Have you ever felt an emotion so heavy that a quote described it better than your own words ever could? We often experience sadness, hopelessness, grief, and a kind of silence that feels impossible to explain. Sometimes, these emotions never truly feel seen until we find them written on a page. Sylvia Plath is one of those classic writers whose words seem to recognise these feelings instinctively, carrying the same weight and intensity that we struggle to put into our own words. October brings back memories, familiar words, and, this time, Sylvia Plath’s writing, which seems to hit differently with every passing year. As we celebrate her birth month, let’s return to the pages that gave us her words and made so many of us feel seen. Also read: Writing Through the Darkness: Journaling Like Sylvia Plath

Imagine a writer’s room with a wall covered in scraps of paper. Each scrap contains a scene, a joke, a character’s predicament or a small but potentially significant detail. Nothing seems to connect at first glance. Yet, somewhere among these fragments lies the beginning of a story, its complications and perhaps even its perfectly timed punchline. This is the curious image associated with P.G. Wodehouse’s clothesline method of writing, a technique that offers a glimpse into the mind behind some of English literature’s most delightfully intricate comedies. Best known for the adventures of Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet Jeeves, Wodehouse was a master of comic timing, elaborate misunderstandings and plots that seemed to tie themselves into impossible knots before unravelling with astonishing ease. His prose feels effortless, almost as though the jokes arrived fully formed. But behind that apparent lightness lay an extraordinarily careful approach to constructing stories. The clothesline method offers an intriguing way to understand how a writer could make such complicated fiction appear so wonderfully spontaneous. Also read: 6 Times Oscar Wilde Proved He Was Ahead of His Time

It is hard to encounter the world of modern philosophy without coming across one of the most famous philosophers of the nineteenth century: Friedrich Nietzsche. Yet, for many of us, our first encounter with Nietzsche is not through his books, but through his quotes. Few are as recognisable as: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”

Canadian poet, essayist, classicist and translator Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Announced by the Swedish Academy on October 8, 2026, the award recognises Carson’s distinctive and experimental body of work, which brings together poetry, prose, classical literature and contemporary storytelling. The Academy honoured her “bold and inventive oeuvre” for its playful engagement with classical traditions and its creation of new forms for contemporary literature. Known for challenging conventional literary boundaries, Carson has built a remarkable career reimagining ancient Greek myths and exploring themes of love, desire, grief and human relationships through an unconventional literary style.

The Booker Prize 2026 longlist has been announced, unveiling the 13 novels in contention for one of the world's most prestigious awards for English-language fiction. Selected from 163 submissions, this year's "Booker Dozen" was chosen by a judging panel chaired by celebrated scholar, writer and broadcaster Mary Beard, alongside award-winning poet, writer and educator Raymond Antrobus, musician, writer and broadcaster Jarvis Cocker, journalist, editor and critic Rebecca Liu, and Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist, poet and essayist Patricia Lockwood. Describing the selection as one that "rewards risk," the judges have highlighted a longlist that celebrates originality, ambition and the enduring power of the novel.

Marjane Satrapi, the celebrated French-Iranian graphic novelist, filmmaker, and human rights advocate best known for her groundbreaking memoir Persepolis , has died in Paris at the age of 56. The news was confirmed by French authorities and members of her family. According to family statements cited by French media, Satrapi had been deeply affected by the death of her husband, Swedish producer Mattias Ripa, in 2025. Born in Rasht, Iran, in 1969 and raised in Tehran, Satrapi gained international recognition with Persepolis , her autobiographical graphic memoir chronicling her childhood during and after the Iranian Revolution. First published in 2000, the work became a global bestseller and was later adapted into an award-winning animated film co-directed by Satrapi, earning an Academy Award nomination. Throughout her career, Satrapi used art and storytelling to explore themes of identity, exile, freedom, and resistance. Beyond Persepolis , she authored acclaimed works including Chicken with Plums and remained an outspoken advocate for women's rights and democratic freedoms in Iran. Her recent work continued to highlight the struggles and resilience of the Iranian people. Tributes poured in from across the literary, artistic, and political worlds. French President Emmanuel Macron described her as a great artist whose work transformed her personal experiences into a universal story of freedom and courage. Satrapi leaves behind a remarkable legacy that reshaped the graphic memoir genre and introduced millions of readers worldwide to a deeply personal perspective on modern Iranian history. Her work remains a powerful testament to the enduring role of storytelling in confronting oppression and preserving memory.