Tara Campbell is a writer, teacher, Kimbilio Fellow, fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse Magazine, and graduate of American University’s MFA. Her award-winning work includes multiple short story and hybrid collections. Her sixth book, City of Dancing Gargoyles, will be released by SFWP in the fall of 2024. The novel is set in the parched, post-apocalyptic Western […]
By Caitlin Taylor So The world is a scary place. It can also always be scarier. For some, that might be a comfort to keep in mind during troubling times. Here are some well-known YA dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels we hope will counterintuitively give you some peace of mind. The Waves are coordinated attacks The […]
By Caitlin Taylor So Happy pride month, dear readers! However you may identify and show up in the world every day, we want to celebrate everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some books you can dive into this month and all year round. Based on a true story from Patricia Highsmith herself and the […]
By Jessica Berg So often, authors will create an engaging and immersive narrative with rich characterization, and then … nothing happens. That is to say, there’s no change in the main character from the beginning of the work to the end. In other words, there’s no arc. Understanding character arc is key for writers who […]
By Caitlin Taylor So With summer upon us, more sunshine will hopefully translate to more free time for you to read books outside! Catch these titles at your nearest library or bookstore and take them along your next vacation. Click on the books to find out more! Cadence spends every summer on a luxury private […]
By Caitlin Taylor So In honor of Uncharted’s ten day writing challenge, The Romance Challenge, here are book recommendations for ten popular romance tropes to jumpstart your heart and creativity. Click on the titles to find out more! First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry of England have a meet-cute for the history books. The […]
By Caitlin Taylor So As we approach the halfway point of 2024, there’s still new beginnings to look forward to. Keep an eye out for these books by debut authors—some the first in a series—and you might just find new favorites and obsessions! Click on the titles to find out more! Pick up this Jamaican-inspired […]
by Kate Tooley The first time I met Bethany Jacobs was shortly after the release of her debut novel, These Burning Stars, in late 2023. We’d sat yelling distance from Union Square, freezing and eating tacos in one of the semi-enclosed outdoor dining areas that are now permanent relics of the pandemic. In the time […]
by Caitlin Taylor So Flash, micro, brief, or sudden fiction are all stories under a strict limit of words. Some writers may find this motivating, while others find it stifling. Regardless, flash fiction pieces must feel—for the most part—finished by the end. Being able to construct a fully fleshed out narrative in such a short […]
Scan your bookshelves, and you’re bound to find a recurring theme: a wealth of witch lit rooted in times long past, settings where candlelight and parchment reign. But what about the “other” historical eras, like the complex tapestry of the 20th century? How often do we find our mystic heroines navigating the trenches of WWI […]
By Caitlin Taylor So In case you missed it, Uncharted’s Cinematic Short Story Contest is now open! From April 14 to June 16, 2024, we will be looking for short stories in the following genres: science fiction/fantasy, thriller/mystery (horror), historical fiction, and young adult. To celebrate, we’ll share a few young adult anthologies and short […]
by Caitlin Taylor So Writer’s block. It happens even to the best of writers. You need to get something done before a specific time, but the words just aren’t coming. Hours pass as you continue to stare at the blinking line that kicks off the endless blankness that fills up your screen. Waiting until inspiration […]