Essays, interviews, and insights on literature and the craft of writing
What characters don't say is often as important as what they do. Exploring the literary technique of meaningful silence, and how writers can use absence to create emotional depth and psychological complexity in their narratives.
In this exclusive interview, Eleanor Ashworth discusses her approach to creating deeply realized characters, her research methodology, and the emotional demands of writing psychological realism. From her new novel to her advice for emerging writers.
In an era of consolidation and commercial pressure, independent literary publishers are thriving. We examine why literary readers and serious writers continue to value the independence and editorial integrity that presses like Aurelius bring to publishing.
James Thornton's latest novel is a masterwork of historical fiction. With meticulous research and profound emotional resonance, he weaves individual lives into the fabric of history. A stunning achievement.
Dialogue is one of fiction's most powerful tools—and one of the most difficult to master. We explore techniques for creating authentic voices, maintaining character consistency, and using dialogue to advance narrative and reveal character complexity.
Cecilia Hartwell discusses her experimental approach to narrative structure, her commitment to exploring female identity, and the relationship between form and content in her award-winning novels. Plus: a glimpse into her next project.
From the Booker Prize to emerging award categories, we look at which books and authors are being celebrated, and what that tells us about the current state of literary fiction.
First person, third person limited, omniscient narrator—each point of view creates different possibilities and constraints. We explore how successful literary fiction employs point of view as a fundamental aesthetic choice.