The creative writing blog

The Novelry

Querying agents? Find out what agents at Trellis Literary Management are looking for in their manuscript wishlists right now.

Kate Weinberg

Do we have to like our main characters in order to root for them? The Novelry graduate Kate Weinberg explores writing unlikeable characters and messy narrators.

Bea Fitzgerald

Award-winning author Bea Fitzgerald shares five ways to keep the words coming when you’re writing a novel.

Lizzy Goudsmit Kay

Ten editors from Big Five publishers share the ‘writing icks’ you should avoid right now in your writing, from characters with little purpose to bad sex scenes.

Sadé Omeje

What makes a literary memoir a bestseller? The Novelry editor Sadé Omeje, formerly at HarperCollins, shares five hallmarks of a bestselling literary memoir or narrative non-fiction.

Hannah Kaner

Hannah Kaner, the internationally bestselling author of Godkiller and Sunbringer, shares her tenets for writing resilience: how to keep going even if your first book doesn’t get published.

Emily Kitchin

A publishing editor shares the secrets from a Big Five publisher, including how to edit your novel and publishing trends.

L.R. Lam

Learn how to write a brilliant subplot with definitions, tips and techniques from the world’s top-rated writing school.

C.L. Taylor

C.L. Taylor shares her journey through the psychological thriller genre, and identifies the authors who stand out in a crowded market. Cally also shares her take on the three vital ingredients for a bestseller—a must-read if you’re writing crime and suspense or psychological thrillers.

Nic Caws

Nic Caws, formerly a romance editor at Headline Eternal and Mills and Boon, shares five reasons to fall in love with romance novels and why you should write your romantic fiction book right now.

Bea Fitzgerald

What is BookTok? How can authors start using it? Here are 10 top tips for writers on how to use TikTok and be part of the online community that loves books!

Carla Jenkins

The Novelry graduate Carla Jenkins shares her writing journey to celebrate the publication of her debut novel, Fifty Minutes, by Hachette, one of the Big Five publishers.