Inspiration for writers
The creative writing blog
Original weekly articles from bestselling authors and publishing professionals
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Prize
How to Win the Prize
July 6, 2025
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Podcast
Prize
The 5 Ps of Writing: Plot
Jul 2, 2025
The Novelry
What is the plot of a story? We look at how plot influences your novel and give our top tips on the key plot elements that make for an unputdownable story.
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Editing
Getting Feedback
The Publishing Industry
‘Do I Need a Sensitivity Reader?’ The Importance of Authenticity Editing
Jun 29, 2025
Mireille Harper
Sensitivity readers have become an important part of publishing for good reason. In this article, an authenticity editor explains sensitivity reading for all writers.
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Podcast
Prize
The 5 Ps of Writing: Place
Jun 25, 2025
The Novelry
The setting in a work of fiction describes the place, time, and location. Here are our top tips for writers on exploring a story’s place without info-dumping.
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Guest Authors
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.
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Podcast
Prize
Starting to Write
The 5 Ps of Writing: Problem
Jun 18, 2025
The Novelry
Wondering how to create a great story? Give your character a problem and something at stake, and the reader will need to know what happens. Here’s how!
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Starting to Write
Prize
Life of Pi Author Explores the 5 Ps of Good Writing
Jun 15, 2025
The Novelry
Yann Martel, writer of the award-winning Life of Pi among other novels, shares his advice for authors on the key elements of storytelling.
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Characters
Podcast
Prize
The 5 Ps of Writing: Person
Jun 11, 2025
The Novelry
The main character in a story is crucial, but what are the secrets to writing a great protagonist? Here are our top tips on writing characters readers will follow!
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Starting to Write
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.
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Starting to Write
Novel Writing Process
Children’s Fiction
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.
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Novel Writing Process
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.
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Characters
Romance
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.
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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.
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