Many writers are familiar with the long-standing debate over whether character or plot is more important. If you’re into Greek philosophers, Aristotle believed that, when speaking of tragedy, plot is more important and character is secondary. Others, who are not Aristotle, argue that character is the most important. What is the answer? It’s a trick … Continue reading Why Character Matters More Than Plot in Literary Fiction
Why Some Fictional Mysteries Don’t Want To Be Solved
Last week, I wrote a bit about the differences between traditional mysteries and inverted mysteries. I realized when I finished that post that I had more to say on the subject, so this week I wanted to talk a bit about the endings of mysteries and how sometimes there isn’t a convenient ending for some … Continue reading Why Some Fictional Mysteries Don’t Want To Be Solved
What Makes a Mystery an Inverted Mystery?
Some of the more general questions I’ve received lately have to do with inverted mysteries and what specifically makes an inverted mystery. To put it in its simplest terms, an inverted mystery reveals the central event (the murder or whatever the mystery is about ) early in the story. Instead of focusing on the solving … Continue reading What Makes a Mystery an Inverted Mystery?
Ask Me Anything: The Professor of Eventide (Author Q&A)
Welcome to The Professor of Eventide edition of Ask Me Anything! Here are some of the questions I received from my newsletter friends and from readers of this blog. This is a spoiler-free discussion, so if you haven’t read the novel yet but you’re curious, you’ll be safe here. When I do my next #AMA … Continue reading Ask Me Anything: The Professor of Eventide (Author Q&A)
The Professor of Eventide: My Interview With ManyBooks
Next week I'll be back with #Ask Me Anything: The Professor of Eventide edition. This week, I wanted to share my interview with ManyBooks. You can see it on their website here. * * * * * Meredith Allard is an award-winning novelist dedicated to exploring the intricate intersections of history, memory, and the human … Continue reading The Professor of Eventide: My Interview With ManyBooks
The Story Behind The Professor of Eventide
The Professor of Eventide is featured today in the BookBub New Release newsletter! Yay! Way to go, Jonathan! If you’re here from BookBub, welcome! I’m so glad you found your way over. If this is your first time visiting my site, today's post feels like a great place to begin because I wanted to share … Continue reading The Story Behind The Professor of Eventide
Why Dark Academia Continues To Haunt Us: The Allure of Gothic Literary Fiction
After hearing the term Dark Academia time and time again, I began watching videos on YouTube and looking up pins on Pinterest to see what the fuss was all about, and I liked what I saw. It turns out that the term Dark Academia became a thing in the mid-2010s, spreading through Tumblr mood boards … Continue reading Why Dark Academia Continues To Haunt Us: The Allure of Gothic Literary Fiction
Walk the Halls of Eventide College: The Professor of Eventide is Now Available
All right, friends. The halls of Eventide College are officially open! The book I've been talking your ear off about for two years, The Professor of Eventide, is here. The eBook is released at the introductory price of $2.99, and it will change to the regular price of $6.99 in May. Paperbacks are available through … Continue reading Walk the Halls of Eventide College: The Professor of Eventide is Now Available
How I Protect My Creative Energy on Days That Aren’t Writing Days
I'm not a fan of that old writer's adage that insists that we should write every day. Maybe that works for some writers, but it doesn't work for me. When I'm working on a project, I tend to treat it like a job. I write Mondays - Fridays and take the weekends off. Not every … Continue reading How I Protect My Creative Energy on Days That Aren’t Writing Days
The Slow Burn: Why Some Stories Need To Take Their Time
I’ve been hearing the term slow burn a lot lately when it comes to books. I knew what slow burns meant in terms of romance, but I hadn’t considered the concept of slow burn when it comes to other genres. A slow burn story is a narrative technique that focuses on gradual tension, deep character … Continue reading The Slow Burn: Why Some Stories Need To Take Their Time