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 I know if my book needs multiple perspectives?
"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? Thanks!" This is one of those writing decisions that can keep writers from progressing and lead to massive bouts of...
How to Pitch Your Novel to Agents Like a Pro
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 rest? Traditional publishing is a competitive field, and agents receive hundreds of pitches. In this post, we'll walk you...
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...
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 keep a chapter on topic?
"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 completely different from where I started. By the time I finish a chapter, I'm not even sure what it was supposed to be...
How do you write relatable characters in science fiction?
"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 them. I also don't understand how to write their indoor activities and everyday life in the future. Like, how are they...
How do you get into a character’s head when writing fanfiction?
"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 possible. Are there any tips or techniques which can help?" Working in the sandbox of someone else’s world is one of the...
