Writing Webinars: Improve Your Craft

Archived webinar series

How to keep thinking of stories that feel fresh and different from what is currently available.

When under pressure, writers often feel they can’t come up with new ideas. They feel unimaginative, stale, or may even fear they have developed writer’s block when no new ideas come. Have they ‘run out of ideas’? However, there are a few simple solutions to this that don’t cost extra and will also help relax the writer or author. We will discuss how implementing these easy tips into one’s writing life or schedule can transform a writer’s imagination and bring them back to normal levels of creativity.

The Process - onboarding webinar

Whether you're a new member or have been with us for longer, we want to ensure you get the most out of your membership. Join us for a special onboarding webinar with writing coach and editor Nerine Dorman, and Now Novel co-founder Dagmar Timler.

How poetry can kickstart your writing

Feeling blocked? Writing a novel can be daunting, so in this webinar we’ll workshop fun and effective ways of sparking your creative flow using different forms of verse and free writing. Bring pen and paper – it’s hands on!

WordPress for authors: Build your online presence

Learn how to set up your professional author website using WordPress in this webinar led by an experienced software developer and Now Novel co-founder Dagmar Timler. You'll learn how to choose the ideal domain and hosting, install and configure WordPress with the perfect theme, create pages for your bio, books, and blog posts, optimize for search engines, and maintain your site effortlessly. Build an online presence that showcases your writing talent and connects you directly with readers.

How to write like a child

This webinar is for if you're penning a memoir and writing from a child's perspective, or writing fiction in a child's voice. We have tips and tricks for what to do research-wise to get into a 'child's voice' as well as some exercise to do, if there's time. Or you can do these in your own time.

AI and its impact on readers and authors

The advent of AI into all aspects of society has caused consternation among people in a variety of jobs, thinking they will soon be obsolete because artificial intelligence/a machine can do their job faster and better. This is especially so in writing books, advertising copy, movie scripts, non-fiction guides, PR releases, musical/song compositions, audio, and even in schools, etc. But is this true? Can AI replace a human writer? And should authors succumb to the temptation of letting AI do the heavy lifting while they just add their own unique flourishes? Even more important: does a human reader want to read/listen to something generated by artificial intelligence?

It's your story to tell

Coach Hedi Lampert will discuss memoir and autobiographical fiction, focussing on tips and techniques to create a page turner.

Exclusive interview: Author Bonnie Traymore reveals how to make your book a hit (public)

Join Now Novel co-founder Brendan McNulty as he interviews Author (and Now Novel member) Bonnie Traymore on driving a successful marketing campaign. Get practical tips and hands-on advice to prep for your own book launch.

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What is Creative Nonfiction?

Blending elements of fiction writing with telling a true story, creative non-fiction is a fun and exciting way to tell a story.

Writing an effective hook query letter (public)

Trident Media Group VP and literary agent Mark Gottlieb’s Writing an Effective Hook Query Letter class is an intensive on query letter writing. The course will lend participants a feel for comfortable writing in the fashion of selling a book idea to an agent, editor, or publisher. Rarely is such an industry insider craft shared. This is an excellent opportunity to get your book idea before a literary agent from Trident Media Group, publishing's #1-ranked literary agency.

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How to craft an effective scene

Romy Sommer discusses the purpose of scenes, scene structure, and how to create strong scene openings and endings to hook the reader.

Travel writing

An introduction to the genre and, briefly, where travel writing is published. Then we'll do some exercises. Bring a postcard, make up your own, or print from the internet.

Get to grips with writing a novella

What is a novella and why should you write one? Some pointers and some exercises to get you started. If you are already writing one we have some exercise that will advance your writing.

What novelists can learn from K-dramas

Korean TV shows (K-dramas) have become globally popular, hooking viewers and creating a devoted fanbase. In this webinar, we'll look at the lessons novelists can learn from these shows to hook readers and create their own insatiable fans. You don't need to have watched a K-drama to enjoy this webinar, but be warned: you might just become a fan by the end of it!

