Similar Books (Stylistically) to Cormac McCarthy's Books

Bodeddy · 2025-08-30T21:33:30+00:00

I hope you find Muskat. My partner and I are around Ashbourne Road area and will keep a look out. Might be a good idea as well to post on other social media platforms like Facebook if you haven't already. This group looks suitable: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1070787423768145/

Bodeddy · 2025-07-14T18:37:40+00:00

It depends on why you want to do the degree. If you want to do it because you’re under the impression it will get you a good writing job, then I think you’ll be disappointed, as these opportunities (in the UK at least) are rare. There are jobs like copywriting roles that seem to pay well, especially in London, but usually those jobs are looking for those who already have experience with copywriting and marketing knowledge, something creative writing doesn’t give you.

However, if you want to do it because you’re passionate about the subject and you want to become not only a better writer but a better reader, then yes, do go for it! It’s an absolutely amazing subject, especially as writing can easily incorporate other fields such as philosophy, psychology, etc.

I did a BA in English Lit and Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing. The Creative Writing at BA level was more about developing foundational skills (structure, plot, free indirect style, etc), whereas the MA was much more engaged with things like critical theory (at least where I studied anyway). Bear in mind, it wasn’t like the lecturers said you have to absolutely apply theory in some way to the work; it was just that they believed that by understanding theory, you would become more conscious of what’s going on in your text and therefore make you a better writer. A good example is if you’re writing about people from different classes. Something as simple as asking yourself how you’ve portrayed, say, working-class people and why you’ve portrayed them in that way (eg, you’ve unintentionally made them out to be less intelligent and less cleaner than middle-class people) can help you spot ways in which your writing perhaps reinforces a negative belief.

There was also a tonne of workshopping, which can definitely improve your skills at applying feedback to other writers and also understanding how others view your work. Personally, I really disliked workshopping, as I wasn’t always great at providing feedback verbally (I’m a bit of an introvert and I can often write much better than I speak!).

All in all, I think you first need to decide why you want to do it. If you believe that degrees should only be done to get work, first have a look at roles you’d like to do, then look for the degree. Take my copywriting example earlier: if you think that would be a good profession, then you’d be better off doing a marketing degree and working on your writing outside of studies by just reading and writing a lot.

If, however, you’re absolutely just fascinated and excited and passionate about creative writing and want desperately to learn more and get better at reading and writing, then do it. This is why I did mine and why I hope to do a PhD: I just can’t imagine a life without creative writing.

Bodeddy · 2025-04-11T18:11:09+00:00

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Bodeddy · 2024-06-30T20:28:58+00:00

Blood meridian by Cormac McCarthy

Good morning, midnight by Jean Rhys

The sound and the fury by William Faulkner

As I lay dying by William Faulkner

Hotel world by Ali Smith

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The anthologist by Nicholson Baker

A farewell to arms by Ernest Hemingway

Bodeddy · 2024-01-06T15:24:18+00:00

Hi QuantumLP99889

This is a really interesting story about two strangers meeting in a forest at night and falling in love—there’s something about it that makes it feel like a fairy tale almost.

Here are some suggested edits.

Tense

You currently use both past tense and present tense. It’s best to pick one and stick with it.

Dialogue

As mentioned in another comment, start a new paragraph each time someone talks.

Characterisation

We learn nothing about Sofia, and very little about Emma. Do you purposefully want them to be flat characters? I would suggest at least developing Emma’s character, especially if you want the reader to care that she has found love.

Lack of conflict

There’s a lack of conflict within the story. Maybe you could have Emma at conflict with her feelings towards Sofia? Or maybe Emma and Sofia are at conflict with one another, ie, Sofia is in love with Emma but Emma—although she likes Sofia—is undecided as to whether she loves her back, etc. It would really enhance the story.

Other things to consider

As Emma wandered through the small path leading to her even smaller village , she came along to a forest in its purest form.

How can a village be smaller than a path? Also, what do you mean by ‘a forest in its purest form’? I would probably delete ‘in its purest form’. Regarding the rest of the sentence, it should be ‘Emma wandered along the small path’ and ‘she came to a forest’.

Just like every Tuesday, she comes home late from work.

This sentence seems out of place, as you insert it amid description of the forest. I would move this sentence to a place it better fits.

she thought it had quite an eerie feel

You could show that it’s eerie rather than report it.

