16 Comments
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Maria (Linnesby essays)'s avatar

I like this so much, thank you.

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Ula's avatar

Loved the exercise. Also I can’t believe I randomly stumbled upon the author of a book in my reading list.

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

Ha, I love it! Hope you enjoy ❤️

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Michael Mohr's avatar

Whew. Wow. Exhaustive list!! Looks helpful. And I LOVE Good Will Hunting, and that scene specifically. I've seen that film probably ten times over the years. And you're right: I don't think the grad student would succeed with girls that way. But you're right; it works nevertheless as a film, I think not only because of Southie but because of the emotional authenticity.

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

Oh totally. And you’re right, that scene is fun because it feels emotionally true. Definitely a deeply felt revenge fantasy!

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Nicole Bennett's avatar

Ah! I love this! Would love to give myself a writing “retreat” day where I work thru making these lists.

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

Let me know if it works for you!

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Andrea Benvenuto's avatar

This is such a great exercise! Doing it now.

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elena's avatar

I love this!!

side note… do you have any book recs for ‘novels that begin after the terrible thing has happened’ ??

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

One of my favorites is AMONG OTHERS by Jo Walton. PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke is another! And also, a plug for A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE by me if you haven't read it <3

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elena's avatar

Thank you!! I’ll have to check them out!!! (I read ASIC in 2016 and to this day it’s one of my absolute favorites!)

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

Thanks so much!!

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Alyson Mosquera Dutemple's avatar

Love this post. Gonna start making my own lists tout de suite! (Spoiler alert: French new wave is probably gonna be on it…)

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

French new wave! It's gonna be great.

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Sarah Allen's avatar

I wrote three novels before I wrote one from my lists of things, and that's the one that finally got me published. (It was Turner syndrome + sisterhood / hidden figures + contests).

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Brittany Cavallaro's avatar

I love this!

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