The Booker Prize is arguably one of the most significant literary accolades in the English-speaking world, a beacon that shines a light on fiction’s most compelling voices. For writers, making the longlist – the esteemed “Booker Dozen” – is a career-defining moment, a testament to months, if not years, of dedicated craft. This year, theContinue reading “The Booker Dozen: The Authors Behind the 2025 Longlist”
Tag Archives: books
The Architect of Dreams: Unravelling the Narrative Genius of Moebius
Jean Giraud. The name might not immediately resonate with everyone, but mention ‘Moebius’, and a universe of intricate, surreal, and breathtaking imagery springs to mind. This French graphic novelist, who sadly passed in 2012, was a titan of visual storytelling, a true visionary whose influence stretched far beyond the pages of comics, touching the veryContinue reading “The Architect of Dreams: Unravelling the Narrative Genius of Moebius”
The Art of Storytelling: Granta’s Enduring Impact
Granta has, for over a century, been a vital home for new writing, a mirror reflecting societal shifts, and a launchpad for some of the most significant voices in contemporary literature. From its unassuming beginnings as a student publication to its current stature as an international literary powerhouse, Granta‘s journey is a compelling narrative ofContinue reading “The Art of Storytelling: Granta’s Enduring Impact”
When Fandom Turns Toxic: Understanding and Combating Cyberbullying in the Literary World
The digital age has transformed the landscape of authorship, once mainly characterised by solitary creation and the subsequent critical reception of a finished work. While the internet provides exceptional opportunities for authors to engage with readers, foster communities, and promote their work, it also presents a significant and growing threat: cyberbullying. This widespread issue, markedContinue reading “When Fandom Turns Toxic: Understanding and Combating Cyberbullying in the Literary World”
The Authentic Blur: Navigating Memoir, Autofiction, and the Quest for Truth in Personal Narrative
Introduction: The Evolving Landscape of Personal Narrative The contemporary literary landscape has undergone a profound transformation, witnessing a significant rise in the prominence of personal narrative forms. This includes the enduring appeal of traditional memoir and the emergence of autofiction as a compelling, yet often controversial, genre.1 These narrative modes collectively challenge conventional notions ofContinue reading “The Authentic Blur: Navigating Memoir, Autofiction, and the Quest for Truth in Personal Narrative”
Your World, Your Rules
The Art of World-Building The art of world-building, often thought of as something only for fantasy stories filled with dragons and magic, is an essential skill for any writer creating a fictional world. Whether you’re crafting a futuristic galaxy in science fiction, a meticulously detailed past in historical fiction, or even a subtly altered versionContinue reading “Your World, Your Rules”
The Gravity of Words: Insights from Samantha Harvey’s ‘Orbital’
As writers, we continually seek inspiration, new techniques, and fresh perspectives to push the boundaries of our craft. Every so often, a novel emerges that challenges our preconceptions about storytelling, structure, and genre. Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, the groundbreaking 2024 Booker Prize winner, is precisely such a book. Hailed as “slim, powerful, and uplifting,” and oftenContinue reading “The Gravity of Words: Insights from Samantha Harvey’s ‘Orbital’”
The Creative Hangover
Why Your Brain Feels Depleted After a Major Writing Project (And How to Recover) For months, perhaps even years, the world of your story, with its intricate plotlines, evolving characters, and the relentless pursuit of the perfect sentence, occupied a significant portion of your cognitive and emotional landscape. Then, one day, it’s finished. You typeContinue reading “The Creative Hangover”
Forging Worlds from Broken Shards: What Writers Can Learn from N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy
N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy isn’t just a significant work of speculative fiction; it’s a great example of narrative craft and thematic depth. Made up of The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky, the series managed the impressive feat of each book winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel. For writersContinue reading “Forging Worlds from Broken Shards: What Writers Can Learn from N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy”
Asako Yuzuki’s ‘Butter’: A Feast of Feminism, Food, and Unsettling Truths
Asako Yuzuki’s novel, Butter, has captivated readers with its unsettling premise and achieved remarkable accolades, including the Waterstones Book of the Year 2024. Yet, to see Butter merely as a sensational, food-centric crime novel would be to miss the rich, complex, and often provocative tapestry Yuzuki weaves. It’s an invitation into a world where culinaryContinue reading “Asako Yuzuki’s ‘Butter’: A Feast of Feminism, Food, and Unsettling Truths”
The Original Writers Group 