Story Love

To all the stories I've loved before

Hey friends,

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the Great Story ‘Loves’ of my life, the ones I fell head-over-heels for and that still haunt me today (in a totally Caspar The Friendly Ghost kind of way). Perhaps this thinking was sparked by my post on Story Resonance, perhaps it’s because I’m writing serial fiction for the first time and I’m having to think more deliberately about crafting my storytelling for a form I’ve never tried before. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been reading lots of great posts on Substack, breaking down the details of what works and what doesn’t in a variety of narrative mediums. Either way, my brain has been whirling, and, once it starts obsessing on something like this, it won’t stop until the thought-demon has been thoroughly exorcised.

So, once again, in lieu of a therapist or neurotic writer’s support group, I’m going to inflict my musings on you.

I’m a total story glutton. I enjoy stories across all mediums: it doesn’t really matter what form a story comes in, I’ll just as happily read a 19th century novel as I will a web comic; or watch an indie arthouse film as I will an anime about superheroes, and I tend to consume in excessive, greedy quantities without any discipline whatsoever.

So, fair warning, this series is going to include stories from a few different mediums and genres. Don’t worry, it won’t be an infinite list. This is just about the special stories, the ones that, no matter how hard I try—which honestly isn’t that hard—I just can’t get over. These are the stories that have left an indelible mark on my heart, not just as a reader, but as a writer too. I want to figure out what it is about each one that left such an impression, and if there’s something I can glean from this that can help shape my own goals, desires and skills as a writer.

So, buckle up, newly appointed writer-therapists! The first, highly mushy and embarrassing Great Story Love will be out soon: Story Love, Part 1: Link Click—the anime that makes my heart ache.

Edit—I’ve linked the first three instalments below:

This series will probably be a post a month. The Hanahaki Club is my first priority, and that will be back from hiatus on 30th March and back to its usual weekly release.

In the meantime, hope you are all well and enjoying some good fiction in your lives. I’m always open to recommendations, so if there’s a Great Story Love in your life, share it in the comments and I’ll endeavour to check it out.

Take care,

PJ