Character is at the heart of this novel. Wallace Price is a force of nature. We see that Wallace isn’t going to respond to things how we might expect.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/under-the-...

#firstchapters #speculativefiction #fantasybooks #craftanalysis #literature #fiction #tbr #readinglist

If you've ever started writing & wondered who wants to read it, or gleefully cancelled dinner plans to write, you've got a lot in common with Florence Gordon.

hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/florence-g...

#writingcommunity #firstchapters #writingtips #bookrecommendations #fiction #literature #novel

15 novels, 3 short stories, readings and events, zine making...My 2025 writing year-ish post is live.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/the-end-of...
#firstchapters #writingtips #writinggoals #craftanalysis #yearinreview #novels #shortstories #zines

I’ve picked three very different collections and three differently styled short stories to review, so there is something for various styles of writing.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/hot-takes-1

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #shortstory

December 2025 Writing Contest Submissions | Underground Bookshelf I'm extending the deadline because I didn't get the announcement posted to the website as early as I usually do. Rather than closing contest submissions on December 14th, submissions will remain open ...

The December #writingcontest is still open, and the theme is #writerschoice!

#poetry, #shortstories, #memoirs, #flashfiction, #microfiction, #excerpts, and #firstchapters are all welcome! #generalfiction, #genrefiction, #fantasy, #romance, #scifi, #speculativefiction, send me your work!

When your mom names you after a celebrity and you fake your own death.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/lady-oracl...

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #writingcommunity #lieraryfiction

The novel operates within a dream-like state at times, making the doll and other moments even more uncanny.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/the-lost-d...

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #elenaferrante #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #novella #writingcommunity

Ove is the epitome of a “get off my lawn” character. If you want to look at creative similes and metaphors, read this. hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/a-man-call...

#firstchapters #fredrikbackman #fiction #literature #literaryfiction #writingcommunity #writingtips #craftanalysis #craftessay

Mina's Matchbox by Yōko Ogawa The First Chapter of a Literary Coming-of-Age Novel

The information we get through Tomoko's descriptions of vehicles shows how Ogawa has mastered subtlety.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/minas-matc...

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #literaryfiction #historicalfiction #comingofage #bookrecommendations

New post! Crime fiction lovers will enjoy this classic. Vivid descriptions of character and scene--a director would know how to shoot this.

hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/fatale-by-...

#thrillerbooks #mysterybooks #firstchapters #fiction #literature #tbr #crimefiction #noir #writingtips

The Maitlands’ death scene works well with imagery, pacing, and humor.

hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/beetlejuic...

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #writingcommunity #writinglife #beetlejuice #80smovie

Made #zines of my Substack posts. Gave a few away at a publishing event today. Full video on my Instagram @crafting_first_chapters And you can subscribe hayleyshucker.substack.com/archive?sort...
#firstchapters #fiction #literature #tbr #craftessay

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean The First Chapter of Dean’s “You Are What You Eat” Novel

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean delves into the patriarchy, the old world, and really highlights how many ways “you are what you eat” can resonate.

hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/the-book-e...

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #tbr #craftessay #writingtips #thriller #mystery #horror

Making some zines based on some of my Substack posts.
hayleyshucker.substack.com
#firstchapters #craftessay #tbr #zinemaking #zines #writing

A multiple pov #thriller where you don't know who to trust! Learn to plant #mystery in this new post!
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/rock-paper...
#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #writingcommunity

Let's use tarot cards to create characters with 4 readings and 7 brainstorming prompts.

hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/tarot-card...

#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #writingcommunity #writinglife #writingprompts

Craft analysis of The Need by Helen Phillips.
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/the-need-b...
#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #writingcommunity #writinglife #bookrecommendations #speculativefiction #horror
#thriller #mystery

Tomorrow I tackle The Need by Helen Phillips hayleyshucker.substack.com
#firstchapters #fiction #literature #books #readinglist #tbr #craftessay #craftanalysis #writingtips #writingcommunity #writinglife #bookrecommendations

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy The First Chapter of McCurdy’s Chilling Mom-Centric Memoir

Have a coffee and a read
hayleyshucker.substack.com/p/im-glad-my...
#firstchapters #writingtips #writingcommunity #memoir #fiction #literature #books

New #firstchapters analysis dropping tomorrow. hayleyshucker.substack.com
#memoir #nonfiction #writingtips #writingcommunity #literature #fiction

A #memoir for my #firstchapters post this Friday. Subscribe hayleyshucker.substack.com
#imgladmymomdied #jennettemccurdy #writing #writingtips

Read how Mona Awad's Bunny melds sexualization and terror together in her creation of the Bunnies. open.substack.com/pub/hayleysh...
New #firstchapters craft essay now live. #writingcommunity #writingtips #fiction #literature #speculativefiction #darkacademia #thriller

Picture of the cover of the book Bunny by Mona Awad

New #firstchapters craft analysis coming Friday. Subscribe hayleyshucker.substack.com
#writingtips #writingcommunity #craftanalysis #fiction #literature #novels #books #speculativefiction

All The Mothers The First Chapter of Ruta's Female-Empowering Novel

A new #firstchapters for Friday. This week I cover Domenica Ruta's newest novel All the Mothers.

#firstchapters #writingtips #writingcommunity #writing #fiction #literature #books #substack

open.substack.com/pub/hayleysh...

New #firstchapters post coming Friday. #subscribe so you don't miss out hayleyshucker.substack.com
#writingtips #novels #fiction #literature #writingcommunity

New #firstchapters post is live! open.substack.com/pub/hayleysh...
#writingadvice #writingcommunity #horrorbooks #dystopianfiction #blogpost

First Chapters | Hayley Shucker | Substack Let's look at the first chapters of novels and talk about why they are successful. Maybe you're a writer trying to nail your own opening. Maybe you just really like reading. Either way, let's have fun...

New "First Chapters" analysis tomorrow. Subscribe and catch Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. #firstchapters #books #writing #tenderistheflesh open.substack.com/pub/hayleysh...

The Library Beneath the Streets by Daniel Hale We haven't done this for far too long. If you love SF/F short stories, don't miss this one.

One of my publishers has restarted posting chapter 1's for their titles. I thought I'd share~!
portablesoup.substack.com/p/the-librar...
#zumayapublications #firstchapters #compilations

The Man Who Saw Everything The first chapter of another Deborah Levy masterpiece.

New blog post. #firstchapters #books
open.substack.com/pub/hayleysh...

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