Have you ever found yourself thinking about Sherlock Holmes’ brilliant deductions long after closing a Conan Doyle novel? Or perhaps you’ve caught yourself wondering about Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird”? That’s the power of a well-written character.  Readers often become more invested in the characters than in the actual plot. Characters can even…

We all remember that moment our favourite character turned out to be a villainous antagonist or when ‘prince charming’ turned out to be married. Personally, I’m still reeling from the moment Moiraine turned out to be alive after years of believing she was dead in The Wheel of Time series. Plot twists are an indispensable…

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Verbal Kint, The Usual Suspects Verbal Kint (aka Keyser Söze) knew a thing or two about villainy, and so should you if you want to create a memorable antagonist. A compelling villain can elevate your story from good to unforgettable, keeping…

“The moment you have dialogue, you’re in a scene.” – Elmore Leonard Elmore Leonard was right.  Writing dialogue is an essential skill for any storyteller. It brings characters to life, moves the story forward, and engages readers in ways that narrative alone cannot. Not to mention that great dialogue reveals personality, conveys emotions and provides…

Have you ever read a story that made you feel like you were right there in the scene, experiencing every moment? That’s the magic of ‘show, don’t tell’. It is often attributed to writer Anton Chekhov who wrote, ‘Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass’ and…

One of the most fundamental parts of learning how to write a novel is knowing how to structure it. With all the ideas buzzing around in your brain, it can feel impossible to give it any sense of order! Buth truth is, a good structure is the secret sauce that turns every good story into…

When you write the opening of your novel, you’re not just creating an introduction – you’re setting the stage for the entire story. In fact, some literary agents will decide within 15 seconds of your book whether or not to publish it, so it’s important to learn how to write the first chapter of your…

“There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other people’s books and write your own.” – Albert Einstein Want to learn how to write a novel have no idea where to start? You’re in the right place.   So often, a writer’s mind is overfilled with ingenious ideas, book tropes, intricate…

We’ve all been there. You have the melody in your head, and you’re tapping the beat to what could be a banger, but putting lyrics to the music? That’s the challenge. The truth is that anyone can learn how to write lyrics, especially if they have experience in other creative writing examples. All you need…