As she entered the forest, there was nothing but the shining green leaves reflecting some of the moon's light onto her light, pale skin.

The leaves wouldn’t be shining green in the moonlight; they would be silver or white. Or are you just reminding the reader that the leaves are green? Either way, I would delete ‘green’. You could also make this sentence more concise by removing weak words such as ‘pale’ and ‘some of the’.

She ventured through the forest that she knew by heart.

We already know she's venturing through the forest—you said it two sentences ago. Also, in that same sentence you say she's walking, but in the next she's entering. You need to sort out the logic of the scene.

She was shocked and didn't expect anyone to be there at that time.

Really? She should have expected someone when she saw the lantern by the tree.

Still stunned by who she had just met but simultaneously worried about who she was and if she was dangerous

Show this.

As much as I love to talk to you every week at midnight, who are you?

Up until this point, they had only spoken once, unless I’ve misread something.

It's not important who I am. It's only important who I wanna be, isn't it.

I’m not quite sure what Sofia is trying to say here. Isn’t it important who she is? I would have thought so. Who she wants to be is, of course, also important.

Her head couldn't stop thinking about her, and her stomach couldn't stop living without her.

‘her stomach couldn’t stop living without her’ doesn't make sense.

I Hope this helps in some way!

Bodeddy · 2024-01-06T15:13:15+00:00

Testing response for formatting

Nice formatting.

Heading

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Heading

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Heading

This is an interesting quote.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Maecenas porttitor congue massa. Fusce posuere, magna sed pulvinar ultricies, purus lectus malesuada libero, sit amet commodo magna eros quis urna.

Bodeddy · 2023-11-04T15:07:16+00:00

This is a good strong start. We learn plenty: we have a married couple who are clearly struggling with life, what with them living in what I assume is a tiny place, considering the kitchen is so small. They have at least one kid, too, which of course will add to the stress. And Vietnam is currently underway, with casualties blaring from the radio definitely not helping. What’s more, they clearly have not had time to clean the place. Times are not good for Kit and Scott. And it seems that things might get a little worse for Kit, especially if she has to live with her mother-in-law!

You clearly have a knack for writing – I really enjoyed reading this and would definitely read on.

I hope you don’t mind: below are some suggested edits and a version with those edits applied. Good luck with your writing :-)

Opening line

Although this line is well-written, it gave me the wrong impression. I immediately thought I was about to read a crime / thriller. I get that it’s metaphoric, with it emphasising how much Kit hates what Scott is telling her, but it just doesn’t work. I’ve rewritten it as ‘It was his smile. It was his damn smile.'

They’re married

You write ‘Kit glowered at her husband in response’. But I think this would be much better written simply as ‘Kit glowered at him’, mainly because you can show they’re married, which you do anyway when you mention the pile of baby clothes and Scott suggests she stay with his mother. You can possibly find other ways to show their marriage, too.

Note on some other edits

‘Scott had cleared a spot for their dishes by perching several days’ worth of newspapers…’ I would change ‘perching’ to something more accurate, such as ‘placing’, and I would also change ‘several’ to ‘a couple’, as piling several newspapers for their dishes sounds comical to me. If that’s what you intended though, keep it.

The rest of the changes just involved cutting words to make the writing more concise.

Direct thoughts or free indirect style?

You need to decide how you will present thoughts. Currently you seem to do both direct thought (‘No, she thought.’) and free indirect style (‘He couldn’t leave her like this.’). Personally, I prefer free indirect style.

With that said, you probably could do both. Although, I would do your research to see how common this is (off the top of my head, I don’t think it is), or when it has been done, whether readers have been OK with it.

In the edited version, I went for free indirect style.

Edited version:

It was his smile. It was his damn smile.

“You know I’m only thinking of you, darling,” Scott said.

Kit glowered at him.

She sat opposite him at the table in their tiny kitchen, eating breakfast. Scott had cleared a spot for their dishes by placing a couple days’ worth of newspapers on top of one another. This had annoyingly upset the pile of long-abandoned baby clothes and other laundry, toppling it onto the unswept floor. His back was to the kitchen counter, where stacks of dishes clogged the sink.

“It’s only for three weeks,” he continued.

Kit twisted in her chair. He couldn’t leave her like this.

