Friday Five: Q&A with ‘Aristotle for Novelists’ author Douglas Vigliotti

‘… being “unbelievable” is not a good thing.’

Author and podcaster Douglas Vigliotti

What can we learn about writing a novel from an ancient Greek philosopher who never wrote a novel himself? Plenty, if that ancient Greek philosopher is Aristotle, according to author and podcaster Douglas Vigliotti.

In his latest book, Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story, Vigliotti draws from Aristotle’s Poetics to provide a framework for storytelling in the modern age.

“For centuries, dramatic writers have relied on Aristotelian principles to write their stories for the screen and stage — the same stories you stream and watch today,” Vigliotti writes. “But for the first time ever, the timeless principles from Aristotle’s esteemed Poetics have been adapted for novelists.”

In this Q&A, Vigliotti shares what inspired him to delve into Aristotle’s writings, discusses how these principles can benefit novelists (and other writers), and talks a bit about his podcast, Books for Men.

Continue reading “Friday Five: Q&A with ‘Aristotle for Novelists’ author Douglas Vigliotti”

Friday Five: St. Patrick’s Day Eve edition

Missouri S&T's first female St. Pat is geology student Katelyn Jones, shown here with S&T interim Chancellor Chris Maples and members of her Court of St. Patrick. (Photo by Sam O'Keefe/Missouri S&T)
Missouri S&T’s first female St. Pat is geology student Katelyn Jones, shown here with S&T interim Chancellor Chris Maples and members of her Court of St. Patrick. (Photo by Sam O’Keefe/Missouri S&T)

This post has absolutely nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day. But working at Missouri S&T as I do, we are in the midst of our 110th annual celebration of St. Pat’s — and it’s the first in the history of this storied event in which a woman is portraying the venerable saint of engineers — so I feel an obligation to reference this holiday in some fashion. And if you read no further than this lead paragraph, then you should at least try your hand at our old-school snake invasion video game. You’ll thank me later for wasting your Friday. Continue reading “Friday Five: St. Patrick’s Day Eve edition”