2020-04-20 20:42
The heroic journey is a classic story format. We find heroic quests in all genres. The relentless detective quests for the truth in crime fiction. The fantasy hero quests for knowledge, heal… Read More
Blog Directory > Education Blogs > Study Guides Blogs > Now Novel writer's study-guides Blog >
Now Novel Writer's Blog
nownovel.com/blog
Tags:
writing
editing
voice
proofreading
developmental
mythical creatures
plot
write dystopian fiction
character
lyrical
A blog that gives you tips on how to write better, motivate yourself and examples from the masters
2020-04-14 15:07
Lyrical writing is writing that is song-like, poetic, or deeply evocative. Here are 5 simple tips to write in a more lyrical style:
1. Think about the sound of each sentence
A paragrap… Read More
2020-04-06 21:26
A plot hole, like a glaring grammar or typographical error, takes your reader out of the story.
Read definitions of types of plot holes, plus 7 tips to avoid and fix them:
What is a p… Read More
2020-03-30 20:04
Many books – self-published and traditionally published – could benefit from having had further editing. Here are 10 proofreader tips for a polished draft:
1. Read sentences in… Read More
2020-03-23 15:50
How do we write and create during uncertain times? Writing under lockdown or self-isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic may feel both impossible (due to lost focus or urgent priorities)… Read More
2020-03-16 16:54
Why do authors write dystopian fiction? A dystopia is an inherently interesting setting. Strife-riddled worlds provide strong backdrops for characters’ fears and motivations. They prov… Read More
2020-03-10 15:37
Completing the draft of a story is a great achievement. Yet ‘Now what?’ often follows. Developmental editing is valuable for enhancing your manuscript (and your writing skills in… Read More
2020-03-02 18:17
Remembering characters of personality such as extroversion and introversion will help you create characters who contrast with each other. Here are 7 ways to use concepts of personality to cr… Read More
2020-02-24 21:50
Authors through the ages have found story inspiration in mythical creatures. From fauns and mermaids to the more unfamiliar, here is a mythical creatures list (with examples from books) to i… Read More
2020-02-17 15:17
Editing and revising are often seen as the ‘slog’ part of writing. Yet there is imagination and creativity in this stage of writing, too. Read 7 respected authors’ and edit… Read More
2020-02-03 18:56
The best fantasy series offer many lessons in building magical worlds and fantastical escapades. Read 7 lessons from series by Le Guin, Tolkien, Pratchett, Lewis and others:
1. Create mag… Read More
2020-01-27 06:14
As in memorable music where each note feels carefully considered, many great books have a strong sense of underlying purpose. How do you write with purpose and direction? Here are 7 ways to… Read More
2020-01-20 21:27
When you’re stumped, generating ideas for stories may turn out to be surprisingly easy. Try these 7 fun approaches:
1. Pick words blind and connect
This is a simple way to find u… Read More
2020-01-13 20:20
What makes a plot keep you turning pages? Plot has many moving parts. Incidents and elaborations, causes and effects, doubling back and forecasting approaching events. Learn more about the r… Read More
2020-01-07 18:16
The writing process is often spoken about in near-mystical terms. Sit in the right chair, at the right desk. Burn some sage. Turn around three times before you sit down to write. Yet anyone… Read More
2019-12-23 21:43
The past decade gave us everything from viral K-pop hits and ice bucket challenges to the first photo of a black hole. The 2010s also saw many interesting moments in writing and publishing… Read More
2019-12-17 20:48
Finishing a draft of your manuscript brings with it a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. Yet great books are made in the writing and editing process.
