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Showing posts 1 to 10 labeled Criticism (30 total)
The Illusion of Control (March 24, 2024)
Western fiction creates and vehemently defends the illusion we can control our fates. More »
Constraints on Innovation in Fiction: Reflections on The Lady's Maid's Bell and The Haunting of Hill House (May 2, 2021)
Because expectations for horror have been so thoroughly solidified by Stephen King and slasher flicks, the unfortunate truth is neither of these classic and innovative stories could be published today. More »
Writing Experiences Other Than Your Own (January 1, 2020)
We should all write about people from other cultures. How lame it would be if every fictional world were populated by characters from only one background. But we have a responsibility to write respectfully and well, in a way that makes the real world better. More »
Let's Stop Making Excuses for Problematic Romances (August 4, 2019)
Minimizing or outright denying the problems in the classics doesn't protect the genre, but hinders it. More »
How to Show Culture Subtly (July 14, 2019)
This month I've been spending more time on Twitter, and through it I've found out how weak I am to peer influence. I've bought lipsticks because pretty women posted selfies wearing them. I've sought out movies because people referenced them in memes and animated GIFs. More »
The Difference Between Racist Jokes and Inclusive Humor (May 6, 2019)
Where is the line between progress and hysteria? More »
Where Are All the Complex Female Characters? (January 13, 2018)
Every book and movie made today features a "strong" female heroine, but it's still rare to find a complex one. More »
Crafting Tragic Tragedies (September 2, 2017)
The efficacy of the central tragedy makes the difference between a shallow romance and a touching one, a boring mystery and a captivating one, or a cliché fantasy and a memorable one. More »
Preaching in Fiction (May 6, 2017)
It's perfectly natural for authors to use their stories to show the difference between right and wrong. However, there are stories with good moral lessons, and then there are sermons masquerading as stories. More »
What I Learned from Pride and Prejudice: Maximizing Potential for Happiness (May 2, 2017)
The magic of P&P is in its basic story structure. More »