15th, 2016

A new year brings new possibilities, promises and resolutions. Every year I review what I want to achieve, professionally and personally, and set a series of SMART goals for the year ahead. I like to publish my goals publicly, on my Facebook page, as it keeps me accountable and motivated. If you’re running a small press, writing a novel, hosting a podcast, running a business or carrying out any kind of work you can benefit from goals. Not only can you benefit, but if you want to maximise productivity and potential you need to set goals.

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Advice From A Literary Character: Bridget Jones

January 14th, 2016

As we grow and change, the advice we need also changes. When it comes to life’s big questions, we grapple with them in different ways, depending on where we are in life. It would only make sense that our favorite characters from beloved books would have varying kinds of advice for us. For LitReactor’s third installment of Advice From A Literary Character, I’d like to welcome Bridget Jones (of Bridget Jones’s Diary days)!

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5 Screenwriters Who Wrote Their Own Novelizations

January 13th, 2016

Novelizations don't get much attention these days, but for film fans they're a fond remembrance of bygone times. As a young cinephile reading the book translation of a movie's script meant not just insight into the plot, but material that was left out of the movie altogether. Still, there was a lingering feeling that the books were lesser than the movies.

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Jessica Jones vs. Sansa Stark: Rape Culture in Entertainment, and Why We Should Talk About It

January 12th, 2016

Trigger warning: we are going to talk about rape. Or rather, I am. I'm going to muse about it, think about it. I'm going to cringe, rage, and perhaps wonder. If this is a problem for you, please don't read further, because if rape is your trigger, I can only imagine why, and my heart goes out to you. I don't want to cause you any pain. But I swear...I'm a little confused, and I want to talk about it. So please. If you can have a conversation about rape and its portrayal in literature and movies, read on.

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5 Troublesome Birthday Parties in Literature and Film

January 11th, 2016

They say it’s my birthday. I’m not gonna have a good time. Screw the Beatles — especially that eternally, irritatingly cheerful McCartney person — and their little song, too. Lennon called it ”a piece of garbage.” He was right. “Birthday” is just too fucking happy.

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