The Novelry on Writing

By The Novelry

Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our best-selling writing coaches, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing... more

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The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

Best of The Novelry on Writing

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Number 1: The 5 Ps: Prose: Writing Good Prose in Fiction
Writing prose in fiction is all about using your unique voice. In this final bonus episode of The Novelry on Writing, authors Tara Conklin and Urban Waite dive into: ✍️ How to avoid overwriting ✍️ Tips for writing dialogue ✍️ Writing prompts to get you started How are you telling your story? Submit your work to The Next Big Story prize, where you could win $100,000 for the best first three pages of a novel. T&Cs apply—see website for details. Perfect for fiction writers seeking to enhance their novel openings and craft a setting that captivates readers. Whether you’re a new writer or have a few books under your belt, these writing tips will help you craft more engaging story beginnings and make your first three pages stand out. Thanks for tuning in, and happy writing! 🖋️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 What is Prose? 04:18 How to Avoid Overwriting 05:18 Clichés 07:07 The Next Big Story Prize 07:38 Writing Dialogue in Prose 09:28 Concrete Tips for Writing Prose 11:26 Writing Prompts Guest Bios Tara Conklin is the New York Times bestselling author of The House Girl and The Last Romantics, 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. Her most recent novel is Community Board. Urban Waite’s novels have been published in over 40 countries, translated into 12 languages, and optioned for film. Their accolades include Indie Next Picks, Amazon Editors’ Picks, nominations for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award, and Kirkus Review Hit List selections. Urban’s debut novel, The Terror of Living, catapulted him to international acclaim, earning praise from literary giants Stephen King, Daniel Woodrell, and Michael Koryta. Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write a compelling story: Life of Pi Author Explores the 5 Ps of Good Writing Could You Write The Next Big Story? How to Create a Clean Writing Style 🎧 Share this episode! ▶️ On YouTube: https://youtu.be/x3jXd7FRhSo 🔔 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and YouTube channel for more writing tips, podcast episodes, and creative inspiration! Hit the bell icon to stay updated. 📖 Read the full episode transcript here! 📚 Ready to take your writing to the next level? 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 [email protected]. 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.*
July 09, 202516min
Number 2: How to Create Juicy Conflict in Your Story
What is conflict in a story? It’s the challenges your characters face in your book. Conflict is a critical element in any good novel because it drives plot and builds character. In this episode, The Novelry writing coaches and authors Emylia Hall and Urban Waite share five ways to create juicy conflict in your stories. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:33 - Tip #1: Conflict is Essential 05:25 - Tip #2: Conflict Builds Character 09:19 - Tip #3: Conflict Should Have Layers 12:52 - Tip #4: Empathetic Characters 18:52 - Tip #5: Micro-Conflict Guest Bios Emylia Hall The Novelry coach Emylia Hall is the award-winning author of four women’s fiction novels and a cozy crime series. Her debut, The Book of Summers, was one of the bestselling debuts of the year and a Richard and Judy Book Club selection. The Thousand Lights Hotel was selected for Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Book Club. The Shell House Detectives, the first in Emylia’s cozy crime series set in Cornwall, was a Kindle Top 10 bestseller and has been optioned for television by Playground Entertainment. Emylia’s work has appeared in the Guardian, Country Living, the Observer, Elle, and on BBC Radio 6 Music. Emylia has taught creative writing workshops in Kigali, Zurich, Switzerland, and for Arvon and Mothership Writers. Urban Waite The Novelry coach Urban Waite’s novels have been published in over 40 countries, translated into 12 languages, and optioned for film. Their accolades include Indie Next Picks, Amazon Editors’ Picks, nominations for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award, and Kirkus Review Hit List selections. His debut, The Terror of Living, was lauded as a Best Book of the Year by Esquire, the Boston Globe, and Booklist, and catapulted him to international acclaim with praise from Stephen King. Urban has placed in numerous Best Book of the Year lists. He has adapted projects for brands including Disney, Ubisoft, and Fox Entertainment, and is a regular contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write and publish your story: Antagonist: An Evil Character or an Opposing Force? How to Raise the Stakes in Your Story How to Create a Plot Diagram for a Smooth Writing Journey 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 [email protected]. 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.
February 18, 202525min
Number 3: How to Create Sexual Tension Between Characters
