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INSPIRATION FOR WRITERS

The creative writing blog

Original weekly articles from bestselling authors and publishing professionals.

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This week’s blog
Novel Writing Process
Starting to Write

The Messy First Draft: Why Done Is Better Than Perfect

October 11, 2026

Struggling to silence your inner editor? Branford Boase–nominated author Ella McLeod shares why a messy first draft might be the key to finishing your novel.

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Portrait image of author Tara Conklin beside the covers of her books The House Girl, The Last Romantics, and Community Board.
Meet the Team
Confidence and Motivation
The Writing Routine

Tara Conklin on Why You Should Keep Writing

May 5, 2024
Tara Conklin

Bestselling author Tara Conklin shares her writing journey and why you should keep writing even if you’re told you will never be a writer.

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Portrait image of author Libby Page beside two of her book covers against a sunrise background.
Novel Writing Process
Writing a Series of Novels

How to Write a Sequel by Libby Page

April 28, 2024

Thinking about writing a sequel to your novel? Bestselling author Libby Page shares key questions to ask yourself when planning a sequel or a series.

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Illustration of a woman in an orange dress lying on the ground with vines creeping around her.
Novel Writing Process
Confidence and Motivation
The Writing Routine

How to Overcome Self-Sabotage for Writers

April 21, 2024
Alice Kuipers

Concrete tools to overcome self-sabotage including self-doubt, overwhelm, procrastination, perfectionism, technical challenges and comparison, from The Novelry—the world’s best-loved writing school.

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Photo of a casual ensemble gathering of the editors of The Novelry.
Craft and Technique
Meet the Team
How to Get Published

Publishing Editors on the Books They Had to Have

April 14, 2024

What makes an editor at a publishing house think “I have to buy that book”? And how important is the hook or premise? Publishing editors from the Big Five publishing houses share examples of the books they had to acquire and why.

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Portrait image of YA author and writing coach Ella McLeod holding a copy of her novel, The Map That Led To You.
Young Adult Fiction
Genres
The Publishing Industry

Ella McLeod on the “Adultification” of YA

April 7, 2024
Ella McLeod

YA author Ella McLeod discusses the “adultification” of YA, the possibilities of the genre and the beauty of the teen experience, and a YA editor shares her take on the genre of New Adult fiction.

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Three white eggs in a line, one of which has broken open to reveal some tiny flowers.
Novel Writing Process
Beginnings and Endings
Plotting and Planning

The Inciting Incident (and How to Crack It)

March 31, 2024
Tash Barsby

Explore the concept of the inciting incident in storytelling with The Novelry editor Tash Barsby. Understand its role, placement, and impact on narrative structure. With examples from various genres, gain insights into creating compelling narratives that hook readers from beginning to end.

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A framed portrait image of editor Jeramie Orton set beside some bookshelves.
Revision and Editing
How to Get Published
The Publishing Industry

Penguin Random House Editor Jeramie Orton on the Author–Editor Relationship

March 24, 2024

Jeramie Orton from Pamela Dorman Books shares her perspective on the author–editor relationship, what she looks for in manuscript submissions, and how she approaches the editing process. She also provides valuable advice for authors preparing for publication.

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Illustration of three shadowy figures overlapping, representing three points of view: first, omniscient, and third.
Craft and Technique
Novel Writing Process
Characters

Point of View Examples: A Quick Reference Guide

March 10, 2024
Mahsuda Snaith

Choose the right point of view for your novel with this guide to first, second, and third person POV, and learn how the choice of narrator shapes a great story.

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Portrait imge of author Gina Sorell beside the covers of her books against a sunrise background.
Meet the Team
How to Get Published
The Publishing Industry

Indie Press or Big Publisher? Gina Sorell on ‘Debuting Twice’

March 3, 2024
Gina Sorell

What is the difference between publishing your book with a small indie press versus publishing with one of the Big Five publishers? Author and The Novelry writing coach Gina Sorell details her journey of being a debut author twice: once with a small publisher and once with a major publishing house.

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