Author
Pamela is a professional ghostwriter, editor, and historian, as well as the Writer Development and Community Lead at Novlr. With almost two decade's worth of experience in all aspects of the book trade, she loves sharing her expertise.
Sep 28, 2026 | Ask Novlr
Worried that everything you read is bleeding into your own book? Here's why that's less of a problem than it feels like, and what stepping away from...
#reading, #writing tips, #writing inspiration
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Sep 21, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
Torn between several writing projects and can't decide where to focus? Here's how to work out why each one feels stuck, figure out what you actually...
#writing tips, #motivation, #productivity, #writers' routines
read moreSep 18, 2026 | Writing
We don’t always write when the mood of our surroundings matches the mood of what we’re writing. It’s hard to write about a group of friends having...
#playlists, #writing inspiration
read moreSep 11, 2026 | Editing
"Kill your darlings" survives because it sounds brutal, not because it's accurate. Here's why the real skill isn't cutting your best work, it's...
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Sep 7, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
Struggling to turn a great horror premise into an actual plot? This post breaks down why horror lets you coast on atmosphere longer than other...
#plotting, #genre, #fiction, #writing tips
read moreAug 31, 2026 | Publishing
You know all those pages before chapter one: the title page, the copyright notice, maybe a dedication? That's front matter, and here's what actually...
read moreAug 24, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
Drowning in contradictory search results while researching a historical period? Here's where to actually find sources worth trusting, from free...
read moreAug 21, 2026 | Writing
There is nothing quite like the feeling of finishing off a chapter that you’re really happy with. You’ve hit all the beats just right, the pacing is...
read moreAug 14, 2026 | Publishing
Hybrid and vanity publishing aren't the same thing, but the word "hybrid" gets borrowed by enough vanity presses that it's genuinely hard to tell...
read moreAug 10, 2026 | Ask Novlr
Not sure what in medias res is? Here's what the term actually means, where it comes from, and how to tell whether your story needs it (or whether...
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Aug 6, 2026 | Writing
Six imagined worlds, six soundtracks; from a Southern Gothic swamp to a dead-eyed dystopia, these are the playlists to queue up before you open your...
#playlists, #writing inspiration
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Aug 3, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
Got a story with history that matters, but explaining it keeps turning into a lecture? Here's how to let readers discover your world's backstory...
read moreJul 20, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
Robotic third person narration and boring scenes usually share one cause: information being stated instead of experienced. Here's how to close that...
#character development, #voice
read moreJul 13, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
Learn how to write vivid smell descriptions even without a strong sense of smell yourself, using borrowed language, taste connections, and character...
read moreJul 10, 2026 | Books
Beach reads are built to be devoured fast, which is exactly why their craft goes unnoticed. Here are six that are secretly small masterclasses in...
#genre, #writing tips, #reading, #book recommendations
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Jul 5, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Is it possible to get back to writing after over 3 years? At that time was the last time i was able to finish something but i was already unhappy...
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Jun 29, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hiii just a question do you have an advice on how to write a ‘mean girl’ without having like the hollywood stereotypes? I’m currently writing one of...
#character development, #tropes, #writing tips
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Jun 25, 2026 | Publishing
While there are many paths you can take to get your book out into the world, there are three main routes to publishing. Traditional publishing is the...
#publishing platforms, #self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Jun 22, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hi! I’m writing my novel in a small town from US as a non-US citizen and as someone who never visited the country. I’m doing my research as much as...
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Jun 14, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
TEST“Hello! Idk if this is a common problem or not but recently I’ve found out that I overuse participial phrases in my writing. More so I do it in a...
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Jun 11, 2026 | Writing
Picking the right tense for the story you want to tell is an often overlooked part of narrative development. Writing tenses consistently is crucial...
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Jun 6, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How to write a mentor who is evil but genuinely cares about the main protagonist? And raised him since a young age. Also, the main protagonist is...
#character development, #writing tips
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Jun 1, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Publishing
“I need to figure out what genre my book is. I don’t think mine is classified as one, if you know what I mean?” You’re definitely not alone in...
