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Inspiration for writers

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Original weekly articles from bestselling authors and publishing professionals

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This week’s blog

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Gothic and Horror
Genres

The Gruesome Appeal of Body Horror Books

October 29, 2025
Genres
The Publishing Industry
Getting Feedback
The Basics
Beginning and Endings
Plotting and Planning
Finding Novel Ideas
Prize
Gothic and Horror
Magical Realism
Podcast
Writing Skills
Contemporary Fiction
Literary Fiction
Literary Agents
Meet the Team
Positive Coaching Method
Young Adult Fiction
Starting to Write
How to Get Published
Fantasy
The Writing Routine
Editing
Craft and Technique
Romance
Dual Timelines
Writing a Series of Novels
Success Stories
Historical Fiction
Getting Published
Crime and Suspense
Writing Competitions
Hero Books
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Children’s Fiction
Guest Authors
Characters
High Concept Fiction
Up Lit
Last Sentences
Novel Writing Process
Motivation
Memoir and Autofiction
Confidence and Motivation
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Craft and Technique
Finding Novel Ideas

Exploring the Magic of Fairy-Tale Writing Inspiration

Oct 26, 2025
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Ella McLeod
Use fairy tales as writing inspiration by stirring timeless ingredients into your creative pot. Season with prompts and reading ideas to cook up a whole new story!
Illustration of a tree with pink blossom blooming from the pages of an open book.
The Basics

What is a Story? Uncovering the Art of Great Storytelling

Oct 22, 2025
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Piers Torday
Piers Torday explores the art of storytelling (and why it matters) in this thoughtful reflection on how stories give us comfort and shape the way we see the world.
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Guest Authors
Craft and Technique

Bringing the Landscape of a Story to Life with Catriona Silvey

Oct 19, 2025
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Catriona Silvey
Catriona Silvey explores how place can shape mood, meaning, and character with 5 tips for writers on using landscape and location to bring stories to life.
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Prize

Announcing the Winner of The Next Big Story

Oct 12, 2025
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Louise Dean
Find out who won The Next Big Story writing competition, what our esteemed panel of judges thought about the winning entry, and why you must keep writing!
A woman wearing a straw hat stands in a bookshop.
The Publishing Industry

Celebrating Bookshop Day UK: A Reader’s Guide to the Joy of Browsing

Oct 8, 2025
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Evie Wyld
For Bookshop Day UK 2025, author Evie Wyld reflects on the joy of real bookshops, and our team shares their favorite high-street spots to visit across the U.K.
The author Stephen King in a blue shirt, arms crossed, with an illustrated gold crown positioned over his head.
Craft and Technique
Gothic and Horror

A Master Storyteller’s Writing Advice: Stephen King

Oct 5, 2025
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Tara Conklin
We look at Stephen King’s best writing advice, exploring powerful lessons from his books and timeless tips every writer can use to sharpen their craft.
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Prize

The Next Big Story: Announcing the Shortlist

Sep 28, 2025
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The Novelry
Discover the shortlisted finalists for The Next Big Story writing competition and vote for your favorite to get them one step closer to the grand prize of $100,000!
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Beginning and Endings
Craft and Technique

Finishing Strong: Famous Last Lines to Inspire Your Ending

Sep 24, 2025
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Louise Dean
We explore the most famous last lines in books. Get inspired by these powerful example endings and find tips to craft your own unforgettable final line!
A pale ginger cat with its head tipped up and pink tongue poking out.
Genres
Magical Realism

Healing Fiction: Finding Hope Through Storytelling

Sep 21, 2025
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Libby Page
We explore the comforting genre of healing fiction, why readers find it restorative, the best books to read, and the key elements to include if you’re writing it.
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Guest Authors
Historical Fiction

Behind the Pages: A Conversation with NYT Bestselling Author Kate Quinn

Sep 17, 2025
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The Novelry
NYT bestselling author Kate Quinn shares her inspiration, the writing advice that has stuck with her, and her top tips for crafting page-turning historical fiction.
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Craft and Technique
Writing Skills

What is Symbolism? A Writer’s Guide to Using Symbols in Fiction

Sep 14, 2025
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Ella McLeod
Writers! Learn all about symbolism and how to use it in fiction with this essential guide, giving you practical tips to add depth, meaning, and power to your story.
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Literary Fiction
Genres

Literary Fiction Explained (and How to Know If You’re Writing It)

Sep 7, 2025
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Sadé Omeje
Curious about literary fiction? This guide breaks down what it is, how it differs from genre fiction, and helps writers work out if they are writing literary fiction.
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