Lit Hub Daily: October 20, 2026
Was Cormac McCarthy that guy in your MFA? | Lit Hub Craft How being a writer helped Emma Smith-Stevens navigate the American health insurance system (and why her experiences expose the cruelty of for-profit medicine). | Lit Hub Health We.
Literary Hub (Lit Hub) is an online platform dedicated to literature, publishing articles, essays, and news about books, authors, and the literary world. Founded by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature, it serves as a hub for readers, writers, and critics. The platform features multiple categories such as Craft and Criticism (writing advice and literary analysis), Fiction and Poetry (short stories and poems), and News and Culture (articles on history, science, politics, and more). Lit Hub also hosts Lit Hub Radio, a collection of podcasts including interviews, book discussions, and writing advice. Additionally, it includes Book Marks, a review aggregator, and CrimeReads, a sub-site focused on crime fiction and true crime. The platform encourages community engagement through social media channels like Instagram, Twitter (Threads), and YouTube.
On October 20, 2026, Lit Hub highlighted several notable literary topics. It celebrated the birthday of Arthur Rimbaud, a French poet born in 1854, known for his influential works like A Season in Hell and Illuminations. The platform also featured an article questioning whether Cormac McCarthy, a renowned American novelist (The Road, Blood Meridian), was the kind of writer often referenced in creative writing programs (MFA). Another piece explored how Emma Smith-Stevens, a writer, navigated the American healthcare system, critiquing its for-profit structure. Additionally, Lit Hub published an article arguing against the necessity of smartphones, emphasizing their potential drawbacks. The day’s new book releases included works by Meghan O’Rourke, Zaina Arafat, and Philippa Gregory, among others.
Lit Hub announced the authors shortlisted for the 2026 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, recognizing debut novelists. It also featured an article analyzing John Berryman’s lectures on Shakespeare, revealing insights into both the playwright’s early works and Berryman’s personal life. Another piece discussed the post-war rise of British bookselling in the 20th century, which contributed to the development of modern literary culture in Britain. The platform also included an excerpt from Chloe Aridjis’s Booker Prize-longlisted novel, The Shadow of the Object, offering readers a sample of her prose.
Beyond Lit Hub’s own content, the article linked to several external sources providing additional literary perspectives. Counter Craft discussed the decline in reading, attributing it to smartphone use. The Guardian explored the roots of romantasy—a blend of romance and fantasy genres—tracing its origins to medieval literature. The New Yorker profiled James Daunt, an executive and bookseller known for revitalizing bookstore chains like Waterstones. Wired examined how journalists, including those at Wired, were deceived by Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos. Vulture speculated on whether another musician might win the Nobel Prize in Literature, following Bob Dylan’s 2016 win. Arundhati Roy, an Indian author, critiqued AI as a tool of capitalist control in an essay published by Equator.
The *CrimeReads* section featured articles such as *The Real Sherlock Holmes*, which explored how Dr. Joseph Bell, an Edinburgh physician, inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective. Another piece, *Peter Swanson: 7 Great Stories of Suspense in a House by the Sea*, offered book recommendations from the crime fiction author. *Book Marks*, a review aggregator, highlighted *The Best Reviewed Books of the Week*, including *Will and Attention: A Memoir*, praised for its insightful exploration of suffering and joy. Lit Hub also included excerpts from its own featured articles, such as *Why We Should All Put Down Our Smartphones* and *If You Write Properly You Shouldn’t Have to Punctuate*, which discussed Cormac McCarthy’s writing style.
