Pens and Poison
@pensandpoison·43.4K subscribers·272 videos
Why Every Novel Sounds the Same Now
Posted
June 3, 2026
Views
23,580
Likes
1,800
Comments
541
Engagement
9.93%
June 3, 2026
23,580
1,800
541
9.93%
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12:09Now PlayingWhy do all modern novels sound the same?
According to many publishing insiders, the problem is capitalism. Publishers have become risk-averse, chasing trends and formulas instead of originality.
But what if the real problem isn't profit?
Today, I explore how contemporary publishing has become trapped in an insular MFA culture that rewards sameness over originality. From literary agents to creative writing programs, an entire generation of publishing professionals has been taught to value one narrow aesthetic over everything else—all while dismissing the very qualities that made writers like Dostoyevsky, Nabokov, and Salinger go down in literary history.
And if you love literature, philosophy, classic books, and conversations about culture, don’t forget to subscribe to Pens and Poison.
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If you’re new here, my name’s Liza, and you’ve found the coolest literary corner on the Internet. I love classic literature, writing, culture, and making sense of our world through the tradition of humanistic inquiry. Don’t forget to subscribe for reading recs and the spiciest hot literary takes on publishing, academia, beauty, and our culture at large. 📚🏛️🎨
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The Rise of the Soulless Novel
The Day NY Publishing Lost its Soul
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