#self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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May 29, 2026 | Writing
The antihero has become an increasingly beloved figure in modern storytelling, for their morally ambiguous nature and complex personalities. Unlike...
#character development, #writing tips
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May 25, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I know whether or not to put my book in multiple perspectives? I think it would make my story better but how do I know if it really needs it?...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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May 22, 2026 | Publishing
You’ve finished your manuscript, and you’re ready to pitch your novel to an agent. But how do you ensure your query letter will stand out from the...
#book agents, #traditional publishing
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May 18, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I make a calm and collected character in a very overwhelming situation?” Writing a character who remains composed when everything around them...
#character development, #writing tips
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May 14, 2026 | Writing
Never, in the history of the written word has there been more contradictory writing advice than that surrounding synonyms. Possibly hyperbolic? Sure....
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May 4, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Okay so I’m trying to write a story set in the future and I’m kinda stuck?? Like I know what my general plot is and I have my characters figured out...
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Apr 30, 2026 | Publishing
A few years ago, I attended the London Book Fair. It was a fantastic experience where I got to mingle with other writers, meet publishers, and hear...
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Apr 25, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Books
“Tips on developing a magic school for adults? Most magic schools I read about are for children, so I wanted to make a magic university.” While...
#book recommendations, #worldbuilding, #writing tips
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Apr 23, 2026 | Writing
If you’ve ever felt the grip of a good book, unable to put it down, you understand the pull of a well-told story. Behind the scenes of your favourite...
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Apr 19, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do you keep a chapter on topic? I keep finding myself going off on tangents, adding scenes that don’t really belong, or ending up somewhere...
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Apr 12, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m struggling with how I should write sci-fi future with human-like aliens. I don’t want to focus on differences but rather on similarities between...
#character development, #science fiction, #writing tips
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Apr 5, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m struggling to get into characters’ heads. The fandom I write for has many different characters and I’m trying to keep them as canonical as...
#character development, #writing tips
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Apr 2, 2026 | Writing
When you take on any writing project, you might find yourself stuck on a story point, unable to muddle through a character’s motivation, or be unsure...
#productivity, #writing events, #writing tips
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Mar 30, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I wrote a short story a while back that I really love, and I keep thinking about it. I feel like there’s more to explore with these characters and...
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Mar 26, 2026 | Writing
Your setting is fundamental to your story. It’s the backbone of your plot and is essential to providing narrative context, establishing the mood and...
#downloadable templates, #worldbuilding, #writing tips
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Mar 21, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m stuck on my story and I don’t know how to continue. I have a few continuations in mind and don’t know which one to pick. Every continuation...
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Mar 16, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“This is probably an unusual question, but how do you come up with titles? I don’t mean titles for chapters or such, but titles for positions, like...
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Mar 13, 2026 | Editing
You’re going to be putting a lot of time and effort into your book, so it’s important that it’s as good as it can be. With all the different types of...
#self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Mar 2, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’ve been told my prose is ‘too plain’ and that I should make it more lyrical, but I’m not really sure what that means. Can you help?” Firstly, I...
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Feb 26, 2026 | Writing
If you’ve spent any time on writing social media lately, you’ve probably noticed a surge of accounts offering beta reading services. They’ll pop up...
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Feb 23, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m trying to write a backstory for my main character. She’s supposed to have this really tragic past that explains why she’s so closed off and...
#character development, #writing tips
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Feb 13, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Editing, Writing
“Hello, I was writing my book and I realised that I had two plot holes that need fixing. I am not good at fixing plot holes so I tried to find...
#plotting, #revision, #writing tips
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Feb 7, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How to do research for a story set in a field you know very little about (the film, music industry, sports like basketball…)?” The adage “write what...
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Feb 5, 2026 | Publishing
As a creative writer, you build unique worlds and create characters who mean something to you and your readers. So how can you protect those...
#self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Jan 31, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“So I want to write a story that’s told through letters and texts and stuff? Like, I’ve seen books that are all emails or diary entries and I think...
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Cosy fiction is the literary equivalent of a warm hug. It’s about emotions and gentle storytelling, where things are restored, not destroyed. Rather...
