Writing Advice
How to Write a Novel in a Year
Katja Kaine is an award wining novelist and the creator of The Novel Factory. Her debut novel, Blood of Gods and Girls, will be published in early 2026 by Penguin Random House. In this article she breaks down her process of writing a novel into manageable steps, with a suggested amount of time to spend…
Read MoreHow to Write a Fight Scene
For many, writing a fight scene can seem like a daunting task. After all, violence is the very opposite of a walk in the park… To help you win the battle, we’ve put together a guide of how to approach a good fight, so that – unlike the scene itself – the writing of it…
Read MoreHow to Write Better Dialogue
Writing great dialogue is hard. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. People talk – some people constantly. From parties with friends to the dinner table with family, from our own inner thoughts to the media we consume, our lives are filled with endless chatter. But dialogue isn’t idle chatter. Dialogue has to propel your plot…
Read MoreThe 4 Books That Levelled Up My Writing
by author and Novel Factory creator, Katja Kaine I have read countless books on writing, and, to be honest, a few have stood out to me as being particularly insightful and practical. However, these four stand out. These are the volumes that stuck with me. These are the ones I keep going back to novel…
Read More12 Tips for Writing YA Fiction
In this article, Sue H. Cunningham, author of dark comedy YA murder mystery Totally Deceased, explores what defines young adult fiction and shares 12 writing tips to help you hook your target audience. What is YA? A YA (young adult) novel is intended for a teen readership, bridging the significant gap between child and adult…
Read MoreThe Good, the Bad and the Downright Ugly: My Journey to Publication
As most aspiring authors know all too well, finishing a book is only half the battle – getting published is a whole other matter. In this guest post, A. J. Clack, author of YA Thriller Lie or Die, shares her rocky, emotional journey to publication. Writing is a strange master. It demands so much of…
Read MoreGuest Post: Enneagram vs 16 Personalities in Character Building
Author Bio : Lisa Sparrow, an experienced psychology expert and University of Edinburgh alumna, brings a considerable amount of counseling knowledge and a deep fascination with the human psyche. With expertise in the 16 personality types, she has served as both a school counselor and researcher, guiding students through life’s challenges. As an experienced writer for…
Read MoreHow to Write a Mystery Novel: 6 Tips to Create Nail-Biting Suspense
In this article, we’re going to explore the art of mystery novels – looking at what makes a good mystery novel and how you can create suspense that keeps your readers on the edge of their seats, and weave a conundrum that keeps them guessing… What makes a good mystery novel? All good novels contain…
Read MoreWhy You Should Take Another Look at Mastering Dictation for Your Fiction
Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer is a master at dictating her novels and novellas. Of her 18 published books, ten were written solely by dictation. This guest post by Sawyer will take you through the benefits she now enjoys in every writing session. When authors think about dictation, the first thing that comes to mind is the…
Read More3 More Ways to Speed up Your Novel Writing
Guest Post: P. S. Hoffman creates essays on writing, and guides for authors. He delves into the techniques used by best-selling authors to tell unforgettable stories. His latest book, Fantastic Characters, will show you how to write addictive heroes and magnetic villains. Get more details here. Do you want to write your novel even faster? Do…
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