The Novelry on Writing

Georgia Summers, a Sunday Times bestselling author and editor in SFF, teams up with Libby Page, a writing coach and bestselling novelist, to share insights on crafting sexual tension in storytelling. They discuss the importance of physicality and proximity, highlighting how specific dialogue and sensory details can deepen character connections. The duo emphasizes using strategic settings and conflicts to heighten emotional stakes, making characters’ interactions charged with anticipation. Their tips are invaluable for writers looking to create unforgettable chemistry.

How you name your book is your story’s most important marketing tool, so you must choose your novel title wisely. In this podcast episode of The Novelry on Writing, coaches Gina Sorell and Tara Conklin share the keys to crafting a unique, memorable, and insightful title to hook your readers before they even crack open the spine!Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:55 - Tip #1: Audience03:04 - Tip #2: What will the name achieve?06:00 - Tip #3: Attitude 09:18 - Tip #4: Attributes11:50 - Tip #5: AncestryGuest BiosTara ConklinTara Conklin is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have been selected by the Today Show Book Club, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, and as a No.1 Indie Next Pick and Amazon Best Book of the Month. Tara’s debut novel, The House Girl, was a New York Times bestseller, translated into eight languages. Her second novel, The Last Romantics, also became an instant New York Times bestseller and was selected by Jenna Bush Hager as the inaugural read for the first-ever Today Show Book Club. Her latest novel, Community Board, is a recommended read of Vanity Fair, Barnes & Noble, and Kirkus Reviews.Gina SorellGina Sorell is the author of The Wise Women, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Good Morning America Buzz Book and People Magazine Best New Book Pick that was also selected for Read with Jenna, Parade Magazine’s Most Anticipated, the Washington Post Summer Selection, Elin Hilderbrand’s summer reading list, and the Eva Chen Book Club. Gina’s debut, Mothers and Other Strangers, was a Refinery29 and Self Magazine Best Book Pick, a Great Group Read, and an Indigo Best for Book Clubs selection. ResourcesCheck out these blog posts for more insight on how to write and publish your story:5 Secrets for Naming a CharacterIndie Press or Big Publisher? Gina Sorell on ‘Debuting Twice’7 Top Tips from The Novelry on Writing Podcast (Season 1)Read the full episode transcript here!For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching, and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school.Share this episode! Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com.All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here...Connect with The NovelryOfficial Site: https://thenovelry.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelryShow descriptionLearn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft.With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

Have you ever wanted a safe way to seek revenge? In this captivating episode of The Novelry on Writing, join our writing coaches and bestselling authors Kate Riordan and Anissa Gray as they delve into the dark side of writing and how you can use your shadow side to fuel your fictional stories. They discuss embracing your dark side, stressing out your characters, and provide examples from novels you can use as inspiration for your own writing.  . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:58 - Tip #1: Look within  04:40 - Tip #2: Stress test the characters 07:24 - Tip #3: Throw rocks at your character 08:46 - Tip #4: Examples from novels 13:02 - Tip #5: Seek revenge  . Guest Bios Kate Riordan Kate Riordan is the bestselling author of seven novels, including The Heatwave, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and Apple Fiction Chart No.1. Her historical novel The Girl in the Photograph was a Sunday Times bestseller described as a must-read for fans of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Anissa Gray Anissa Gray’s debut novel, The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, was one of the most anticipated reads of 2019 from Vogue, Vanity Fair, the Washington Post, Bustle, and Cosmo. It was a top pick for Indie Next, Library Reads, and Barnes & Noble Discover and was selected for the Marie Claire book club. It has been optioned for TV by Gabrielle Union for Sony Pictures Television. Her second novel, Life and Other Love Songs, was named a most anticipated book by TIME, Essence, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and was praised by the New York Times. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to use your shadow side in your writing: How To Raise the Stakes in Your Story Writing Fiction: How Dark Can You Go? Kate Weinberg on Writing Unlikeable Characters Read the full episode transcript here! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode!  Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... . Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelry . Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

What is your reader reading to find out? No matter your genre, readers love a bit of mystery and tension on the page. Unlock your suspenseful story with five key insights from The Novelry author and writing coach Amanda Reynolds and editor Sorcha Rose. Learn how to pull in the reader, keep up the pace, create engaging characters, and leave your readers with a satisfying end. . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:22 - Tip #1: Pull in the reader 05:15 - Tip #2: Keep up the pace 09:35 - Tip #3: Create characters to root for  15:13 - Tip #4: Breadcrumb trail 20:10 - Tip #5: Satisfying endings  . Guest Bios Amanda Reynolds  Amanda Reynolds is the bestselling author of psychological suspense novels, with six published to date. Her number one ebook bestseller, Close to Me, was adapted in 2021 into a major TV series starring Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston. Close to Me, described as ‘dramatic psychological suspense for fans of Liane Moriarty,’ was published by Headline in 2017. Lying to You followed in 2018 and The Hidden Wife in 2019. Amanda’s psychological thrillers have been translated into multiple languages and been praised for their gripping, unsettling and twisty plots. Amanda’s fourth novel, The Assistant, was published by Boldwood Books in April 2023 with The Wife’s Secret and Her Husband’s Lie following in 2024. Sorcha Rose Before joining The Novelry, Sorcha Rose edited and acquired manuscripts at Hodder & Stoughton, a division of Hachette, home to authors including John Grisham, Stephen King, Sophie Hannah, Erin Kelly, Will Dean, B.A. Paris, Vaseem Khan and Lucy Score. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to unlock suspense in your writing: 5 Tips for Writing a Detective Novel Series C.L. Taylor on Standing Out in a Crowded Genre The Inciting Incident (and How to Crack It) How To Raise the Stakes in Your Story Read the full episode transcript here! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode!  Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... . Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelry Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

