The "curse of knowledge" makes pacing hard. You know where your story's going, but your readers don't, which means it can be hard to release information in a way that feels natural. In answer to today's question, we look at how to bridge that gap. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

A beta reader is an important part of the revision process. So what is a beta reader, and how can you find one that will help you improve? #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“When you write suspense, you have to know where you’re going because you have to drop little hints along the way.” — John Grisham

💻 Writing Exercise: Changing Meanings Write a scene in which a character hears or reads the same sentence multiple times in a day (for example: “I’ll be back soon,” “You know what to do,” or “This won’t hurt”).

Today's tip comes courtesy of phoenixofthegreenwood on Tumblr! “Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s OK to use a break, especially on the weekends. I always get upset with myself whenever I’m not productive, but sometimes I need to take a break and that’s fine.” #writingtips

Forced proximity! High stakes! Slow burn tension! In answer to today's question, we break down how to write enemies to lovers in a way that actually delivers on the romantic payoff. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

The most effective way to help build your writing skills is through reading. Here are four reading tips that will make you a better writer. #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“Writers get paid for what other people get scolded for: daydreaming. We’re supposed to wander.” — Richard Walter #amwriting

💻 Writing Exercise: The Moment Before Write a scene that takes place in the moments before a major event in your character’s life (e.g. right before they walk onstage, confront someone, or step into danger).

Today's awesome tip comes via littlebirdygirlywriting on Tumblr! "Writer confession/tip: Sometimes, if there’s something I really want to write but I’m lacking the motivation to complete it, I’ll send in that same thought/scenario/idea as a request to my own inbox, and it motivates me" #writingtip

Your character’s past shouldn’t feel like a prologue. In answer to today's question, we look at how to create a character backstory that readers will care about. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

Staring at a blank page? Outline your novel in 5 simple steps with a premise, characters, setting, timeline, and scenes. Flexible, fast, and pantser-approved! #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining, show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov

💻 Writing Exercise: Confession Interrupted Write a scene where a character is about to reveal something important, like make an apology, declare their love, reveal a fear, share a secret, or give a warning. Interrupt them three times.

Written on @novlr.org my first novel The Man who Found Everything He Ever Lost is released today! The Man Who Found Everything He Ever Lost: In forty-nine days all will be revealed amzn.eu/d/e8WWKW3

A great story is more than just plot. You also need to know what you want your readers to take away from the experience they have when they engage with your writing. You need to have something to say.

Struggling to understand the difference between anti-heroes and anti-villains? Both occupy that fascinating grey area between good and evil, but they approach it from opposite directions. Here's how to tell them apart and write both effectively. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

Dialogue feeling a little flat? 🗣️ In today's blog post we share 5 smart editing tricks to make your character conversations sharper, more natural, and full of life. #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“The characters that I create are parts of myself and I send them on little missions to find out what I don’t know yet.” — Gail Godwin

💻 #writingexercise Write two scenes about the same character. The first scene should be before a significant event, and the second after that event. Don’t write the event itself. Focus only on how the character’s behaviour, voice, priorities, or mood change between the two scenes.

Procrastination comes in many forms, and it’s easy to convince ourselves we’re making progress, when in fact, we’re actually putting of the act of creation.

Do you struggle with writing metaphors? In answer to today's question, we look at the difference between simile and metaphor, and offer some practical advice on how to write metaphors that resonate. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

Carl Jung posited that there are twelve character archetypes split into four motivations at the heart of every person. These archetypes can also help you develop your characters. Let's look at these archetypes and how you can use them in your writing. #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“I spent the morning putting in a comma and the afternoon removing it.” — Gustave Flaubert

💻 #writingexercise Invent a setting (it can be a whole society or a single household) that operates under one absolute, unquestionable rule. For example; no one is allowed to speak after sunset.

Sometimes when writing, we worry that our ideas are too small, or don’t carry enough weight. But not everything needs to change the world! Something can be deeply meaningful to a character without it having meaning outside of their narrow sphere.

The hardest part of writing isn't plotting or outlining, it's that moment when you have everything planned but can't get a single word down. Today, we look at why that might be, and share some tips on how to overcome starting paralysis. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

Want your subplot to have an impact and not just fill space? Here are five tips to help you write a great subplot with depth, purpose, and connection to your story arc. #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“A reader can buy one coincidence, but when you start throwing in coincidence after coincidence...it becomes very difficult.” — M.C. Eberhardt

💻 #writingexercise Write a scene of dialogue between two characters who are not talking about what they actually mean. Each line should have a surface meaning and a hidden one underneath.

Don’t be ashamed of your work! (I know it’s easier said than done). So many of us write in silence, keeping our words hidden. We’ll either never share it with the world or wait until we feel it’s just the right time.

In answer to today's writer question, we look at how to transform interior descriptions from static inventories into spaces readers can feel immersed in. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

There are lots of ways to plan a novel, and getting a few rough ideas down to prepare you for a blank page can really help your novel come together. #writingtips www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

💻 #WritingExercise Choose a character from your favourite book and write a scene where other characters talk about them, but the character you chose isn’t present. Share it with a trusted friend who knows the book, and see if they can guess the character the others are talking about.

If you find yourself in a mood where you don’t feel like writing, read a book instead! While there’s no substitute for actually writing to improve your skills, reading is also an essential part of learning to be a better writer.

Finding your writer's voice isn't magic; it's practice. In answer to today's #AskNovlr question, we look at methods and exercises to help you develop your writer's voice. www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

🌍 Building a fantasy world from scratch? Dive into the 6 must-have ingredients to make it feel alive, immersive and unforgettable. #writingtips 🖋️ www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“A writer is a reader who is moved to emulation.” — Saul Bellow

💻 #WritingExercise Write a scene between two characters who share a secret. Write about how that shared secret carries their interaction. Does it affect them differently? Do they share motivations?

Don’t be afraid to play in the sandbox of your own imagination. Sometimes, to improve your writing, you just need to write, even if it’s not in service of an end goal.

Getting stuck on a scene is so relatable! But it doesn't mean you need to stall completely. In answer to today's question, we look at some tips and tricks to get you writing again. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

Dive deeper into your characters with some writing games to make character development fun! ✍️ #amwriting #writingtips  www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“Poetry, even when apparently most fantastic, is always a revolt against artifice, a revolt, in a sense, against actuality.” — James Joyce

💻 #WritingExercise Write a scene centred around an object your character refuses to get rid of, even though they probably should. It might be useless, broken, painful, or tied to a memory it would be healthy to forget.

💡 Disjointed ideas don’t have to stay that way, so if you just have vibes and scenes in your head, don’t be afraid to write them down.

Got a story idea but not sure if it's novel-worthy? 🤔 In answer to today's question, we look at how to evaluate your concept's potential and develop it into something bigger. #AskNovlr www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

✍️ Looking to write your novel this November? Whether you're aiming for 50k words or just want to make steady progress, we've got tips to help you prepare, plan, and succeed. #amwriting www.novlr.org/the-reading-...

“A lie, sometimes, can be truer than the truth, which is why fiction gets written.” — Tim O'Brien

💻 #WritingExercise Write a scene, then rewrite it, but each time you rewrite it, change something small and keep writing from that change. It could be the weather, a single line of dialogue, a choice a character makes.