This week on the bookish internet

• It is a truth universally acknowledged that once an author reaches a certain amount of fame, they must create their own list of rules for writers. Josh Jones shares Anton Chekhov‘s rules. (OpenCulture)
• Jordon Todorov reports on an absolutely wild literary and archaeological prank, in which a writer claimed to find evidence that “Hansel and Gretel” was real. (Atlas Obscura)
• Book Riot readers reflect on their favorite, first doorstopper novels.
• Gabriel Urza considers what writers can learn from magicians. (LitHub)