The hottest Novelists Substack posts right now

Iris Murdoch's novels explore a unique and intriguing blend of strange characters, philosophical ideas, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
Murdoch's personal experiences greatly influenced her novels, which delved into complex themes like love, sexual fluidity, and the complexity of human morality.
Murdoch's writing style focuses on creating fully-realized fictional worlds where philosophical musings and moral lessons blend seamlessly with character-driven narratives.

Literary talent isn't limited to the young - age should not define creativity.
Many famous novelists produced their notable works later in life.
There should be recognition for late blooming artists in addition to young talent lists.

Martin Amis was considered overrated and his literary reputation may wane.
Instead of Amis, consider exploring works by his female contemporaries like Fitzgerald, Bainbridge, Gardam.
Amis may be remembered more for his memoir and essays rather than his novels.

Substack can be a liberating platform for writers to share their work and connect with readers.
Connecting with and being inspired by other writers and creatives can fuel personal growth and success.
Balancing different creative projects and taking breaks can lead to a more focused and fulfilling artistic journey.

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Willa Cather's novels contain testable hypotheses about creativity, imagination, and memory that neuroscientists could explore.
Neurotheology explains how spiritual experiences can be influenced by factors like personality types, genetics, religious rituals, and near-death experiences.
Neurotheology helps understand how the body influences spiritual experiences, as demonstrated in Willa Cather's novel 'Death Comes for the Archbishop.'

Writing a novel can be a long, evolving process, with Andrew Boryga spending ten years to develop 'Victim,' which started as college short stories and transformed into a multilayered narrative.
Characters in novels don't need to be fundamentally good; Boryga intentionally crafted complex, imperfect characters like Javi in 'Victim' to avoid traditional, simplistic portrayals.
Authenticity in storytelling is crucial; Boryga aimed to portray the Bronx as he knew it, weaving the beauty, pain, and humor of the community into his novel 'Victim.'

The film 'American Fiction' critiques corporate publishing and shallow identity politics of 2010s.
Contemporary elite literary fiction focuses on professional class struggles over traumas from marginalized communities.
The movie 'American Fiction' highlights issues of representation and commodification in the literary industry.

Christina Stead's novel The Man Who Loved Children is praised for its unique voices and detailed character development
Stead's writing style is described as unorthodox and crafted with a mix of satire and naturalism
Stead, an Australian novelist, was known for her eccentric, unedited prose which explored intolerable situations and characters