writing

Gloria Jean Watkins, who was better known by her pen name bell hooks, is widely considered as one of the most influential intellectuals and writers of the late-20th century.

New Teeth author Simon Rich recommends some funny books to add to your to-read pile.

‘Saturday Night Live’ alum and ‘An American Pickle’ screenwriter Simon Rich shares which books he considers comedic genius.

Jeremias Reinoso, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, the most rational detective in literature. But he also believed in fairies.

If you use the wrong one, you can always claim it was a typo.

Semicolon-versus-colon is one of the most fearsome face-offs in the grammar game. Here’s how to come out on top.

She's ready to captivate her classmates with a rousing debate on each vs. every.

There’s a reason why “Every of my feet” sounds so wrong, and why “Almost each foot” is equally weird.

Franz Kafka thinking about burning all his works.

Franz Kafka wanted every last personal document burned after his death. Instead, they’re on the internet.

Stephen King at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 2011.

To be fair, Stephen King was high on painkillers at the time, and he did eventually finish the movie.

A birthday message for Anne Brontë written (and illustrated) by her sister Emily in 1841.

The elusive Emily Brontë left precious few handwritten artifacts behind. One could fetch about $1.5 million.

Hulton Archive / Stringer / Getty Images

John Steinbeck's werewolf mystery book 'Murder at Full Moon' was rejected by publishers in 1930, but scholars and fans are now calling for the novel's publication.

Because internet communities are important, too.

Reese Witherspoon’s book club is a prime example of how book clubs can thrive online—here are eight more great ones.

'Bridgerton' fans can create their own scandalous gossip column with these customizable Lady Whistledown's Society Papers on Etsy.

Jane Austen's House in Chawton, Hampshire.

Jane Austen’s books were all written in the Hampshire house, which is now a time capsule of her life there.

"Oh great, another word I've never heard before."

If Joseph Heller’s 'Catch-22' confused you to the point of frustration (or abandonment), you’re not alone.

Stephen King, Maine’s most famous writer, is helping the next generation of Maine writers bring their book to life.

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books are her biggest claim to fame—her relation to Franklin D. Roosevelt isn’t quite as well-known.

Bychykhin_Olexandr/iStock via Getty Images

Sure, you might know a few palindrome words on your own. But what about palindromic Petrarchan sonnets or recipes for ragù?

Edith Wharton in Newport, Rhode Island circa 1907.

In 1921, Edith Wharton became the first woman ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel 'The Age of Innocence.'

Virginia Woolf’s books didn’t follow writing conventions, and her rules for reading are just as flexible.

Abraham Lincoln once penned a true crime tale.

In another era, Abraham Lincoln could have made for a great 'Dateline NBC' producer. The future president once penned a true crime tale based on a murder case he worked on as a lawyer.

Patricia Highsmith poses at home in Locarno, Switzerland in 1987.

Celebrated author Patricia Highsmith, who was known for her psychological thrillers, believed that life "didn’t make sense without crime in it."

Miranda is an important character in Shakespeare's The Tempest, but she's not the titular role.

The definition of ‘eponymous’ has changed over time, and ‘titular’ has more than one. Here’s how to use each word correctly.

There’s something for everyone, from crime thrillers to cookbooks.

Some popular books—especially ones written by Barack and Michelle Obama—practically lived on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2020.

Octavia E. Butler autographs a copy of Fledgling at a book signing.

Born in Pasadena, California, on June 22, 1947, science fiction author Octavia E. Butler was one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century.

Shirley Jackson has more stories to tell.

Shirley Jackson finished writing the story around 1944. It's been residing in a box at the Library of Congress since 1965.

5 Fascinating Facts About bell hooks

9 Hilarious Books to Read, Recommended by Comedy Writer Simon Rich

11 Fascinating Facts About Arthur Conan Doyle

Semicolon vs. Colon: When to Use Each One

Each vs. Every: What’s the Difference?

Hundreds of Franz Kafka’s Private Letters, Sketches, and Other Papers Have Been Digitized

Stephen King Was Too Scared to Finish Watching The Blair Witch Project in One Sitting

A Long-Lost Library of Emily Brontë Poetry and Other Literary Artifacts Is Hitting the Auction Block

Murder at Full Moon: John Steinbeck Wrote a Werewolf Mystery That No One Wanted to Publish—Until Now

9 Engaging Book Clubs You Can Participate In Online

Bridgerton Fans Can Customize Their Own Lady Whistledown's Society Papers on Etsy

PBS Is Hosting a Virtual Tour of Jane Austen’s House

The 10 Most Confusing Books of All Time

Maine Grade-Schoolers Wrote a Pandemic-Inspired Novel, and Stephen King Is Paying for Its Publication

8 Pioneering Facts About Little House on the Prairie Author Laura Ingalls Wilder

'Tonsil Is Soft, Fossil Is Not': 9 Palindrome Winners from This Year’s SymmyS Awards

10 Fascinating Facts About Edith Wharton

How to Read a Book, According to Virginia Woolf

When Abraham Lincoln Tried His Hand at Being a True Crime Writer

9 Facts About Patricia Highsmith

Titular vs. Eponymous: What’s the Difference?

The 40 Best-Selling Books of 2020, According to The New York Times Best Seller List

7 Surprising Facts About Octavia Butler

A Lost Shirley Jackson Story, 'Adventure on a Bad Night,' Is Being Published for the First Time