The Creative Writing Blog

How to write a killer book pitch is one of those questions all of us writers have grappled with at one point or another in our writing journeys.

We’re told it’s integral for our query...

Writing a novel is a solo pursuit, but that doesn’t mean it has to be lonely.

In fact, our founder Louise started The Novelry precisely for that reason – she wanted company while...

What makes a compelling story? And how can we turn one small idea into an entire novel?

It’s not only the kids who go back to school in September – if you’re starting to write a...

What is an antihero? And how do you make your reader root for them?

Here at The Novelry, our mantra is ‘happy writing’ and we foster a community of supportive writers who delight in...

What is dramatic irony? And how does it work to create tension in your writing?

We hear literary terms like ‘dramatic irony’ being thrown around all the time, but what does it...

What is exposition in a story? And how do you add backstory while keeping the reader engaged?

We’ve all heard about the dangers of including too much (or too little!) exposition in our...

What is a literary agent and what do they do? Do I need an agent to publish my novel?

We’ve been tackling your questions on the publishing process this month, and are now turning from how to...

How many words should your novel be? Many of us will spend months, if not years, coming up with a spectacular plot and incredible characters. You might set out to pen a contemporary novel that...

We often hear from writers who feel that the publishing process is shrouded in mystery, from submitting to literary agents to what happens at publishers’ acquisitions meetings. This month,...

If you want to write a mystery, there are certain hallmarks found in every great mystery novel that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. False clues, convincing characters, red...

Are you writing a novel and realizing that, while you know your protagonist through and through, the supporting characters still need some development so readers will fall in love with them? If so,...

Nothing gives us greater pleasure at The Novelry than helping writers achieve their dreams of writing, completing and publishing a novel. It’s even sweeter when the book is published to...

If you’re beginning to create your own fantasy world, or are some way into the writing of your magical tome already, the good news is there’s a broad range of fantasy settings to...

When you’ve published three novels through the traditional publishing route, and one of your books has sold more than seven million copies, how do you find inspiration and new ways to keep...