Harness the power of PR through storytelling & relationship building (public)

In this webinar, you’ll learn why it’s important to share your story to get in front of the right readers, how to recognize the limiting beliefs and mindset blocks stopping you from moving forward sharing your story, how to push past them, and use your story to build the right relationships with key media that will help you get in front of readers.

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Biography Meets Myth

Biography is about historical events. Myth is about using a story to find meaning in real lived events. Marry the two and you can add universal appeal to an otherwise personal viewpoint. Join this hands-on workshop and start discovering the mythical themes behind your own history.

Nerine Dorman Interviews Kate Elliott (public)

Now Novel coach Nerine Dorman is in conversation with American fantasy author Kate Elliott, to discuss world building with view to transcending the tropes and subverting expectations.

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Journal Writing Workshop

Come to know yourself - or your characters. After looking at some examples of journal writing, we'll get onto doing some writing exercises. You can use these to explore your fictional characters better, or you can write autobiographical pieces.

Getting the Balance Right. Focus on Dialogue, Character and Exposition.

Balance – the key to writing beautifully. Dialogue, narration, character development and exposition, show vs tell, bringing in emotion. Sure, it's daunting, and how do you do it anyway? And how much is too much or not enough? In this session we focus on including all these elements and getting the balance right.

Writing Exercises Workshop

Join editor and Crits Live host Jordan Kantey for a fun, interactive workshop where we answer short writing prompts and work on elements of craft such as description, dialogue, hook-writing, and creating a compelling narrative voice.

Hooking the Reader

How to create an opening scene that is guaranteed to hook readers.

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Romy Sommer of Now Novel interviews horror/thriller author Joan de la Haye in this final instalment of our 2022 genre-themed series.

The Emotional Side of Writing

Coach Romy Sommer discusses the emotional side of writing - expectations, procrastination, self-doubt, writers' block, writing with depression/chronic illness.

Interview with Charlotte Colwill and Kay Peddle

Brendan of Now Novel interviews UK literary agents Charlotte Colwill and Kay Peddle.

Genre: Paranormal

Coach Nerine Dorman discusses writing in the paranormal genre.

Genre: Romance

An introduction to the conventions and reader expectations of the world's best-selling genre.

Genre: Young Adult

Author and writing coach Nerine Dorman discusses writing for Young Adult readers.

Writing Sci Fi with Kate Baucherel (public)

Jordan Kantey interviews sci-fi author Kate Baucherel about her writing process and writing in the sci-fi genre.

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Genre: Memoir

Coach Hedi Lampert discusses the skills and techniques needed for writing memoirs.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Join coach Jordan Kantey as he delves into Literary Fiction, what it is, as well as its key elements.

The Writing Process

In this webinar, we look at the many different writing processes and plotting methods available to authors.

Introduction to Genre Fiction

This webinar kicks off our series profiling different fiction genres, and gives an overview of the genres covered throughout the series.

Writing Cosy Mysteries with Catherine Coles (public)

We chat with British historical cozy mystery author Catherine Coles about writing in the mystery genre as well as her career and writing process.

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Creating Characters

Fun ways to create believable and compelling characters.

What is Group Coaching? (public)

A Q&A with our coaches in which we discuss how the Now Novel group coaching program works.

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Self-Publishing

Everything you need to know before you take the leap into self-publishing for the first time

Story Structure

Classic three-act structure made simple - understanding the major plot points in order to craft a strong plot outline

Getting Started

What do you need to do to get started with writing your new novel? This session gives an overview on how to set goals, how to make writing a priority, and includes fun exercises to get the creative juices flowing.

Showing vs Telling

Learn about showing vs telling in writing. Get practical advice on how to make your stories a more immersive reader experience.

Character Arcs

Learn about creating character arcs that make your readers invest in characters’ journeys.

Dialogue Writing (free preview)

Learn how to write good dialogue that is full of purpose and four key functions of dialogue.

Now Novel Writing Webinars

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