Blog
The Delve
- Edgar Allan Poe tries Japanese candyYou will say that I am mad—for who but a madman could devise so remarkable a species of vengeance, marked by such intricate dissimulation, such exquisite cunning? Continue reading →
- Can you solve these 19th-century math problems?This is one of the easiest: “On Monday, I sold 3/7 of my pears; on Tuesday, I sold 16 more than 1/2 of the remainder, and had 20 pears left. How many had I at first?” Continue reading →
- How to sell the world’s shortest novelCould I market this book as the shortest novel ever written? Maybe. Here's how. Continue reading →
- This is how you write a book dedicationWhy I've never included a dedication in any of my books ... and why I might start doing it from now on. Continue reading →
- What Laura Ingalls Wilder really ateTwo books claim to have the answer. But the answer each one presents is very different from the other. Continue reading →
- That time P.T. Barnum wrote a personal finance bookP.T. Barnum: king of ballyhoo, prince of humbugs, sultan of spin … giver of financial advice? As Barnum himself said, there's a sucker born every minute. Continue reading →
- Why adults read YA novelsAre children’s chapter stories and YA fiction books real novels? Continue reading →
- What the new ‘Flowers in the Attic’ book gets completely wrongThe copycat plot and abrupt ending aren’t the real problem with "Beneath the Attic." It's something involving a 100-year-old cake. Continue reading →
- What is a novel?Are graphic novels really novels? If not, what are they? Continue reading →
- Why do songs get stuck in your head?How can you get rid of them? And what if there's a good reason you don't want to? Continue reading →
How to Write Like
- How to write a poem like ‘The Raven’"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe has many admirers but few imitators. Though it's a very complex poem, these 6 tips will help you understand how it works and show you how to write your own "Raven."
- How to write like Edgar Allan PoeReady to write something scary? Poe's stories are still considered masterpieces of horror writing to this day. These six tips will help you craft a tale of terror just like Poe.
- How to create a fictional languageCreating your own fictional language can be an effective way to add depth to a story and strengthen your worldbuilding. And it's easier (and more fun) than you think!
- How to write like Ian FlemingSeven tips that will transform a story from a simple thriller into a heart-pounding, James Bond style masterpiece.
- How to write a sonnetSonnets aren't just a joy to read, they're also easy to write. You just have to learn a few simple facts about what makes a poem a sonnet.
- How to write like Makayla LoveI love being able to just disappear into another world with these new friends I’ve made and see what’s happened to them, or to put myself in their shoes and pretend I’m someone else for a while.
- How to write like a dogPeople love dogs. A lot. So why not write your next novel, short story, social media post, poem, blog post, or greeting card from the point of view of man’s best friend?
- How to write like a journalistJournalism isn't just for journalists. Whether you’re a poet, novelist, blogger, copywriter or aspiring reporter, learning how to write like a journalist is guaranteed to make you a better writer and storyteller.
- How to write like Dr. SeussTo paraphrase the Cat in the Hat himself, learning to write like Dr. Seuss is fun, "but you have to know how." Let's find out how, right here and right now!
- How to write like Raymond ChandlerWhether you're a mystery writer looking to add an authentic pulp fiction vibe to your next story, or just want to learn to craft a creative simile, one of the best authors to turn to is Raymond Chandler.
