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#Essays

What if Your Reading Life Was a Video Game? Reading Side Quests for All Types of Readers

If your reading life was a video game, what would the side quests be? Here are some suggestions to gamify your reading life with fun side missions.

The Treatment of Homelessness in Contemporary Fiction

Homelessness in contemporary fiction has been under- and misrepresented, but are things taking a turn for the better?

What Does Consent Look Like In Romance Novels Today?

Romance novels have a reputation for questionable consent, but modern romance novels are much more interested in consent than other genres.

How to Support a Writer Friend During NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is intense for writers. How can you support a friend who is doing this challenge? Here are some suggestions!

A Polite Plea for a Biopic of Emily Post

The fascinating history of Emily Post, woman behind etiquette guides and so much more — and why she deserves a biopic ASAP.

Why Don’t Books Have A Credits Page?

Why aren't credits pages standard in books? A look at an example of a credits page and what it offers to a wide range of readers.

A Personal Reckoning With True Crime as a Genre

Is there a way to engage with true crime responsibly? A reader examines her own relationship to the genre as well as our collective obsession.

Why National Novel Writing Month?: “It’s Just Words On Paper”

How a gimmick to write more became one of the biggest literary events online.

“The Girl With The Green Ribbon”: A Tale of Many Lives

"The Girl With The Green Ribbon" gave you nightmares in elementary school, and it's a story with a long history and promising future.

Are We in the Midst of a Gothic Horror Boom?

Are we in the midst of a Gothic literature boom? A reader dives into a recent boom in the subgenre and explores some of its trademark tropes.