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Weird fiction is a genre that pushes the boundaries of many genre conventions, such as horror, science fiction, fantasy, and gothic fiction . It plays around with established conventions, subverting them to create new kinds of narratives… that are pretty weird. These kinds of stories are surreal and deeply unnerving. A creeping sense of dread is juxtaposed with our fascination with the dark. Best Weird Fiction Books If you’re into stories that make you feel that something’s wrong, or dark things lurking just beneath the surface, then weird fiction is the perfect genre to dive into. Below are some of the best weird fiction novels you can read! 1. Hammers On Bone By Cassandra Khaw John Persons is a private investigator operating on the streets of London. One day, a 10-year-old kid sets down his piggy bank on Persons’ desk and asks Persons to kill his stepfather. But the kid’s stepfather turns out to be an abomination that wouldn’t be out of place in Lovecraft’s cosmic horro

Cannibalism, medieval torture, rape—these all sound like things you would expect from a horror novel or an HBO series, but certainly not your favorite childhood fairy tales… right? Actually, most classic fairy tales, including Snow White , Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood include at least one of those elements, and their original stories are much darker than what you probably read at bed time. So if you thought wicked stepmothers and poisonous potions were scary, brace yourself, because the original narratives are far more sinister. In this post, we’ll explore the versions that make fire-breathing dragons look tame. Dark Fairy Tales and Their Origins Below are 9 dark fairy tales we bet you never heard as a child. 1. Hansel and Gretel by The Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm published this piece of German folklore in 1812. You may remember the already dark tale of a cannibalistic witch who wants to eat children, only to be pushed into her own oven in the end. Bu

Weird fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction that re-explores the traditional tropes, characteristics, and descriptions of beings and landscapes in a fictional world. Elements of horror, fantasy, the supernatural, and science fiction are blended together to create a genre that defies the “normality” of other genres. What Is Weird Fiction? It is hard to arrive at a clear definition of weird fiction, as the term has been frequently used to describe other genres, such as supernatural fiction. Other writers consider it a “mode” rather than a genre—a method or aesthetic that characterizes stories but isn’t tied to only one genre. Perhaps the most encapsulating definition of this genre is told by H.P. Lovecraft in an essay : The true weird tale has something more than secret murder, bloody bones, or a sheeted form clanking chains according to rule. A certain atmosphere of breathless and unexplainable dread of outer, unknown forces must be present; and there must be a hint, e

Email marketing is the most effective and profitable marketing strategy today. Period. We’ve seen our own books become #1 bestsellers on Amazon in just three hours after we promoted them with nothing but one single email to our subscribers—no review requests, no social media, no blogging, no video trailers, no interviews, no word of mouth, nothing. The only people we told about the book were our email subscribers. And we’re not the only ones—according to a Hubspot survey , 59% of respondents say marketing emails influence their purchasing decisions. But the really remarkable thing is that every dollar spent on email marketing generates a return of $38—that’s a 3,800% return on your investment! That’s why email is the most powerful marketing strategy in the world right now, and why every author and small business owner should start building an email list. In this post, we’ll show you how to do it for free or at a very low cost. How to Build an Email List Below are 8 tips that will

Wuxia is a Chinese literary genre that follows the adventures of martial artists, with stories typically set in ancient China. Wuxia novels come in many types but they all exhibit a few core characteristics: the importance of honor, pursuit of glory, fighting injustice, and rising to the top. This is why most wuxia stories frequently show characters doing heroic deeds. Though the majority of wuxia stories feature superhuman feats (pulverizing rocks, leaping over buildings), they are not considered supernatural or fantastical, but are accepted as a natural part of practicing martial arts. Instead, the focus is given to the protagonist’s development and growth, both in character and in the martial arts. Top Wuxia Novels I’ve curated a list of some of the best wuxia novels currently available. Some of these are classics that shaped the genre, while others are contemporary additions and stories that carry wuxia elements. Check them out below! 1. A Hero Born  by Jin Yong This s

Euphuism (yoo-fyoo-iz- uh m) is a writing style that relies on excessive use of literary techniques and verbal elements. It was most popular in the 1500s and was used to entertain through elaborate language and artificial eloquence. The term originated from sixteenth-century author John Lyly’s novel Euphues: The Anatomy of Wyt , which concerned a fashionable young man named Euphues. Lyly wrote it in a style full of convoluted sentences, rhetorical questions , alliteration , and often references to classical literature. Examples of Euphuism Here are a few examples to better illustrate this particular style of writing: 1. Euphues by John Lyly The freshest colours soonest fade, the teenest razor soonest turneth his edge, the finest cloth is soonest eaten with moths, and the cambric sooner stained than the coarse canvas: which appeared well in this Euphues, whose wit, being like wax, apt to receive any impression, and bearing the head in his own hand, either to use the rein or th

Until about a century ago, there were no moving pictures to entertain the masses—so the entertainment industry used sounds instead. Radios were the supreme form of media back then, and some of their most popular programs were radio dramas. These were purely acoustic performances that conveyed dramatic stories and were broadcast on-air or distributed through audio media, such as CDs and tape. With no visual elements, radio dramas relied exclusively on dialogue, music, and sound effects to deliver their stories. While most of these stories were plays specifically written for radio, radio stations also utilized docudramas and adapted theatre into their radio dramas. Characteristics of Radio Drama Radio drama has the same building blocks as a stage play . The difference is that since these elements are executed as radio dramas, they can’t convey visual information, so listeners need audio cues to help them imagine an accurate picture. 1. Characters Radio drama often has fewer char

In high school, you were probably required to take some form of an economics class, but most schools never teach you important life skills like how to invest, create a personalized budget, or save for retirement. So while you may be able to answer basic questions about supply and demand, you might feel like you’re reading a foreign language when it comes time to do your taxes. To fill in the gaps and take charge of your finances, you might want to consider taking a personal finance course. We’ve rounded up some of the best online options so you can save time and start applying your new knowledge as soon as possible. 10 Best Online Personal Finance Courses Below are 10 excellent online personal finance courses that can help you create a budget, pay off your debts, and save for the future. 1. Finance for Everyone (Free) This introductory finance course from the University of Michigan will teach you the frameworks and tools you need to make smart and informed everyday financial