Novel writing blog - Learn how to write a novel

November 5, 2018

Describing characters’ first appearances: 6 tips

Think back to the first time you met someone you now know well. Can you remember what you noticed about them first? Describing characters’ first appearances effectively … Read More

October 31, 2018

Updating our online writing tools: 8 lessons and changes

Over the past year, we’ve spoken to Now Novel members and visitors to better understand your writing challenges and processes. We’ve funneled the insights people shared into … Read More

October 29, 2018

How to write a book in 30 days: 8 key tips

Annual writing sprints like NaNoWriMo have many experienced and new authors alike testing their limits. Writing a book – a carefully, beautifully constructed book – does take … Read More

October 25, 2018

Writing villain characters who feel human: 7 tips

Fiction is full of villainous characters who readers love to hate (and, sometimes, hate to love). Learning how to write a villain that your readers can understand … Read More

October 22, 2018

How to write a book fast: 5 simple rules

Learning how to write a book fast is a matter of having a process and tools to streamline the parts of writing a book that take the … Read More

October 18, 2018

Writing character backstory that feels real: 5 tips

Character backstory – the past events and formative experiences that shape who your characters are – is key to creating characters of breadth and depth. Here are … Read More

October 15, 2018

Dramatic point of view: 5 tips for fly-on-the-wall scenes

‘Point of view’ is an element of writing that confuses many beginning authors. There are various types, from omniscient to limited third person. Dramatic point of view … Read More

October 11, 2018

Character voices: How to write persona using voice

Writing fiction, there are at least three ways we create character voices. The first is through viewpoint narration (narrative voice). The words a narrator uses create a distinct … Read More

October 8, 2018

Realistic dialogue: Writing conversations using setting

Writing conversations that don’t involve setting is like writing action scenes that don’t involve movement. Great dialogue has more than disembodied voices. It anchors us in a … Read More