Oct 26, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
Good at imagery but short on words? Seven habits that will help you build your vocabulary, and why plain words still have a place.
#writing tips, #reading, #writing community
read moreOct 23, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Publishing
Writing a book synopsis is probably one of the hardest parts of the submission process when you’re finally ready to find an agent to represent you...
#book agents, #traditional publishing, #writing tips
read moreOct 19, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
Passive voice isn't the same as past tense, and plenty of sentences that sound passive aren't. Here's how to spot it, why we use it, and when to keep...
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Oct 12, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
A deliberate anachronism only works if the reader can tell you meant it. Here's how to signal that early, and how to avoid the opposite trap of...
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Oct 9, 2026 | by Parker Fogg | Writing
Write what you know. It’s the oldest and simplest advice handed out to new writers, and while some people may disagree over its applicability when it...
#writing inspiration, #writing tips
read moreOct 5, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
Not sure how a two-year-old talks compared to a four-year-old? Here's how to write children's dialogue that feels believable and suits your audience,...
read moreOct 2, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Dialogue tags can make or break a reader’s immersion in your dialogue. Great use of dialogue tags can result in clear, engaging, and memorable...
#dialogue, #grammar, #writing tips
read moreSep 28, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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
read moreSep 25, 2026 | by Nimrod Cortés | Writing
Trauma in storytelling is a powerful force that can shape a character’s life and experiences. Depending on the type of story you’re telling, writing...
#character development, #writing tips
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Sep 21, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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
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Sep 14, 2026 | by Walt Kessler | Ask Novlr, Writing
What actually happens to a defendant during a murder trial, from arraignment through the verdict, and how to capture it on the page.
#research, #genre, #writing tips
read moreSep 11, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 21, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 17, 2026 | by Jess McKenna | Ask Novlr, Writing
A slow burn where the hero's still grieving his "perfect" dead love interest is a melodrama trap waiting to spring. Jess McKenna breaks down why...
read moreAug 10, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 3, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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...
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Jul 27, 2026 | by Ravi Ahmed | Ask Novlr, Writing
A software developer and amateur sci-fi writer debugs why his platonic hugs kept reading as romantic and finds the real fix isn't the touch itself,...
#character development, #writing tips
read moreJul 13, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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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Jul 3, 2026 | by Char | Writing
Everyone has 24 hours in a day, but those 24 hours look different for each person. It can be difficult to find time for your writing, especially if...
#productivity, #writers' routines, #writing tips
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Jun 29, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 22, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 19, 2026 | by Arthur Franz IV | Writing
As writers, we like to think we’re in complete control of our characters. It can be tempting to think that, because your name is in the byline,...
#character development, #writing tips
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Jun 14, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 5, 2026 | by Kim Montgomery | Writing
Writing a perfect ending is hard. Is it the most excruciatingly difficult part of the writing process? Is it the most hair-pulling, mind-wracking,...
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May 29, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 18, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 11, 2026 | by Savannah Jackson | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m struggling to make my characters’ relationships feel real. They interact, but it feels flat. How do I give them chemistry?” So much of what...
#character development, #writing tips
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May 7, 2026 | by Lydia Yadi | Writing
Narrative non-fiction brings to life true stories like historic events and personal experiences. It uses the techniques usually associated with...
#book recommendations, #non-fiction, #writing tips
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May 4, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 25, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 16, 2026 | by Crystal Kamm | Books, Writing
Writers have tons of creative ideas, but most of us aren’t scientists. So, how do we make sure that we get the science right in our fiction? Even if...
#book recommendations, #reading, #writing tips
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Apr 12, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 8, 2026 | by Martin Woods | Writing
In most genres, once you have the story, the setting suggests itself. In the science fiction and fantasy genres, however, the setting often comes...
#worldbuilding, #writing exercises, #writing inspiration, #writing tips
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Apr 5, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 20, 2026 | by Kim Montgomery | Writing
Is there a single perfect novel opening? No. Is there a single winning formula to your perfect novel opening? No. There are, however, very common...
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Mar 16, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | 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 9, 2026 | by Allie Cooper | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m struggling to tie together my novel’s bigger themes. I have all these big ideas I want to explore, like grief, identity, and belonging but they...
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.