Every writer gets stuck while drafting a novel. Don’t panic! It’s part of the creative process. In this podcast, authors and The Novelry writing coaches Gina Sorell and Colleen Oakley present five simple and reliable techniques to push past a writing slump and crush your word count. . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:33 - Tip #1: Don’t panic 05:48 - Tip #2: Get moving  09:55 - Tip #3: Use music 12:51 - Tip #4: Put it away  18:42 - Tip #5: Change environments  . Guest Bios Gina Sorell Gina Sorell is the author of The Wise Women (HarperCollins), a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Good Morning America Buzz Book, a People Magazine Best New Book Pick, and Washington Post Summer Selection. Her debut novel, Mothers and Other Strangers was a Refinery29 and Self Magazine Best Book Pick. Colleen Oakley Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch and Before I Go. Her books have been translated into more than 21 languages, optioned for film, and have received numerous accolades, including the French Reader’s Prize and Georgia Author of the Year. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to push past the writing slumps: 100 Writing Prompts to Kick-Start Your Writing How to Create a Plot Diagram for a Smooth Writing Journey Writing Tips for Neurodivergent Authors 5 Ways to Keep the Words Coming Keep Going: Hannah Kaner on Writing Resilience Read the full episode transcript here! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode!  Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelry . Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

Romantasy is a genre that has taken the publishing world by storm with titles like Fourth Wing and ACOTAR flying off bookstore shelves. Whether you’re writing romantasy or just a fan of magic and make-outs, authors and The Novelry writing coaches Bea Fitzgerald and Ella McLeod are here to unpack the keys to turning up the heat in your story. In this extra spicy episode of The Novelry on Writing, learn how to raise the stakes, create characters who yearn deeply, and how to wisely use tropes to write a book readers will fall in love with.  . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:44 - Tip #1: Raise the stakes 05:05 - Tip #2: Use tropes wisely 09:02 - Tip #3: Romance beats 13:14 - Tip #4: Lean in 15:17 - Tip #5: Romance arcs . Guest Bios Bea Fitzgerald Bea Fitzgerald is a Sunday Times bestselling, award-winning author. Her debut novel, Girl, Goddess, Queen, was published to rave reviews including five-star write-ups in the Telegraph, Glamour and Culturefly. It went on to become the bestselling YA hardback debut of 2023. Girl, Goddess, Queen won Romance Novel of the Year 2024 at the RNAs and has been shortlisted for numerous other awards including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Young Adult Book Prize, and the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards. Ella McLeod Ella McLeod is a Branford Boase-nominated author whose debut novel, Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair, was published in July 2022 with Scholastic and in June 2024 with Little Bee in the U.S.A. Rapunzella received rave reviews in Kirkus, the Irish Times, the Guardian, and a star review in Foreword Magazine. Her second novel, The Map That Led to You, was published in June 2024 and is a pirates-and-mermaids swashbuckling adventure story full of queer romance and radical self-acceptance. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write a gripping romantasy novel:  What is Romantasy? Get Writing With These Inspiring Fantasy Writing Prompts Seven Best Fantasy Settings For Your Novel Read the full episode transcript here! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode!  Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... . Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelry . Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

Stale dialogue can cause a reader to set a book aside in just a few lines. Learn how to craft dialogue that captivates readers with The Novelry writing coach and New York Times bestselling author, Tara Conklin, and The Novelry senior editor Nic Caws. Explore how your dialogue can be realistic without imitating exactly how people speak, how to convey emotions through showing and not telling, and tips to avoid info-dumping in your dialogue.  . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:44 - Tip #1: The dialogue conundrum  03:34 - Tip #2: Focus on the speaker’s intent 07:04 - Tip #3: Don’t info-dump 13:09 - Tip #4: Show your character 17:47 - Tip #5: Read the dialogue aloud  . Guest Bios Tara Conklin Tara Conklin is the New York Times bestselling author of three novels, personal essays, and short stories. Her books have been selected by Read with Jenna, the Today Show Book Club, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, as a No.1 IndieNext Pick and other accolades. Her work has been translated into eight languages. She is based in Seattle. Nic Caws Before joining The Novelry, Nic was Senior Commissioning Editor at Headline, part of Hachette, with a particular focus on their boutique romance imprint Headline Eternal, the publishing home of bestselling authors such as Sarah Adams, Erin Sterling and Mariana Zapata. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write engaging dialogue:  How to Write Dialogue in Fiction Show, Don’t Tell Exposition in a Story Read the full episode transcript! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode!  Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelry . Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

