Welcome to the Reading Room
Join us with a cuppa and settle in for expert writing advice, writing and publishing tips, book reviews, and your questions answered!
How do you come up with a theme for your story?
"I’m not sure where the heart of my story is. How do I figure out the theme of the story so I can flesh out the details (without changing my mind next week)? Do you start with a theme and build a story around it, or does the theme emerge as you write?" Themes are so...
5 Tips For Writing a Book Blurb That Will Hook Potential Readers
This post was originally written for the Cover Kitchen blog and can be read in its original form here. Writing a good book blurb is one of the hardest things about the publishing process. How do you convey the essence of your story in just 200 words in a way that’s...
How do you prioritise subplots?
"I've written 75% of my novel, but it has a medium-sized cast with quite a few subplots. For a satisfying ending, what do I prioritize for the final act/conclusion, and what details could I afford to skip or leave out? How should I order them and distribute the screen...
Got a Question? Ask Novlr!
Want to know more about a certain aspect of writing or need more general advice or inspiration? We’re here to help!
How do you write the ordinary?
"Hi, I have a fairly easy time writing all the meat and potato bits of my story but it's the normal everyday stuff I struggle with. A lot of my writing involves the metaphysical which I can do but characters sitting down having dinner together? I just feel I can't...
How do I know if my project should be standalone or a series?
"Do you have any posts on turning a book into a series, and/or deciding how many books the series should be? I'm plotting my story and not sure how to split it up into how many books if I decide it's too much for a stand alone. Do I just go with trilogy? Thought there...
How can I streamline my editing process?
"How can I make my editing process quicker and less stressful? I feel like I’m spending way too much time on it and not really getting anywhere, so I’d love some tips on how to keep it simple and actually productive." I think that most writers have a love/hate...