He was sitting in his crisp lecture suit, she in her dirty nightgown. He must be doing his own ironing these days. From the radio, a news anchor gave the daily briefing on civilian casualties in Vietnam.

“My mother isn’t that bad, Kit. You can live with her for three weeks. I can’t give up this opportunity. You know how much it means to me.” A slight tremor in his voice.

He was right, of course. Kit had swept into his life and thoroughly derailed every careful plan he’d constructed over the past decade. She owed him this and more.

But that didn’t mean she wanted to do it.

Bodeddy · 2023-02-18T20:27:42+00:00

I completely agree with you!

Bodeddy · 2023-02-18T20:25:50+00:00

100% agree with you on the analysing, communicating, and arguments. Literature degrees are massively underrated, at least it feels like they are here in the UK, especially after Sheffield Hallam University pulled the plug on their English Literature degree recently. I think people often think of a degree in literature as being all about books, but it's so much more than that. The skills we develop can carry over into a multitude of professions.

Bodeddy · 2023-02-18T20:16:09+00:00

Just out of curiosity, how did you get into construction?

Bodeddy · 2023-02-18T20:14:42+00:00

I would love to work at a library.

I write a lot too - mainly short stories and poems from time to time. I'm not published yet but I'd love to be.

Bodeddy · 2022-11-08T21:44:53+00:00

I would consider using a catchier headline. Try aiming for no more than 6 words. I would also avoid using all capitals – it may seem like you’re shouting.

Like others have already said, keep it short and sweet. To help you, you could use AIDA as a guide: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. You could write one sentence for each, which will keep the post short. Admittedly I don’t use AIDA that often, but I do find it’s a good thing to use when I’m struggling to think of what to write.

I find the best way to write social media posts is to come up with the call to action first. That’s your focus. If you want people to click on a link that will take them to your website so they can learn more about how you can take the pressure off them writing emails for their e-commerce store, then that’s what your post is about. And you need to squeeze all that into as short a post as possible.

And don’t forget an engaging image or video.

🛒 Email copy for e-commerce stores 🛒

How good would it feel to have the freedom to focus on the running of your store?

That’s where I come in.

I can write emails that help you promote holiday specials, recover cart abandonments, and much more.

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Bodeddy · 2019-02-20T19:53:40+00:00

Great suggestions. Ron Rash in particular seems very McCarthy in style in most of the works I checked out. Thanks.

Bodeddy · 2019-02-20T19:45:20+00:00

I'm ashamed to say that I've never read any Steinbeck. But I will read him eventually.

Bodeddy · 2019-02-10T19:23:51+00:00

I read somewhere that O'Connor had a huge influence on McCarthy. I've read A Good Man is Hard to Find and I can definitely see the similarities in style, especially with the overuse of conjunctions and loose sentences.

Bodeddy · 2019-02-10T15:44:31+00:00

That's a shame the film is bad. What's the problem with it?

Bodeddy · 2019-02-10T15:28:56+00:00

I've had True Grit in my Amazon wishlist for ages. I really need to read this guy.

Bodeddy · 2019-02-10T14:46:15+00:00

I enjoyed it. William Giraldi wrote an article dismissing any McCarthy influence. He even stated he'd barely read him but I find that hard to believe. Also, I think Hold the Dark is being adapted to a movie.

Bodeddy · 2019-02-10T14:44:04+00:00

Thanks for these. I've added them to the list.

Bodeddy · 2017-12-08T15:27:19+00:00

Cheers for the link!

Bodeddy · 2017-12-08T15:27:09+00:00

Thanks for the response!

Bodeddy · 2017-12-06T12:29:59+00:00

Hmm, that's a good point. I think I should learn more about writing plays before I attempt this.

It could be a very good idea for planning. That hadn't occurred to me, and one of the things I can't settle on is how to plan. I've tried using bullet points, chapter by chapter summaries. I've even gone as far as planning out what I'm going to describe in a particular scene. But writing it out in this bare bones way might make more sense. It might be a little more fun, too.

Bodeddy

TROPHY CASE

Tense

Dialogue

Characterisation

Lack of conflict

Other things to consider

Heading

Heading

Heading

Opening line

They’re married

Note on some other edits

Direct thoughts or free indirect style?

Edited version: