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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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Craft and Technique
Starting to Write
The Basics

Should You Be Writing in Past Tense or Present Tense?

March 15, 2026
Should You Be Writing in Past Tense or Present Tense?
Genres
The Publishing Industry
Getting Feedback
The Basics
Beginnings and Endings
Plotting and Planning
Finding Novel Ideas
Prize
Gothic and Horror
Podcast
Contemporary Fiction
Literary Fiction
Literary Agents
Meet the Team
Young Adult Fiction
Starting to Write
How to Get Published
The Writing Routine
Revision and Editing
Craft and Technique
Romance
Writing a Series of Novels
Success Stories
Historical Fiction
Crime and Suspense
Writing Competitions
Hero Books
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Children’s Fiction
Guest Authors
Characters
Novel Writing Process
Memoir and Autofiction
Confidence and Motivation
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Headshot of the author Lucy Foley beside the covers of three of her books.
Crime and Suspense
Guest Authors

Lucy Foley on The Locked Room Mystery

Jul 18, 2021
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Lucy Foley
The locked room mystery is a classic in the murder mystery genre. But how do authors write locked room mysteries? Bestselling author Lucy Foley explains all!
Lucy Foley on The Locked Room Mystery
Headshot of the author Mahsuda Snaith beside the covers of three of her books.
Meet the Team

Meet Mahsuda Snaith

Jul 11, 2021
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Mahsuda Snaith
Mahsuda Snaith, author of How to Find Home and The Things We Thought We Knew, shares her writing journey and her aims as your new writing coach.
Meet Mahsuda Snaith
A French bulldog wearing a joke pair of glasses with eyebrows and a nose attached.
Confidence and Motivation
Guest Authors

Writer Imposter Syndrome

Jul 4, 2021
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Polly Ho-Yen
Need to know how to overcome imposter syndrome as a writer? You’re not alone—it’s common for all sorts of authors. Here’s our advice on how to get past it.
Writer Imposter Syndrome
A distant figure carrying a backpack walks across the crest of a hill, two birds flying through the sky in silhouette above them.
Characters
Craft and Technique

Character Flaws in Fiction

Jun 27, 2021
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Katie Khan
Books need characters with flaws, but how can we write them? This list of possible character faults, with examples, will help you write truly human characters.
Character Flaws in Fiction
Headshot of the author Femi Kayode beside the cover of his book, Lightseekers.
Guest Authors
Confidence and Motivation
Starting to Write

Femi Kayode on How to Keep Writing Your Novel

Jun 20, 2021
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Femi Kayode
Writing motivation can be hard to sustain. This advice from award-winning author Femi Kayode on how to motivate yourself to work on your novel will help!
Femi Kayode on How to Keep Writing Your Novel
Headshot of the author Kathy Lette beside her hit novel How to Kill Your Husband.
Guest Authors
Contemporary Fiction
The Publishing Industry

Kathy Lette’s Advice for New Writers

Jun 13, 2021
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Kathy Lette
Kathy Lette, author of 15 bestselling novels, knows a thing or two about the writing life. Read her top tips for new writers on what she’s learned along the way.
Kathy Lette’s Advice for New Writers
An illustrated space scene of stars and planets, beaming out of an open book.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
The Publishing Industry
Genres

Publishing Fantasy Fiction

Jun 7, 2021
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Katie Khan
What types of fantasy books are hot right now? It’s a great era for the fantasy genre and author Katie Khan is here to explore the trends, tropes, and subgenres.
Publishing Fantasy Fiction
Headshot of author Tricia Levenseller beside the covers of three of her books against an illustrated castle background.
Guest Authors
Writing a Series of Novels
Science Fiction and Fantasy

Fantasy Writing Tips from Tricia Levenseller

Jun 6, 2021
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Tricia Levenseller
Writing a fantasy story? This genre contains key elements! Let bestselling author Tricia Levenseller guide you with her top tips on how to write a fantasy novel.
Fantasy Writing Tips from Tricia Levenseller
Portrait image of bestselling author Adele Parks beside the covers of some of her books.
Guest Authors
Contemporary Fiction

I Write Because... Adele Parks

May 30, 2021
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Adele Parks
Top tips on writing, staying with it and seeing it through from Adele Parks, the multi-million copy bestselling author of 21 novels in 21 years.
I Write Because... Adele Parks
Portrait image of author Mike Gayle beside some of his book covers against a spotlit background.
Guest Authors
Historical Fiction
Novel Writing Process

How to Research for a Novel with Mike Gayle

May 23, 2021
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Mike Gayle
Many writers wonder how to research for a novel. Here, renowned author and journalist Mike Gayle shares top tips and less traditional resources.
How to Research for a Novel with Mike Gayle
Three illustrated figures facing away, arms raised as if in celebration.
Characters
Plotting and Planning

Writing Relationships Between Characters

May 23, 2021
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Louise Dean
If you're thinking about writing a series of novels, you're looking for constancy and change. Here's how to plan and structure your series.
Writing Relationships Between Characters
Illustration of a woman lying on the ground surrounded by flowers.
Finding Novel Ideas
Guest Authors

Thriller Story Ideas and the Influence of Fairy Tales

May 16, 2021
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Harriet Tyce
Are you looking for thriller story ideas? Don't wait for inspiration to fall from the sky; root around in your favourite tales like bestselling authors!
Thriller Story Ideas and the Influence of Fairy Tales