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 write about a place you’ve never been?
"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 I can about the places from there. Any tips on how to write the action in a place you've never been to?" Plenty of...
Why Giving Characters Control of Your Story is Good For Your Narrative
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, clearly, this story is yours. But what if the story really belongs to the characters? Think back on the writing you’ve done...
How do you stop overusing participial phrases?
"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 way that sounds awkward. I try to cram too much in a sentence but they are all important bits. Problem is it sounds...
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 a character who stays calm?
"How do I make a calm and collected character in a very overwhelming situation?" Writing a character who remains composed when everything around them is falling apart is a hard thing to do, especially since I’m sure a lot of us don’t feel that way when we’re in tricky...
How do you write good character chemistry?
"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 makes a plot interesting is character chemistry. And that goes for both positive and negative. Stories are all about...
How do you write a story set in the future?
“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 (sort of), but whenever I try to describe the world they live in I just… can’t. Help pls” The future is a blank...