World-building can be a challenge for writers of all experience levels and genres. Join authors and The Novelry writing coaches Piers Torday and Tasha Suri for writing tips to take the world-building in your story to new dimensions. Discover how to develop worlds using your main character and learn how grounding your story in history can give your world heft and weight. Ultimately, it is worthwhile to write something that you find fun! Begin with what you find interesting and exciting to build a world you’ll be happy to escape to again and again.  . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:03 - Tip #1: Start with character 06.55 - Tip #2: Bring in the fun 10:50 - Tip #3: Use breadcrumbs  15:56 - Tip #4: Draw from history 20:58 - Tip #5: The ripple effect . Guest Bios Tasha Suri Tasha Suri is the award-winning author of the Books of Ambha duology (Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash) and the epic fantasy trilogy The Burning Kingdoms. Empire of Sand was rated by TIME magazine as one of the best fantasy novels of all time. Piers Torday Piers Torday is the award-winning and bestselling author of seven books for children dubbed ‘the new master of children’s fiction’ by The Times. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to build fantastical worlds:  Worldbuilding: Who, What, Where, Why & How The Three Secrets to Writing Historical Fantasy Seven Best Fantasy Settings For Your Novel . Read the full episode transcript! ⁠Share this episode!⁠  For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here… . Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ Twitter: https://x.com/thenovelry YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNovelry . Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

Have you ever delayed going to bed because you had to stay up to read one more chapter of a book? And then another chapter? Join authors and The Novelry writing coaches Melanie Conklin and Heather Webb for five simple and practical tips to create page-turning stories that will keep your readers up at night. They dive into character yearning, raising the stakes, and giving your characters secrets to make a reader want to know more.  . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:49 - Tip #1: Yearning 04:22 - Tip #2: Put a life on the line 08:52 - Tip #3: Pile on the trouble 12:40 - Tip #4: Create mystery  14:44 - Tip #5: Vulnerability . Guest bios Melanie Conklin Writing coach Melanie Conklin is the award-winning author of five middle-grade books for children and the winner of the International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choice Award. Heather Webb Heather Webb is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of ten novels with 23 years of coaching experience. . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to create page-turning stories. A. A. Dhand on Writing a Page-Turner How To Raise the Stakes in Your Story What To Do if You’ve Got Too Much Plot Read the full episode transcript! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode here! Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... . Show description Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.

In this inaugural episode of The Novelry on Writing, writing coaches Alice Kuipers and Mahsuda Snaith describe the different types of self-sabotage that can plague writers and how to overcome these obstacles to find joy in your writing. Be kind to yourself, write a messy first draft, and enjoy the writing journey. It’s not supposed to be easy, but it is supposed to be fun! For a deeper dive into this topic, check out Alice’s blog post, How to Overcome Self-Sabotage for Writers. Share this episode! . Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft. . With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course. . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:29 - Tip #1: Identify the problem 02:55 - Tip #2: Turn down the negative voice 05:28 - Tip #3: Embrace the messiness 08:25 - Tip #4: Focus on the small steps 12:49 - Tip #5: Know where you’re at . Guest bios Alice Kuipers Alice Kuipers is the bestselling, award-winning author of five novels, and six books for younger readers. She has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. She is also a bestselling ghostwriter experienced in writing memoir. . Mahsuda Snaith Mahsuda Snaith was an Observer New Face of Fiction in 2017. Her debut novel, The Things We Thought We Knew, was released in 2017 to great praise. Her second novel, How to Find Home, was chosen as a BBC Radio 4 ‘Book at Bedtime.’ . Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to show up to the page every day. How to Overcome Self-Sabotage for Writers Writing Tips for Neurodivergent Authors 5 Ways to Keep the Words Coming . Read the full episode transcript! . For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on a creative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching, and a community from the world’s top-rated writing school. . Have a question? Email us at hello@thenovelry.com. All writers learn from other writers, even the greats. Write your novel with motivation and support from The Novelry. Sign up! Your story starts here... . The Novelry | We Grow Writers™ Connect with The Novelry Official Site: thenovelry.com Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube . The Novelry is the world’s top-rated online novel writing school, offering courses, coaching, and community to help the next generation of writers become authors. Founded by Booker Prize-listed author Louise Dean, with a team of bestselling authors and book editors from Big 5 publishing houses including Penguin Random House, The Novelry helps writers gain confidence, finish books, and submit directly to leading literary agencies. Learn more at: thenovelry.com