Inspiration for writers
The creative writing blog
Original weekly articles from bestselling authors and publishing professionals
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Guest Authors
The Writing Routine
M.L. Rio on Why You Don’t Have to Write Alone
January 25, 2026
M.L. Rio on Why You Don’t Have to Write Alone
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Hero Books
Craft and Technique
The Great Gatsby: Style and Legacy
Apr 6, 2025
The Novelry
The Great Gatsby is a classic, the most popular of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books. For its 100th birthday, we explore Gatsby’s style, themes, and enduring legacy.
The Great Gatsby: Style and Legacy
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Confidence and Motivation
Meet the Team
Kate Davies: ‘Write Like Nobody’s Watching’
Mar 30, 2025
Kate Davies
What scares you the most? Kate Davies explains how we can use our fears of writing certain things to elevate a story not just for ourselves but for readers, too.
Kate Davies: ‘Write Like Nobody’s Watching’
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Starting to Write
Characters
Why Fan Fiction is Big News in Publishing
Mar 23, 2025
Bea Fitzgerald
Have you been seeing fan fiction news online? Bea Fitzgerald’s author guide to fanfic explains why it’s grown so popular—and why publishing is watching.
Why Fan Fiction is Big News in Publishing
Starting to Write
Finding Novel Ideas
Guest Authors
Shiny New Idea Syndrome: How to Choose Which Story to Write
Mar 16, 2025
Clare Mackintosh
Too many story ideas and not enough time to write them? Here’s bestselling author Clare Mackintosh’s guide on how to assess your ideas and pick the best one.
Shiny New Idea Syndrome: How to Choose Which Story to Write
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Guest Authors
Novel Writing Process
Chris Whitaker on Writing All the Colors of the Dark
Mar 9, 2025
Elsa Doig
Author Chris Whitaker talks with The Novelry about his genre-bending novel All the Colors of the Dark and how he writes his bestselling books.
Chris Whitaker on Writing All the Colors of the Dark
Craft and Technique
Genres
What is Situational Irony?
Mar 2, 2025
Amanda Reynolds
What is the definition of situational irony and how can writers use it in a novel? Discover its meaning here, with several literature examples from different genres.
What is Situational Irony?
Contemporary Fiction
The Publishing Industry
Genres
What is Women’s Fiction?
Feb 23, 2025
Gina Sorell
Women’s fiction: what does it mean? Explore the definition of this genre and find out why books are categorized as women’s fiction with author Gina Sorell.
What is Women’s Fiction?
Memoir and Autofiction
Starting to Write
Genres
5 Essential Ingredients for Writing a Memoir
Feb 16, 2025
Alice Kuipers
What is a memoir and how can you write one? Start writing your own life story today with these essential tips from award-winning memoirist Alice Kuipers.
5 Essential Ingredients for Writing a Memoir
Romance
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Guest Authors
Ashley Poston’s Recipe for Romance: Just Add Magic
Feb 9, 2025
Ashley Poston
Learn how to weave magic into the writing of your speculative fantasy romance books with these tips from bestselling author Ashley Poston.
Ashley Poston’s Recipe for Romance: Just Add Magic
Characters
Genres
The Basics
What is a Fictional Character?
Feb 2, 2025
Alice Kuipers
The principal character in a work of fiction is the reader’s guide through your novel. But who are they, and how can we write them? Read our best advice here.
What is a Fictional Character?
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Young Adult Fiction
Genres
The 25 Best YA Books of All Time
Jan 29, 2025
Ella McLeod
Reading or writing a YA novel? Discover the best Young Adult books in this genre deep dive, from classic lit by famous authors to contemporary popular stories.
The 25 Best YA Books of All Time
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Guest Authors
Gothic and Horror
Genres
American Gothic: Katharine Beutner on Writing ‘New England Gothic’
Jan 26, 2025
Katharine Beutner
What defines a fiction novel as New England Gothic instead of Southern Gothic, American Gothic, or dark academia? Writer Katharine Beutner reveals all.
American Gothic: Katharine Beutner on Writing ‘New England Gothic’
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