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Jan 24, 2026 | Ask Novlr
“I took a long break from writing. I want to start writing again but I don’t know how. What should I do?” Writing takes a lot of time and effort, so...
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Jan 19, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Any advice on how to write time skips? I’m working on the second draft of my novel and I keep getting stuck on transitions where time passes....
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Jan 15, 2026 | Writing
For writers who plot, the blank page before you start outlining your story is perhaps the most daunting of all. No matter how good the concept is,...
#downloadable templates, #plot templates, #plotting
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Jan 12, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Editing
“How do I know when I’ve done enough editing and my story’s actually ready to show to other people? I always feel like there’s more I could fix, but...
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Jan 5, 2026 | Ask Novlr, Book Promotion
“I’ve finished my novel and I’m ready to share it with the world, but I have no idea where to start. How do I get my writing noticed? Social media...
#marketing, #self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Dec 28, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Publishing, Writing
“I’m starting to write more to become a freelance author, but every time I get excited about publishing my works or people finding the stories I’m...
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Dec 22, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Editing, Writing
“As a writer, we basically know the major beats before starting writing, but readers don’t, and we sometimes might slip too deep into things when the...
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Dec 15, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I don’t know if there’s already an article about this, but how should I go about an enemies to lovers type side plot? My two protagonists are in a...
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Writing is a skill that takes practice, but there is more to being a great writer than simply putting words on a page. Reading is an essential skill...
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Dec 8, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I write a unique character backstory effectively?” Backstory can feel like quicksand. If you take one step in too deep, you’ll find yourself...
#character development, #writing tips
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Dec 4, 2025 | Writing
I’ll happily admit that I’m not a plotter. I have story ideas, but I find sitting down to actually map those ideas out into a manageable form to be a...
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Nov 30, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hello! 👋 What’s the difference between Anti-Villain and Anti-Hero??” Villains and heroes are two sides of the same coin. Every villain is the hero...
#character development, #writing tips
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Nov 23, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I struggle with writing metaphors. I can come up with similes easily, but metaphors? Not so much. Any advice?” If you can write a simile, you’re...
#figures of speech, #writing tips
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Nov 17, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I have the story of the novel, I have the ideas, I have the plot, but… just how do I really start writing???” There is nothing more intimidating to...
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Nov 14, 2025 | Writing
Subplots are a hugely overlooked part of the drafting process. They are often overlooked for the much more overt plotline you’ll have bouncing around...
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Nov 10, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I struggle with describing interior scenes in my writing. I can visualize the spaces perfectly in my head, but when I try to put them on the page,...
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Nov 3, 2025 | Ask Novlr
“How can I improve my voice, the way I tell and show things in my writing? Is there a good method for it?” Finding your voice as a writer can feel...
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Oct 31, 2025 | Writing
No matter what type of fantasy world you’re writing, it’s easy for your plot to feel one-note if you don’t practice worldbuilding. It’s important to...
#plotting, #worldbuilding, #writing tips
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Oct 27, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Editing, Writing
“I’m stuck on a scene. I know what needs to happen, but every time I try to write it, it stalls. What can I do to get unstuck?” Every time I get one...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Oct 24, 2025 | Writing
The thrill of watching a character unfold and develop on the page is an experience like no other. But, it can be a challenge to truly understand and...
#character development, #writing exercises, #writing inspiration, #writing prompts
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Oct 20, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hiya. How do you know if an idea is big enough to span a whole novel? I often fall short when outlining because there’s just not enough depth to the...
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Oct 13, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’ve been struggling with naming my characters for weeks now. I keep second-guessing every name I choose, worried it’s not meaningful or unique...
#character development, #writing inspiration, #writing tips
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In the world of historical fiction, authenticity can make all the difference. Well-researched novels transport readers to a different place and time,...
#book recommendations, #writing inspiration, #writing tips
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Oct 5, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Books
“People always talk about different writing books but I’m not sure which ones would be worth my time. There are just too many! What books would you...
#book recommendations, #character development, #plotting, #writing inspiration
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Oct 3, 2025 | Publishing
ISBNs sound like a scary hoop that authors have to jump through, so let’s take a moment to unravel the mystery and give you a bit more clarity on...
