The Lonely Road: Exploring Isolation in Dystopian Novels In the stark landscapes of dystopian worlds, societies often teeter on the brink of collapse and the remnants of humanity struggle to survive. Examples: The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Giver by Lois Lowry Within these landscapes, the prevalent theme of […]
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The Last Tree: Dystopian Stories of Ecological Imbalance In the eerie shadows of imagined futures, where the balance between humanity and the environment has been irreversibly disrupted, dystopian tales of ecological imbalance unfold. These haunting narratives offer cautionary glimpses into worlds where nature’s delicate harmony has been shattered, leaving societies teetering on the brink of
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Standing Strong: Dystopian Novels of Survival and Resilience In dystopian fiction authors often reflect our deepest fears and most pressing concerns. What happens when power is concentrated in the hands of the few? Will technology take control? “I’ll be back.” ~The Terminator, directed by James Cameron. I couldn’t resist. Will the government erase women’s rights?
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Dystopian Realities: Totalitarianism and Government Control in Fiction “Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse for some.” — Fred (Season 1, Episode 5) Granted this quote is from the TV show, but The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a great example of a totalitarian government with control issues. Set in a
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Dramatic Scene Cutaway: The Ultimate Writers Tool In this blog, I want to show you a monster technique for writers to add suspense and deepen reader immersion. The impactful dramatic cutaway is a powerful tool. The three varieties can enhance pacing, build suspense, and deepen immersion in a variety of mediums, and are a leviathan
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Character Construction: The Influence of Role Models Would your character be influenced by a close relative? Are there role-model relationships you can foster in your novel? Let’s look at some fairly huge examples. Practically, the root plot of The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins is built around Katniss and her sister Prim’s relationship. Quote: “Promise
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Beyond the Chapters: Examining Character Arcs Across Series Welcome. This blog looks at the world of character development across storylines. What I mean is, how are compelling characters crafted across a series of novels? As a writer, the evolution of my character shapes the essence of my story. What are her internal struggles? How does
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Character Relationships in Family Dynamics and Identity Formation in SFF Novels How did J.K. Rowling point out the somewhat comic but harsh relationships Harry had with the Dursleys in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? Well besides the neglect, abuse, and mistreatment due to Harry’s status as a Wizard, she created the Weasley family. In
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Fantastic Examples of Characters’ External vs Internal Struggles While we readers all love to see the story play out with external wins: Mark Watney gets off Mars, Frodo Baggins flings the ring and its wearer into Mount Doom lava, Katniss Everdeen wins the Hunger Games, Amir finds Hassan’s son and rescues him in the heart
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Character Journeys: Exploring Character Arcs in SFF Worlds Let’s take a look at the character arc in 3 novels that became massive hits. Frank Herbert’s Dune has Paul Atredes, the son of Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica, begin his external arc as a young nobleman and move to become the leader of the desert
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