While sexual tension is most commonly desired in romance novels, chemistry between characters is an essential ingredient in any good story. Whether you’re writing an enemies-to-lovers romantasy or a thriller with a romantic subplot, adding yearning and anticipation can create steamy scenes that will make your reader swoon. Writing sex scenes can fall flat without the heart-aching build-up to the act. In this special Valentine’s Day episode of The Novelry on Writing, author and editor Georgia Summers and writing coach Libby Page offer five tips to create that sizzling feeling of excitement on the page. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:50 - Tip #1: Physicality and Forced Proximity 04:01 - Tip #2: Specificity 06:42 - Tip #3: Dialogue 10:47 - Tip #4: Setting 13:37 - Tip #5: Conflict Guest Bios Georgia Summers Before joining The Novelry, Georgia Summers was an Editor at Tor, an imprint of Macmillan, where. Georgia worked closely with a range of science fiction and fantasy debut authors. She was the commissioning editor for international cozy fantasy bestsellerLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin. As well as being an editor at The Novelry, Georgia is also a published author. Her debut,The City of Stardust, was pre-empted in a significant two-book deal for Hodderscape in the U.K. and Orbit in the U.S. as well as several other countries. It was a No.1Sunday Times bestseller in its launch week, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and an Indie Next pick. Libby Page Libby Page is a writing coach at The Novelry and theSunday Times bestselling author of five novels. Her debut,The Lido(published in the U.S.A. asMornings with Rosemary),became aSunday Timesbestseller within three days of publication. It won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award and has been published in more than 25 territories worldwide. It is one of the leading books to be associated with the term Up Lit, coined by the publishing industry the yearThe Lido was released. Libby was named aGuardian New Face of Fiction and has been praised byThe Times, theObserver, and theSunday Express for her feelgood fiction.The Island Home was chosen byRed magazine as one of its top books of the year, and Libby’s latest book,The Lifeline, is a sequel toThe Lido. Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write and publish your story: How to Write a Love Story: 5 Top Tips (For Every Genre!) Romance Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Fiction Talia Hibbert on How to Write Spicy Romcoms: 5 Tips The Novelry on Writing Podcast: 5 Tips to Turn Up the Heat in Romantasy Read the full episode transcripthere! For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us on acreative writing course at The Novelry today. Sign up forcourses,coaching, and acommunity from the world’s top-rated writing school. Share this episode! Have a question? Email us [email protected]. 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.
February 11, 202519min
Number 4: How to Create a Title for Your Book
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! Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:55 - Tip #1: Audience 03:04 - Tip #2: What will the name achieve? 06:00 - Tip #3: Attitude 09:18 - Tip #4: Attributes 11:50 - Tip #5: Ancestry Guest Bios Tara Conklin Tara 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 Sorell Gina 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. Resources Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write and publish your story: 5 Secrets for Naming a Character Indie 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 [email protected]. 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.
February 04, 202518min
Number 5: From First Draft to Book Deal: Debut Author Anna Brook-Mitchell and Agent Jemima Forrester on What It Takes to Get Published
Anna Brook-Mitchell had just been made redundant when she decided to write her first novel. Three years later, she had six agent offers and a publishing deal with Pan Macmillan for her debut novel, Motherfaker. In this episode of The Novelry on Writing, Anna and her literary agent Jemima Forrester (David Higham Associates) sit down with The Novelry editor, Josie Humber, to walk through the entire journey. They discuss what it’s like to be mentored by a published author, to work with and receive advice from an external editor before approaching agents, and what the querying process was like. They cover: → How Anna got the idea for her novel → Why Anna joined The Novelry after finishing her first draft → What Jemima saw in the submission that made her want to represent Anna before they’d even met → The editorial feedback that stung — and turned out to be right → What to do when rejections pile up mid-submission→ What a healthy author-agent relationship actually looks like → Jemima’s green flags and red flags when reading queries → How to know when your manuscript is ready to send Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction 1:40 – Anna’s story: BBC rejection, redundancy, and deciding to write a novel 4:07 – What Jemima saw in the submission that made her say yes immediately 6:12 – Why Anna joined The Novelry with a first draft already written 13:26 – How The Novelry’s coaching changed the manuscript 15:46 – The ‘Plan’: why knowing your hook and genre matters 20:55 – Taking editorial feedback without losing your voice 28:00 – The querying process: six offers in a month 36:00 – Choosing the right agent: what to ask in the meeting 43:53 – What a good author-agent relationship looks like 50:05 – Submission red flags and green flags 52:35 – Rapid fire Q&A: advice for writers 🖊️ Ready to take your writing seriously? For one-on-one help writing your novel, join us at The Novelry today. Sign up for courses, coaching, and community from the fiction writing school for serious writers. Connect with The Novelry Official Site: https://thenovelry.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenovelry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenovelry/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.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 fiction writing school for novelists. 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.
June 17, 202658min