Editing copy for common SPAG (spellin… Read More
2019-12-09 14:59
Where do great writing ideas come from? Ideas arise from many places. Questions about broad societal issues. Visual images that linger in your imagination. Questions such as ‘what if&h&hell…Read More
2019-12-02 11:56
Whether or not you participate, there are useful NaNoWriMo lessons and insights to discover each year, in the writing community’s discussions, celebrations and (!) lamentations on writ… Read More
2019-11-25 15:20
Finding a great story premise that excites you and motivates you to write is a great win. Yet finding how to turn a premise into a plot with greater detail is trickier. Try these 7 tactics t… Read More
2019-11-18 14:47
How do you find the plot of a story from a broad situation? Brainstorming scenarios – specifically the best- and worst-case outcomes in a given situation – helps to find plot det… Read More
2019-11-14 12:30
How does an author establish mood in a story? The mood of a story develops out of multiple story elements: Setting, description, dialogue, and pacing. Read a definition of mood in literatur… Read More
2019-11-11 11:45
The writing process is something every author finds a way to navigate. Writers & Artists: The Insider Guide to the Media regularly interviews authors about their process. Read tips from… Read More
2019-11-04 20:25
How do you start a chapter in a novel to hook your reader and structure your story? These 10 examples reveal ways to make your chapter beginning count:
1. Introduce urgent current or imp… Read More
2019-10-28 15:03
What are the elements of plot development to remember when crafting a story? Read about 7 key elements of plot:
1. The premise (or story scenario)
The premise or scenario is the situat… Read More
2019-10-21 13:56
So you’ve got a book idea. There’s a story image or event teasing your imagination. How do you develop a book idea in a germinal state into something detailed, more ready to beg… Read More
2019-10-14 14:12
Interviews with authors are a great source of interesting writing ideas – both ideas about writing and ideas for stories themselves. Talking and thinking about writing is a great way t… Read More
2019-10-10 11:27
Many people talk about wanting to write a book “someday.” Anyone who has written a novel knows the enormous effort involved. Here are seven reasons to persevere:
1. Achieve a go… Read More
2019-10-09 12:13
Interviews with authors give interesting writing ideas, about the craft, process, pleasures and challenges of writing. Read 20 insights about writing gleaned from The Paris Review’s &l&hell…Read More
2019-09-30 20:04
Growth and change are elements that make characters’ paths interesting. How do you write character growth into your story? Read seven approaches:
1. Find what characters lack to beg… Read More
2019-09-23 15:26
What makes a good novel plot? A strong plot has many ingredients. The 5 W’s – who, what, why, where and when – change in interesting ways. Tension builds and ebbs. Read ins… Read More
2019-09-16 16:24
There are many different ways to plan and structure a story. ‘Three-act structure’ is one that some writers swear by and others shun. Learn what three-act structure is, why it&rs&hell…Read More
2019-09-12 10:00
Writing first drafts is a stage of the writing process many authors find daunting. Read 7 tips for first drafts from writers and get your first draft done:
1. Find your most comfortable me… Read More
2019-09-09 20:45
Weak style in writing has the power to make a new reader close your book and pick up another instead. Improve style in your fiction with these 9 tasks:
1. Cut out pleonasms
What is a &lsquo&helli…Read More
2019-09-02 22:35
Many authors have shared interesting plot ideas, giving insights on how plot works and why it matters. Here are 6 authors’ ideas from essays and interviews about plot, and what they te… Read More
2019-08-29 06:42
You’d think loving writing, the joy of seeing a finished sentence, paragraph or page, would be enough to keep us motivated. But many writers struggle to keep motivation to write. Try… Read More
2019-08-26 15:36
Aspiring autobiographers often mail us asking, ‘how can I write my own story?’ Try these 7 life writing tips to start:
1. Decide whether you’ll write non-fiction or fictio… Read More
2019-08-22 10:30
Learning how to write character background or backstory requires balancing present and past narration. Read 7 tips to write better backstory:
1. Decide events in characters’ pasts tha… Read More
2019-08-19 15:19
Seeking original story ideas romance hasn’t done to death? Try these 7 approaches to finding romance story inspiration:
1. Search romantic words in Google News
News articles are… Read More
2019-08-12 19:52
Finding story plot ideas that grab hold of your imagination is easy if you know where to look. Try these 8 ways to find a strong premise for your story:
1. Keep a journal to mine for plot… Read More
2019-08-05 15:38
Using a novel planner, whether a step-by-step prompted outlining process like Now Novel’s dashboard or a different tool, helps to organise your story. If you’re using story plan… Read More
2019-07-29 23:22
Knowing how to start a chapter well is key to keeping your reader engaged. We examined 25 authors’ transitions from first to second chapters. Read the resulting insights into writing b… Read More
2019-07-22 22:20
If anyone can teach us how to start a short story, it’s authors famed for their skill in writing shorter tales. Read 5 examples of effective short story openings and what they teach u… Read More
2019-07-15 23:52
You’ll often hear ‘plot structure’ come up in writing craft discussion. Yet concrete plot structure examples show how to structure a story with purpose. Read illustrative e… Read More
2019-07-11 08:30
