Archive

2026

Jun 21, 2026

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5 min read

Week 25: The introduction that wrote itself

The magic of an unexpected breakthrough, plus a structural analysis of Freida McFadden's The Intruder

Kristen Tate

story structure

The trade-offs of a surprise twist in The Intruder by Freida McFadden

Jun 14, 2026

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8 min read

The trade-offs of a surprise twist in The Intruder by Freida McFadden

McFadden builds her bestsellers around a single surprise twist. What does it take to pull one off—and what does it cost?

Kristen Tate

The Intruder

Jun 9, 2026

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1 min read

Intruder data visualizations

It's graph time!

Kristen Tate

scene study

How Freida McFadden uses character description to reveal her narrator in The Intruder

Jun 8, 2026

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7 min read

How Freida McFadden uses character description to reveal her narrator in The Intruder

What a single chapter reveals about how character description builds sympathy and hides clues in plain sight

Kristen Tate

2026

Jun 7, 2026

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6 min read

Week 23: Dipping a toe into horror

What scary movies are teaching me about storytelling—and a practical guide to revision

Kristen Tate

The Intruder

Intruder story spreadsheet + scene study poll

May 30, 2026

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2 min read

Intruder story spreadsheet + scene study poll

Which scene should I study?

Kristen Tate

2026

May 24, 2026

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4 min read

Week 21: In the revision trenches

Two steps forward and one step back, over and over—plus a new Novel Study post

Kristen Tate

opening

May 18, 2026

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7 min read

How Freida McFadden holds readers at bay in the opening of The Intruder

McFadden’s titular intruder doesn’t appear until the end of chapter four. Why does she delay the inciting incident? And how does she keep readers turning pages until then?

Kristen Tate

The Intruder

May 14, 2026

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1 min read

Intruder Book Club: first impressions

What do you think?

Kristen Tate

The Intruder

May 11, 2026

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1 min read

Intruder Book Club – let's go!

How are you planning to read?

Kristen Tate

Archive

Week 25: The introduction that wrote itself

The trade-offs of a surprise twist in The Intruder by Freida McFadden

Intruder data visualizations

How Freida McFadden uses character description to reveal her narrator in The Intruder

Week 23: Dipping a toe into horror

Intruder story spreadsheet + scene study poll

Week 21: In the revision trenches

How Freida McFadden holds readers at bay in the opening of The Intruder

Intruder Book Club: first impressions

Intruder Book Club – let's go!

The Blue Garret