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LaurelLit.com

Writer, Reader, English Teacher

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Amazing Female Authors

Fatal Flaws in a Rom-Com? Yes, Please!

Laurel Osterkamp · June 2, 2025

Ever since I was a kid in high school, studying Macbeth in my British Lit class, I’ve been enamored with the idea of a fatal flaw. All of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes have one. Macbeth is too ambitious; Romeo has a bad temper; Othello is jealous and insecure. Scholars still argue about Hamlet’s fatal flaw, but I say it’s indecisiveness. If Hamlet could just get over all his angst and decide which path to take, then most of his problems would be solved. Same is …

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Things That Inspired Me Lately

Laurel Osterkamp · April 11, 2025

#1 Source of Inspiration: John Proctor Is The Villain

I just got back from a family trip to NYC, where we took in a Broadway show. John Proctor is the Villain stars Sadie Sink from Stranger Things, and she was great. But what's with the title? John Proctor is the protagonist of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a play I taught multiple times to eleventh graders. It takes place during the Salem Witch Trials, and Miller wrote it as an …

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Four Reasons Why Jane Austen’s Persuasion Couldn’t Get Published Today

Laurel Osterkamp · January 3, 2025

Jane Austen is the OG romance writer. Emma and Pride and Prejudice are just about flawless. But what about her final novel, Persuasion? When I began my WIP, I Bet You Think About Me, (a VERY LOOSE modern retelling of Persuasion), I realized what a quiet, contemplative novel it is. Sure, it’s got Austen’s signature wit and charm. But (warning – shocking statement ahead) I don’t think it could get published today.

That’s not to say it isn’t good. …

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Which Emily Henry Novel Couple Would Stay Together in Real Life? My Ranking…

Laurel Osterkamp · December 2, 2024

These days, we're all so cynical and divided. That makes it hard to believe in a love will last forever. Maybe that's why romance novels are more popular than ever. We need that happily-ever-after. Plus, there's the amount of amazing romance novels published recently. Emily Henry's novels are among them. However, since she's known for writing complex, realistic characters, their happily-ever-after's are sometimes slightly in question. Make no mistake, I adored all five love stories, and I …

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Nine Classics by Female Authors, Perfect for Autumn Reading

Laurel Osterkamp · October 3, 2024

As the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, autumn is the perfect time to cozy up with a classic novel by a female author. These timeless works not only provide an escape to different worlds and eras, but also offer a unique perspective on life and love. From gothic tales to coming-of-age stories, here are the best classic novels by female authors to read in autumn. *Disclaimer: Associate links for the books on Kindle are below. But many are …

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