#self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Sep 29, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m writing a fantasy series that includes a prophecy that all the characters are following but how do you make it feel like part of the world and...
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Sep 22, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“What are the most basic steps needed to get to the point where you can start writing? I’ve finally got a solid enough idea for my first novel but...
#character development, #plotting, #productivity, #writing tips
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Sep 15, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I write foreshadowing in a way that won’t be noticed until you reread the scene?” When foreshadowing is done right it can be one of the most...
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Sep 11, 2025 | Writing
The dream of many writers is to make it a full-time profession. For full-time writers, it’s easy to build and plan your day around your writing, but...
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Sep 8, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do you write a prologue or first chapter? I want to start strong but don’t know how.” I don’t want to sound hyperbolic when I say that your...
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Sep 1, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“You may have already done this, but how would you write a character’s introduction?” The old adage, “Never judge a book by it’s cover” applies to...
#character development, #writing tips
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Aug 29, 2025 | Writing
There are no hard and fast rules for how long your book or story must be, but there are recommended word counts that can help you reach success. They...
#book agents, #self-publishing, #traditional publishing, #writing tips
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Aug 25, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m writing a story with multiple POVs, how should I balance the story out so every MC gets equal time? I want to make sure I’m being fair to all my...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Aug 18, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hello! I’m writing a group of characters and currently planning their dynamics with each other; I have one older character 40-50 yrs (A) one teen...
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Aug 15, 2025 | Writing
Music has inspired people for generations. It helps guide our emotions, can change our moods, and even act as catharsis in times of emotional...
#playlists, #writing inspiration
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Aug 11, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hey do y’all have any resources for researching. Cause I have questions about things and I don’t wanna end up on a watch list.” The number of weird...
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Aug 4, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hello, I want to know what are some ways to come up with names for a non-magical energy source that gives people elemental abilities? I’ve had a few...
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Aug 1, 2025 | Writing
Have you ever read back something you’ve written and felt like it’s not as strong as you’d like? We all have crutch words we overuse that both bulk...
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Jul 25, 2025 | Writing
If you’ve got an idea for a story, but are stuck on how to bring your characters to life, then there’s an easy formula to give you a head start. To...
#character development, #writing tips
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Jul 21, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Publishing
“What are the pros and cons of self publishing, choosing a small press, or going down the trad publishing route?” Every writer’s journey to...
#publishing platforms, #self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Jul 17, 2025 | Publishing
A galley proof, also known as an advance copy, ARC (advance reader copy), uncorrected proof, or just galley or proof, is a crucial part of the...
#self-publishing, #traditional publishing
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Jul 14, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hey sorry if this has been asked already but could you give any tips on how to write a character falling in love at first sight or i suppose...
#character development, #romance, #writing tips
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Jul 7, 2025 | Ask Novlr
“Any tips for a terrible case of writers block that occurs without any real reason?” Writer’s block is often misunderstood. You’ll hear lots of...
#writer's block, #writing inspiration
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Jul 4, 2025 | Writing
There is no better teacher than criticism. And rejection, no matter what form it takes, is just a form of criticism. While true criticism usually...
#self-publishing, #traditional publishing, #writing tips
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Jun 30, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I know if a character I’ve set as a main character is going to be relevant to my story? I don’t want to make a whole character and get...
#character development, #writing tips
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Jun 23, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“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...
#character development, #plotting, #theme, #writing tips
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Jun 20, 2025 | Publishing
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...
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Jun 16, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“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...
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Jun 13, 2025 | Books
There are very few things in the world that bring my heart more joy than an independent bookshop. The personality and love of reading that they’re...
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Jun 9, 2025 | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hi Novlr! Would you possibly have any ideas about how to make character backstories more interesting?” Trying to breathe life into a character’s...
#character development, #writing tips
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Jun 5, 2025 | Writing
Building a sustainable writing habit is one of the most valuable things you can do as an author. Whether you’re working on your first novel or your...
#productivity, #writing events, #writing tips
read moreNovlr is a writer-owned writing workspace built for, and by writers. We are the home for creative writing, here to support you at every stage of your writing journey, no matter what that looks like.