Welcome to Pen & Sword, a blog by two fans of all things reading and writing.
Join us for updates twice a week as we ramble about our favorite reads, bemoan the struggles of being an aspiring author, and discuss anything else related to the lovely world of literature.
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My Favorite Blend: Discussing The “Horror Western”
I know defining genre can get murky, so I’ve consulted with an expert to give us a solid definition of what makes a western. My dad. His credentials: He’s read approximately 3-400 westerns in his life. I don’t think we… Continue reading
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Why Does the ‘Cozy’ Subgenre Work So Well?
Guys I’m plagued by the capitalist society that we live in. JK. Kinda. I think I’m mostly tired of the monotony that I find myself in when it comes to my work, and the struggle to improve it. My degree… Continue reading
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An Excerpt From “Father Cruz”
Hello friends! I realized recently that I’ve only ever shared one novel excerpt with you guys, at the very beginning of the blog! It’s from The Silverwing, and if you’re new since then, you can read it here if you’d… Continue reading
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Writing Habits and Journal Keeping
In October, one of the things I did was begin to track my daily writing. It was a lot of fun to see how far I could get in some sessions, and to see how a whole month of work… Continue reading
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Genre-Fluid Heroes
If you’ve read Stephen King’s On Writing, you may remember an anecdote between King and Chuck Verill (pretty sure it was him, his agent) where King is warned, as they’re gearing up for his third book to release, that this… Continue reading
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Managing Stress and Projects
Lately, Ava and I have been on a roll. We started a project recently that we have been ale to really sink our teeth into. I don’t think we’re quite ready to give all the details yet, but we’ve been… Continue reading
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Word Count Worries: Saved by the Novella
I am my own worst enemy. It takes a special level of wisdom to know oneself, and also to know when a project doesn’t have enough plot to be a full novel. This is something I struggle with very often.… Continue reading
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We’re Supposed to Judge Books By Their Covers
Okay! Put the pitchforks and torches away! Let me explain myself. We’ve probably all heard the saying “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. And it largely holds a lot of water. We shouldn’t judge things just based on their… Continue reading
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Blech: An Attempt To Discuss Mia Ballard’s “Shy Girl”
UPDATE 3/19/26: It was just announced that Hachette is actually pulling this baby before its release due to the AI allegations. I think that’s a pretty good confirmation that the allegations have merit, so I guess there’s your answer about… Continue reading
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Five Magical Book Reviews: Part Four
Yyyyup. We’re doing this again. As always, check out the last three parts (here, here, and here) if you haven’t yet. Rose in Chains – Julie Soto – 3.5 Stars This review contains mentions of slavery, sexual abuse, and torture.… Continue reading
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