🎉 NowNovel has a new look! Allow us to introduce ourselves.
Writing descriptive sentences: 6 simple rules
Great descriptive writing brings story scenes to life. We see the flickering candlelit banquet halls or chaotic battlefields great descriptions conjure. Here are 6 tips to write descriptive sentences that are evocative: 1: Choose precise imagery (avoid overusing abstract nouns) We often th...
November 13th, 2017
Read post...
Dialogue words: Other words for 'said' (and what to avoid)
Writing effective, compelling dialogue has multiple elements. It's not only what characters say but how they say it that matters. Read other words for said as well as tips for keeping your dialogue natural and engrossing: What is a 'dialogue tag' (or speech tag)? Tags (like name tags) iden...
November 6th, 2017
Read post...
Novel characters: 15 top character creation tips
Great novel characters share common features: Distinct, authentic voices, character development, clear goals and motivations, strengths and flaws. Here are 15 of our top character creation tips gathered from some of the best writing blogs and websites: 15 character creation tips for...
November 2nd, 2017
Read post...
Stop procrastinating: 9 ways to write more
Procrastination is the enemy of writers, of all creative people. If you've committed to writing a book or story but are avoiding the task, there are simple ways to write more. Try these strategies to boost your focus and motivation. [When you're done, join Now Novel for tools and support to stop...
October 26th, 2017
Read post...
Writing a novel in a month: 10 tips for plotters and pantsers
Streamlining your writing process is useful. Whether you're gearing up for a novel-writing challenge such as NaNoWriMo, or simply have a personal deadline. Here are 10 tips for writing a novel in a month: 1. Make preparations, even if you're a pantser Aspiring authors often describe themse...
October 23rd, 2017
Read post...
How to write a character unlike you
In this guest contribution by ESL teacher Ethan Miller, Ethan shares ideas for creating characters who are completely different from yourself. Character creation is a key element of writing a novel. Authors, knowingly or unknowingly, often create characters that borrow heavily from their own...
October 5th, 2017
Read post...
Worldbuilding societies: How to create a civilization
In novel-writing, world building is an important concept, especially in genres such as fantasy and science fiction that explore alternate worlds. Good world building questions will help you create a detailed and immersive world. Here are some questions to ask: First, what do we mean by 'civil...
October 2nd, 2017
Read post...
Realistic dialogue: 5 missteps to avoid
Realistic dialogue doesn't necessarily mimic everyday speech. There's a lot of real-world filler we remove when writing dialogue (e.g. pleasantries, 'Fine thanks and you?') Yet for dialogue to feel real, it's important to avoid missteps that make dialogue ring hollow: 1: Writing info dumps (t...
September 11th, 2017
Read post...
Story plots: 7 tips to be more original
Clichéd story plots weaken an otherwise good story, a story where characters and settings are vivid. To tell a story that feels original and inventive, it's key to learn plot clichés to avoid. Yet many original stories do use common tropes. The key is to make famous story types and scenario...
August 24th, 2017
Read post...
Famous characters teach us about characterization
From Anna Karenina to Jon Snow, Don Quixote to Harry Potter, famous characters from fiction worm their way under our skin. Here are lessons from several memorable characters in classic and modern novels: 1. Give characters internal and external conflicts Most famous characters from books h...
August 21st, 2017
Read post...
5 types of dialogue your novel needs
Dialogue is a key part of any character-driven novel. What characters say and how/why/when/where they say it is revealing. Read 5 types of dialogue your novel needs, and illustrative examples from books: 1: Dialogue introducing key characters Dialogue is useful for introducing characters b...
August 14th, 2017
Read post...
Using a book editor: How to get more value
This is a guest contribution by publishing network Reedsy, a succinct guide to working with a book editor. If you're not quite at the editing and publishing stage yet, join Now Novel for help planning and finishing your novel. How many editors does it take to change a light bu...
August 10th, 2017
Read post...
