Columns

Culling The Classics: One Hundred Years of Solitude

May 2nd, 2014

There was an unwritten rule when "Culling The Classics" began that, whatever else one might be able to say about a book, it had to be at least 50 years old to qualify as a "classic" for our purposes. First published in 1967, One Hundred Years of Solitude still has three years before it officially reaches that "classic" age, but sadly Gabriel García Márquez died last month, and this is the best way I knew to honor him. And besides, every rule deserves an exception.

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5 Great Memoirs, from Bette Davis to the Rolling Stones

May 2nd, 2014

Writing about oneself carries risks. A life that’s been fascinating to you may be dull as dishwater to everyone else. Honesty, a requirement for memoirs, may lead to humiliation, as you slip open your dingy raincoat and expose your dirty secrets for the sake of grabbing some attention only to find that readers look at them and laugh. Libel looms large; if you aren’t careful, telling the unvarnished truth may result in multiple lawsuits. And writing a great autobiography means knowing how to treat yourself as a well-rounded character.

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The Peak We Leave Behind: Loving Authors Past Their Prime

May 1st, 2014

Mourning authors is painful, particularly when they’re not dead yet. Long before our favorite authors go to the big word processor in the sky, they often experience another kind of death.

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UPDATED WITH WINNER - LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: April (Poetry Month) Edition

April 30th, 2014

Flash fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity. Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess. How It Works We give you inspiration in the form of a picture, poem, video, or similar. You write a flash fiction piece using the inspiration we gave you. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked and awarded a prize.

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Writers: Do You Need A Lawyer?

April 30th, 2014

Like death and taxes, lawyers are one of those unpleasant necessities in life. At some stage, whether it’s buying a house, writing your will, starting your own business, or getting into a dispute, you will probably need the help of a lawyer. And it’s not the lawyers themselves that are unpleasant (can I admit to a little bit of an ironic laugh whilst typing that?), it’s just that the fees they charge aren’t something your average American can afford. So, as an author, will you need a lawyer?

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Openly Gay in YA: Four Characters You Need to Know Now

April 30th, 2014

Image via Jenny is Such a Bookworm Gone are the days when LGBTQ topics were taboo and the only available titles were poor, after-school special material. Today’s Young Adult canon features an immense wealth of rich characters that are not just struggling with their sexual identity, but are thriving as openly LGBTQ. It’s time to get to know four important openly gay Young Adult characters that are pleasantly diversifying YA lit.

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Digital Piracy Is the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Us, Said No Writer, Ever. 6 Reasons It's a Bigger Threat Than You Think

April 29th, 2014

Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author. ― United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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Targeting Your Readers One Headshot at a Time

April 29th, 2014

You’re surrounded. The living dead circle you like bicycle bullies around the slowest child in the school. There’s not many bullets left in your pistol, so you have to make every shot count. If you even slip up in the slightest, these things are going to eat you alive. They’ll rip out your guts and breathe in your entrails. There is no time to waste. Take them out before they turn you into a sandwich and move on to someone more interesting. Raise your arm. Tighten your finger around the trigger. Aim for the head. Shoot.

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11 Authors Who Became Famous After They Died

April 28th, 2014

For many great authors the peskiest antagonist of all, death, came to claim their quill before they could get proper appreciation for their work. Fame is nice and all, but it’s hard to enjoy it once you’re in the grave. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular authors who didn’t really get much recognition before rigor mortis set in.

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Girl Lost: YA Literature and Rape Culture

April 28th, 2014

Today’s Young Adult literature doesn’t shy away from the tough topics of teen reality, and there are a number of excellent titles that handle sexual assault with the necessary gravitas. The question is whether or not these titles are refuting today’s prevalent rape culture, or are they actually contributing to it? When Young Adult authors depict characters in these situations, are the narratives breaking down walls when it comes to reporting issues and shame, or are they supporting a growing culture that silences victims?

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