Category Archives: Trends in books

Traveling Swan Roads in Books

Posted on April 27, 2023 by knlistman

While reading Beowulf in a modern translation I encountered a person called a breaker of rings. In my mind I could see a burly man hacking gold rings apart, possibly a thief destroying the identity of his latest heist. As … Continue reading →

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The Language Quandary

Posted on March 16, 2023 by knlistman

  Recently, I was reading a novel in which a young woman spoke English with a lovely French accent. At least that is what the author told me. Her dialogue was written in normal, modern, American English which I could … Continue reading →

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Imitative Arts

Posted on March 2, 2023 by knlistman

When studying theories of creativity, I encountered R.J. Sternberg’s idea that “Creative individuals, by their nature, tend to defy the crowd. They resist merely thinking or doing what others are thinking or doing.” This idea resonated with me but often does … Continue reading →

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False Starting Advice

Posted on January 26, 2023 by knlistman

Sometimes, the worst advice to give a new writer is that there are rules to writing and the new writer must master these. Especially before attempting to break any of them. Not all writers are created equally. And, even seasoned … Continue reading →

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Adventures in Forbidden POVs

Posted on January 5, 2023 by knlistman

Currently I am reading a novella by Virginia Woolf called To the Lighthouse. It intrigues me because it broaches the problem of flat female characters found in many early twentieth century novels. Woolf reveals what’s going on in their heads. … Continue reading →

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Ending the Never Ending Story

Posted on November 18, 2022 by knlistman

When a new idea for a book grabs me, I dwell on it for a few days, a few weeks or or a few months in my spare time as I work on the kind of writing that makes money … Continue reading →

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The Pleasure of Rereading Books

Posted on November 10, 2022 by knlistman

As a child I used to read Black Beauty repeatedly. This book sat open on my lap when I was supposed to be taking a nap with my head on the desk in first and second grade. Each time I … Continue reading →

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A Likable Villain?

Posted on October 20, 2022 by knlistman

Authors sometimes seek villains that their audience can identify with because they want the readers invested in the villain. This helps to propel a person to finish a book if they really don’t know what is going to happen to … Continue reading →

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How Does Literacy Change Books?

Posted on September 29, 2022 by knlistman

The title may seem like a curious question. However, I wanted to trace how the increasing percentage of people who could read changes the publishing business. Do the types of books favored by the public change as a population becomes … Continue reading →

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Who’s the Real Villain?

Posted on August 11, 2022 by knlistman

As a legend Robin Hood represents the kind of principled nonconformist on which many heroes are based. We love to read about people who confront government wrong-doing even in a criminal manner as he did. But, if a similar character … Continue reading →

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