
Janet Burroway’s 3 Principles Of Effective Narrative Setting
In this post, we look at how a story works in a place through Janet Burroway’s 3 principles of effective narrative setting.

How To Write An Epic First Page
Do you want to write an epic first page for your story? In this post, we tell you how to do it – with five

Epilogues, Afterwords, & Appendices – What’s The Difference?
What’s the difference between epilogues, afterwords, and appendices? We explain what they are, when to use them, and tips for writing them. We also include

Can You Write 52 Scenes In 52 Weeks?
Can you write 52 Scenes in 52 Weeks? Our sister website, Deadlines for Writers, has the perfect writing challenge for you.

Writers Talk 1 | Neil Gaiman
Welcome to our new podcast series, Writers Talk. In our first podcast our writers talk about the British author, Neil Gaiman.

Hard Or Soft Worldbuilding: What Every Writer Needs To Know
What’s the difference between hard worldbuilding and soft worldbuilding? We explain both types of worldbuilding, give examples, and help you decide which approach is best

15 Adjectives To Delete To Strengthen Your Writing Immediately
Do you use too many adjectives in your writing? We look at 15 adjectives to delete or replace that will strengthen your writing immediately.

5 Common Traits Of A Successful Memoir
If you’re writing your life story, use this short checklist to find out if you’ve included the 5 common traits of a successful memoir.

Traditional Publishing – Part Three
This week, Mia Botha continues her interviews with staff members at Pan Macmillan South Africa, who answer our questions on traditional publishing.

10 Types Of Sentences You Won’t See In Good Writing
Are you looking for ways to write better sentences? In this post, we look at 10 types of sentences you won’t see in good writing.

What’s Your Story’s Tone? (& Why It Matters More Than You Think)
In this blog, we look at how tone shapes stories and novels, why it matters, and how to use it in your own work.

What Is A Cozy Horror & How Do I Write One?
A cozy horror is a relatively new sub-genre of horror. In this post, we explore what a cozy horror is, with examples. We also give

What Is A Parody & How Do I Write One?
Everybody enjoys a good parody, but they’re extremely hard to write! In this post, we’ll look at what parody is and give a few tips

Figurative Language – Definition & Examples
What is figurative language? We define figurative language and give you 12 examples of figurative language.

Which Book Genre Should You Be Writing In 2026?
In this post we look at bestselling fiction genres and top-selling books from 2025 and which book genre you should be writing in 2026.

The 5 Pillars Of Speculative Fiction
Are you writing Speculative Fiction? In this post, we define speculative fiction – with examples – and look at how the 5 Pillars of Speculative

A Quick Start Guide To Foreshadowing
In this post, we define foreshadowing in fiction – with examples. We’ve created a quick start guide to foreshadowing to help you when you’re writing.

What Is Freewriting & How Do I Use It?
What is freewriting and how do I use freewriting? Read about 5 powerful freewriting techniques to reignite your inspiration, deepen your stories, and help you

The 7 Pillars Of Historical Fiction
Are you a fan of historical fiction? Would you like to write a historical novel on your own? In this post, we define the 7

The Rules For Writing An Excellent Time Travel Adventure
Time travel is the concept of traveling into the past or the future — usually in fiction. In this post we cover the rules for