The Japanese Concept of Yugen
ugen is a uniquely Japanese term. It defies easy translation into English but denotes something like ‘profound mystery and depth’. It is related to the Japanese love of Shadow, nuance, and empty space.
Low Horizons, Big Skies
Header illustration made with Midjourney using the prompt: alien arrival, big sky, low horizon, silhouette of city along skyline, interesting cloudscape
Miss Smith by William Trevor Short Story Analysis
“Miss Smith” is an early short story by Irish-English writer William Trevor. Find it in The Day We Got Drunk On Cake And Other Stories (1968) and also in Collected Stories.
A Complicated Nature by William Trevor Short Story Analysis
“A Complicated Nature” is a short story by William Trevor, published in Angels At The Ritz And Other Stories (1975). Find it also in Collected Stories. A prim, starchy man who lives alone in his apartment faces a moral dilemma when the woman upstairs calls him, begging for a favour. She wants him to help…
Mrs. Silly by William Trevor Short Story Analysis
Can men write women? For a case study in “Yes!” read William Trevor. Today’s short story, Mrs Silly is told via the viewpoint character of an eight-year-old boy. Trevor never lets us into “Mrs Silly’s” head. Instead, he shows us the cauldron of misogyny
Uncle Einar by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
We’ve already met Einar as Timothy’s uncle in “Homecoming”. Now we see the man at home, and learn more about the realities of living as a supernatural being in a world made for regular humans.
Making AI Art With Midjourney
Midjourney is a tool which artists can incorporate into their existing process using existing skills of their own.
Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan Analysis
The common thread between stories in this compendium: All stories are set in the same, off-kilter suburb. Some of the stories have no words, and might consist only of a single frame of narrative art. Creative Arts teachers find this really useful in the classroom.
Homecoming by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
“Homecoming” is a short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1946. A family of ghouls hosts a big family reunion for Allhallows Eve. Dead relatives return for the occasion. Unfortunately for Timothy, he seems to be the only member of the family who doesn’t have supernatural powers. Some readers pick this up…
The Night by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
“The Night” is a second-person point of view short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1955.
The Man Upstairs by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
Let’s take a look at a vampire story by American writer Ray Bradbury. “The Man Upstairs” was first published in the March 1947 issue of Harper’s Magazine. You’ll also find it in Stories Volume One and Bradbury’s 1955 collection called The October Country.
How To Write Like Carson McCullers
If you want to start with the best of Carson McCullers, focus on the stories she wrote in the 1930s and 40s. Ill-health and issues related to alcoholism made it difficult for McCullers to keep producing the same high quality of life up until her death. The most prevalent theme in the novels–rejection or unrequited…