Year: 2025
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Understanding Point of View: Who Tells Your Story?
Choosing the right point of view (POV) is one of the most fundamental decisions a writer makes, as it dictates who tells your story and how readers experience it. First-person POV offers intimacy and a direct connection to a character’s inner world but limits perspective. Third-person limited allows a focus…
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Historical parallels to fictional surveillance states.
Dystopian literature often paints chilling pictures of all-seeing surveillance states, but these narratives rarely emerge from a vacuum. Throughout history, various regimes and societies have implemented astonishingly pervasive systems of monitoring and control, offering stark parallels to our fictional nightmares. From the watchful eyes of secret police in totalitarian dictatorships…
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The Power of Setting: Building Immersive Worlds
A compelling setting is far more than just a backdrop for your story; it’s a living, breathing character that can influence mood, drive plot, and reveal character. Whether it’s a sprawling fantasy realm or a gritty urban landscape, an immersive setting engages the reader’s senses, making them feel truly present…
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The concept of “Oversight” in real-world scenarios.
The idea of “oversight”—a powerful, pervasive system monitoring and often controlling every aspect of life—is a common element in dystopian fiction. But this concept isn’t confined to the pages of a novel; it manifests in various forms in our real world. From governmental surveillance programs justified by national security to…
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Dialogue That Delivers: Making Your Characters Speak Volumes
Dialogue is more than just conversation; it’s a powerful tool for character development, plot advancement, and world-building. Great dialogue reveals character through their unique voice, vocabulary, and patterns of speech, even when they’re saying very little. It should sound natural and realistic, yet be purposeful, avoiding unnecessary pleasantries that bog…
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Is technology making us more or less human?
Technology is undeniably woven into the fabric of modern life, offering unparalleled convenience, connectivity, and access to information. But as we increasingly rely on screens, algorithms, and automated processes, a crucial question arises: is this reliance enhancing our humanity or eroding it? Some argue that technology fosters new forms of…
Antony West (Author) 