Novlr

“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.” — Virginia Woolf

💻 A new app begins predicting crimes before they happen, including the death of its own creator. #writingprompt #writinginspiration

The "therefore, but" rule is a simple way to check that your plot is driven by cause and effect. In answer to today's writer question, we look at how to use it, and why it won't make your novel formulaic. #AskNovlr #writingtips novlr.org/the-reading-room/w…

The scariest page in your favourite horror novel probably doesn't contain the monster. In today's post, we look at five Halloween reads and what you can learn from each of them to build atmosphere and dread. #writingtips novlr.org/the-reading-room/h…

“I try to write a certain amount each day, five days a week. A rule sometimes broken is better than no rule.” — Herman Wouk

💻 A sleep clinic’s night recordings capture a voice that doesn’t belong to any of the staff or patients. #writingprompt #writinginspiration

Thirty days, one goal, and a table full of writers! Join us for Draftsgiving, our November writing feast. Pick a Small Plate (10,000 words), A Generous Portion (25,000) or All the Trimmings (50,000) and write from 1 to 30 November. #Draftsgiving 🦃 novlr.org/draftsgiving

Strong on imagery but short on words? Vocabulary is a skill, and it can be learned. In today’s post, we look at seven habits to help build your vocabulary, and why simple language is sometimes the best choice. #writingtips #AskNovlr novlr.org/the-reading-room/h…

Synopsis, plot summary, blurb; three things that get mixed up all the time. Our latest post breaks down the differences with a focus on synopsis, what to include, and two structures to help you write yours. #writingtips novlr.org/the-reading-room/h…

“Writing is making sense of life. You work your whole life and perhaps you’ve made sense of one small area.” — Nadine Gordimer

💻 A small town celebrates a holiday every year that nobody remembers the genesis or meaning of. #writingprompt #writinginspiration

Passive voice isn’t a dirty word, but too much of it can flatten your prose. In today’s post we look at what passive voice really is, why it gets confused with other tenses, and when it might be the right choice in context. #writingtips novlr.org/the-reading-room/h…

The best time to promote a book as a potential present for the festive season is before anyone is even thinking about presents. In today's post we look at book marketing to target gift givers, and why to start early. #bookmarketing novlr.org/the-reading-room/m…

“I try to pull the language into such a sharpness that it jumps off the page. It must look easy, but it takes me forever.” — Maya Angelou

💻 An antiquarian bookshop appears on the local highstreet, but only during thunder storms. #writingprompt

Can you put a modern phrase in a historical story without it looking like a mistake? In answer to this week's writer question, we’re looking at how to write anachronisms: how context signals intent and why consistency matters. #writingtips novlr.org/the-reading-room/h…

Years of reading teach us a lot about craft, and sometimes they hand us similes and descriptions we’ve never checked against real life. Today, we look at how “write what you know” applies to your style, and where creativity meets reality. #writingtips novlr.org/the-reading-room/w…

“The fiction writer is the ombudsman who argues our humble, dubious case in the halls of eternal record.” — John Updike

💻 A night shift janitor at a museum notices the exhibits change every night, depicting a different version of history than the official record. #writingprompt #writinginspiration

The way you write dialogue from a child's point of view will be character and project dependent. In answer to today's writer question, we look at knowing your audience and writing young children's dialogue that fits your project. novlr.org/the-reading-room/h… #AskNovlr #writingtips