Inspiration for writers
The creative writing blog
Original weekly articles from bestselling authors and publishing professionals
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This week’s blog
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Plotting and Planning
Novel Writing Process
The Basics
Why a Strong Premise is the Foundation of a Great Story
February 22, 2026
Why a Strong Premise is the Foundation of a Great Story
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Guest Authors
Success Stories
Craft and Technique
How to Supercharge Your Scenes with Holly Race
Jun 22, 2025
Holly Race
Ever been blown away by a paragraph from a novel? Aim for your best writing ever with these top tips from author Holly Race on how to write a great scene.
How to Supercharge Your Scenes with Holly Race
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Starting to Write
Finding Novel Ideas
The Basics
Novel Ideas and Where to Find Them
Jun 8, 2025
Gina Sorell
‘What should I write about?’ Authors get their book ideas in all sorts of ways—and so can you. In this article, we delve into how and where to find story ideas.
Novel Ideas and Where to Find Them
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Starting to Write
Guest Authors
Why a Zero Draft Can Get You Writing
Jun 4, 2025
Susie Bower
Zero draft: what does it mean? Here’s everything writers need to know about starting to write ‘draft 0’ with children’s fiction author, Susie Bower.
Why a Zero Draft Can Get You Writing
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Novel Writing Process
The Basics
Discover the Theme of Your Story
Jun 1, 2025
Melanie Conklin
What is theme? In this blog, we define themes in literature and look at some theme examples to help writers find their story’s thematic statement.
Discover the Theme of Your Story
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Characters
Romance
Meet the Team
Insta Love: The Book Trope Explained
May 28, 2025
Kate Dylan
The book trope of insta love doesn’t always inspire love among readers, but why? Bestselling author Kate Dylan explains what it is and how writers can avoid it.
Insta Love: The Book Trope Explained
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Guest Authors
Characters
Writing Women Who Refuse to Play by the Rules with T.J. Emerson
May 25, 2025
T.J. Emerson
Female rage books are everywhere, but what do these stories say about the agency and power of the antiheroine? Thriller author T.J. Emerson takes a look.
Writing Women Who Refuse to Play by the Rules with T.J. Emerson
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Craft and Technique
Beginnings and Endings
Plotting and Planning
Open With the Action: Mastering ‘In Medias Res’
May 21, 2025
Amanda Reynolds
In medias res (not in media res) means starting a story in the middle. We define the technique and give some examples for writers in this helpful blog.
Open With the Action: Mastering ‘In Medias Res’
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Guest Authors
Novel Writing Process
Chris Hadfield’s Out-Of-This-World Writing Advice
May 18, 2025
Gina Sorell
Chris Hadfield may be best known for orbiting the Earth, but he is also a multiple New York Times bestselling author. Read on for his stellar writing advice!
Chris Hadfield’s Out-Of-This-World Writing Advice
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Novel Writing Process
Revision and Editing
Getting Feedback
Beta Readers and How to Work With Them
May 14, 2025
Gina Sorell
A beta reader can be a great help to an author, but what do beta readers do, and how far does beta reading go in terms of feedback? We explain all in this blog!
Beta Readers and How to Work With Them
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Novel Writing Process
Craft and Technique
Sowing Seeds: Why Writing is Like Gardening
May 11, 2025
Ella McLeod
Writing a novel is like growing a garden: as the author, you plan, prepare, plant, nourish, water, and care for your story. The result? A beautiful book in bloom!
Sowing Seeds: Why Writing is Like Gardening
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Writing Competitions
Prize
How to Get Published
Could You Write The Next Big Story?
May 2, 2025
Louise Dean
Enter The Next Big Story creative writing prize at The Novelry for a chance to win $100,000 (£75,000). Eight shortlisters will receive The Finished Novel Course.
Could You Write The Next Big Story?
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Literary Agents
How to Get Published
Guest Authors
Behind the Scenes with Eve White Literary Agency
Apr 27, 2025
Eve White
Literary agents can be a mystery to unpublished authors. Here’s an insight into one, the Eve White Literary Agency, and how their agents work with their clients.
Behind the Scenes with Eve White Literary Agency
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