Learning how to write romance that feels real is important if you want readers to believe your love story. Read the following tips on how to write chemistry, compatibility, complexity and o… Read More
2019-07-09 19:53
When telling a story, your opening sentence needs to be catchy, so readers continue. The best first lines of books show us the common devices authors use to grab our curiosity. We analyzed 1… Read More
2019-07-04 11:28
The different points of view – first, second and third person POV – each offer creative ways to convey your characters’ voices and personas. Read 5 tips with illustrative… Read More
2019-07-01 23:25
In a novel, film or stage play, not every character needs to take center stage. Some characters play a minor role. Some add passing humour, obstacles, important advice or information. Other… Read More
2019-06-27 11:18
These 88 inspiring quotes about writing, divided into 8 categories, offer inspiration to finish writing a novel:
1. Quotes on finding an idea for a novel
Before you write the first word do… Read More
2019-06-24 16:33
Google Docs is already a useful free word processor. But these 6 Google Docs add-ons for writers will help you brainstorm, write and revise further:
1. ProWritingAid
Billed as being ‘… Read More
2019-06-20 07:37
Need writing resources? Here are 200 of the very best writing websites, organised for you by subject and genre. They’ll help you when you start using the Now Novel process to fine-tun… Read More
2019-06-18 19:13
Many authors enjoy the creative freedom of not having any structure to begin. Yet writing a story outline has many benefits. A flexible plan makes brainstorming ideas, finding possible chara… Read More
2019-06-10 20:11
How you end a scene determines whether your reader will read another chapter immediately or not. Here are 6 tips for writing scene endings that entice readers to carry on (with examples):
1… Read More
2019-06-05 23:00
Writing scene beginnings readers find compelling is a useful skill to develop. Here are 5 ways to write strong scene beginnings, with examples:
1. Start scenes with unusual events in moti… Read More
2019-05-26 20:14
Giving writing feedback is not often presented as a core step in becoming a better writer. Yet many distinguished authors were once (or still are) teachers, too. Here are 6 reasons why givin… Read More
2019-05-21 17:48
Experienced novelists know the focus and determination it takes to write a novel from start to finish. Read 8 authors’ advice on writing a book:
1. Discover when and where you write b… Read More
2019-05-13 20:30
Whether you’re writing a breakneck thriller, action screenplay or a script for a video game or graphic novel, writing action scenes that keep readers (or viewers) entertained is essent… Read More
2019-05-09 14:00
Guest contribution by Jerry Jenkins
A writer wrote me recently and complained she was struggling to get enough detail into her story to give her readers the ‘same pictures I see in… Read More
2019-05-06 15:49
Whether you’re writing a novel, a screenplay, graphic novel or other kind of story, writing a scene that engages your reader from start to finish is crucial.
Try these 5 tactics to ke… Read More
2019-04-29 23:16
Vivid story setting descriptions helps us anchor a story’s action in place. Here are story setting description examples that reveal the varied functions of setting description:
1. U… Read More
2019-04-23 21:56
Why write a book? It’s a question authors are asked time and again (or more simply, ‘Why do you write?’). In honour of World Book and Copyright Day – UNESCO’s i… Read More
2019-04-15 20:36
Every part of writing a story has its challenges. A good arsenal of writing tools makes your process easier. Try these writing tools we’ve grouped by purpose:
Finding ideas | Writin… Read More
2019-04-10 12:20
Indirect characterization is writing that paints in character detail by showing rather than telling. Rather than only tell readers about characters’ personalities and values, you… Read More
2019-04-04 12:24
First draft writing is hard, because you’re still finding how your story fits together. Try a few (or all) of these 7 steps to simplify and organize your draft so you can get version… Read More
2019-04-01 07:31
Setting the scene for a story is important. Giving readers a vivid sense of where and when events take place anchors action and dialogue. When readers are able to picture the environment cle… Read More
2019-03-28 12:59
What do we mean when we talk about ‘exposition’ in stories? ‘Narrative exposition’ is important information that gives readers your story’s backgroun… Read More
2019-03-25 20:34
Character tropes (common stock characters) have their place in stories. Satires and spoofs, for example, use types such as the ‘cool mom’ or ‘orphan who must save the world… Read More
2019-03-18 21:35
You can easily find a novel outline template such as a spreadsheet full of empty fields to fill. Yet columns and rows of blank space are also daunting. Here are 5 tips for an easier outlinin… Read More
2019-03-14 14:57
‘Motivation’ is a word that comes up time and again when we survey readers and members on writing challenges. There may not be a single, exclusive solution for how to find motiv… Read More
2019-03-11 22:04
The word ‘motif’ is often used interchangeably with the word ‘theme’ in writing about stories. What exactly are motifs in stories, and how can you use them effectivel… Read More
2019-03-04 20:03
In classic stories, characters often step off the page from their first introduction, fully realized. How do you write good character description that reveals enough to hook readers? Try the… Read More
2019-02-25 20:01
Dystopian stories about characters or societies grappling with ‘bad places’ like post-apocalyptic wastelands remain popular for several reasons. For one, their situations natural… Read More
2019-02-21 18:34
Developing a story from the foundations of an idea to a towering epic is challenge. Yet a trusty tool is the simple question, ‘What if?’ Read 5 examples of ways you can use this… Read More
2019-02-07 14:24
There are many options for getting help with writing online. Here are 6 tips to get the maximum benefit from writing critiques:
1. Be brave, bold, and play
In an in-person, ‘live&rsqu&helli…Read More
2019-02-04 19:14
Mystery elements are important in all genres, not only whodunits or suspense/thrillers. Here are 5 mystery elements and how you can use them to fill your stories with intrigue:
First, what… Read More
2019-01-31 05:41
In a romance novel narrative suspense and tension keep your reader turning pages. Knowing how to plot a romance novel means mastering romantic tension and several other key elements of… Read More
2019-01-28 20:17
Crime novels are full of surprising turns, hidden motives, human drama and tragedy. They give us the thrill of trying to figure out ‘whodunnit’. Or the pathos and interest of see… Read More
2019-01-24 12:42
Book ideas come to authors via many conduits. Through history or current events. Passion or indignation. Through myths, songs and legends. Family jokes and dramas. If you are hunting for yo… Read More
2019-01-21 19:31
Setting the scene for a story or ‘scene-setting’ is important. Giving readers a vivid sense of where and when events take place anchors readers in your story’s world, makin… Read More
2019-01-14 14:02
There are many technical writing terms to learn as you become a writer. A word you might come across from time to time is ‘logline’. What are loglines, why is this type of su… Read More
2019-01-07 21:22
Whether you’re outlining a new story idea or finding ways to connect scenes you’ve drafted into a structured narrative, use the Now Novel dashboard to finish easier. Use our stor… Read More
2018-12-31 12:23
Get proactive so that this is the year it happens. Whether you’re writing a first novel or your fourth, follow these ten tips to reach your writing goals:
To finish your novel this ye… Read More
2018-12-17 03:59
As 2018 draws to a close, here are the 10 most popular blog posts from the past year on Now Novel, as well as 10 posts we loved on writing websites we like. Enjoy and happy holidays!
10 bes… Read More
2018-12-10 15:16
In novels, screenwriting, and play-writing a scene is a useful structuring device for deciding what happens, where, to whom, and why. There are many ways to outline a story, but planning sc… Read More
2018-12-06 13:12
In epic fantasy world building, natural environments provide possible hazards (freezing cold, dangerous volcanoes) and mood or atmosphere. Even in ‘realist’ fiction set in our o… Read More
2018-12-03 14:59
Great scene writing makes each part count towards the whole. This is particularly important when working in shorter forms such as short stories or one-hour TV episodes. Keep your scenes lea… Read More
2018-11-26 12:33
When we asked readers to share their #1 writing challenges with us, two areas of writing came up repeatedly. The first was plotting and planning. The second was worldbuilding. So we’r… Read More
2018-11-19 13:55
The setting of your story is key to readers being able to imagine ‘being there’. How do you describe a place so it is characterful and contributes effectively to your story… Read More
2018-11-15 13:06
The short story has a long and rich tradition, spanning everything from the Gothic tales of Poe to contemporary masterpieces. Writing a short story will improve your writing skills, as… Read More
2018-11-12 17:23
Writing character profiles and brainstorming main characters’ arcs helps establish story direction. A good character arc template includes facts about your characters’ goals, hi… Read More
2018-11-08 14:51
Understanding how to create tension in a story is key to writing a gripping, ‘I’ll just read one more page before bed’ read. Here are eight steps to ensure your story has… Read More
2018-11-05 17:04
Think back to the first time you met someone you now know well. Can you remember what you noticed about them first? Describing characters’ first appearances effectively is key to buil… Read More
2018-10-31 11:50
Over the past year, we’ve spoken to Now Novel members and visitors to better understand your writing challenges and processes. We’ve funneled the insights people shared in… Read More
2018-10-25 08:30
Fiction is full of villainous characters who readers love to hate (and, sometimes, hate to love). earning how to write a villain that your readers can understand as a complex human bei… Read More
2018-10-18 12:35
Character backstory – the past events and formative experiences that shape who your characters are – is key to creating characters of breadth and depth. Here are tips to weave b… Read More
2018-10-15 17:00
‘Point of view’ is an element of writing that confuses many beginning authors. There are various types, from omniscient to limited third person. Dramatic point of view is one su… Read More
2018-10-11 14:23
Writing fiction, there are at least three ways we create character voices. The first is through viewpoint narration (narrative voice). The words a narrator uses create a distinct perso… Read More
2018-10-08 15:43
Writing conversations that don’t involve setting is like writing action scenes that don’t involve movement. Great dialogue has more than disembodied voices. It anchors us in a p… Read More
2018-10-04 09:00
Learning how to write a book series means mastering the challenges specific to series-writing. Sustaining characters’ development over a longer time. Sustaining conflict, tension, and… Read More
2018-10-01 12:39
Knowing how to develop a character so your reader invests in them and believes their journey is key to writing great character-driven stories.
Try these 7 simple steps to begin creating aff… Read More
Subscribe to Now Novel Writer's
Get updates delivered right to your inbox!