Nov 2, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
The "therefore, but" rule is a simple way to check that your plot is driven by cause and effect. Here's what it means, when to use it, and why it...
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Sep 7, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
Struggling to turn a great horror premise into an actual plot? This post breaks down why horror lets you coast on atmosphere longer than other...
#plotting, #genre, #fiction, #writing tips
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Sep 4, 2026 | by Kim Montgomery | Writing
Chapters across the top, plot lines down the side: how a plotting grid keeps your novel on track, and how Novlr's new Planning tool builds one...
read moreAug 10, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr
Not sure what in medias res is? Here's what the term actually means, where it comes from, and how to tell whether your story needs it (or whether...
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Jun 5, 2026 | by Kim Montgomery | Writing
Writing a perfect ending is hard. Is it the most excruciatingly difficult part of the writing process? Is it the most hair-pulling, mind-wracking,...
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May 25, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I know whether or not to put my book in multiple perspectives? I think it would make my story better but how do I know if it really needs it?...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Apr 23, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
If you’ve ever felt the grip of a good book, unable to put it down, you understand the pull of a well-told story. Behind the scenes of your favourite...
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Mar 30, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I wrote a short story a while back that I really love, and I keep thinking about it. I feel like there’s more to explore with these characters and...
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Mar 21, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m stuck on my story and I don’t know how to continue. I have a few continuations in mind and don’t know which one to pick. Every continuation...
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Feb 13, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Editing, Writing
“Hello, I was writing my book and I realised that I had two plot holes that need fixing. I am not good at fixing plot holes so I tried to find...
#plotting, #revision, #writing tips
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Jan 15, 2026 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
For writers who plot, the blank page before you start outlining your story is perhaps the most daunting of all. No matter how good the concept is,...
#downloadable templates, #plot templates, #plotting
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Dec 22, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Editing, Writing
“As a writer, we basically know the major beats before starting writing, but readers don’t, and we sometimes might slip too deep into things when the...
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Dec 4, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
I’ll happily admit that I’m not a plotter. I have story ideas, but I find sitting down to actually map those ideas out into a manageable form to be a...
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Nov 14, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Subplots are a hugely overlooked part of the drafting process. They are often overlooked for the much more overt plotline you’ll have bouncing around...
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Nov 7, 2025 | by Crystal Kamm | Writing
Writers everywhere approach their novels differently. Some of you meticulously plan everything. Others wing it by sliding into their computer chairs...
#plotting, #productivity, #writing tips
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Oct 31, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
No matter what type of fantasy world you’re writing, it’s easy for your plot to feel one-note if you don’t practice worldbuilding. It’s important to...
#plotting, #worldbuilding, #writing tips
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Oct 27, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Editing, Writing
“I’m stuck on a scene. I know what needs to happen, but every time I try to write it, it stalls. What can I do to get unstuck?” Every time I get one...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Oct 20, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Hiya. How do you know if an idea is big enough to span a whole novel? I often fall short when outlining because there’s just not enough depth to the...
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Oct 5, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Books
“People always talk about different writing books but I’m not sure which ones would be worth my time. There are just too many! What books would you...
#book recommendations, #character development, #plotting, #writing inspiration
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Sep 22, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“What are the most basic steps needed to get to the point where you can start writing? I’ve finally got a solid enough idea for my first novel but...
#character development, #plotting, #productivity, #writing tips
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Sep 15, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do I write foreshadowing in a way that won’t be noticed until you reread the scene?” When foreshadowing is done right it can be one of the most...
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Aug 25, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m writing a story with multiple POVs, how should I balance the story out so every MC gets equal time? I want to make sure I’m being fair to all my...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Jun 23, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’m not sure where the heart of my story is. How do I figure out the theme of the story so I can flesh out the details (without changing my mind...
#character development, #plotting, #theme, #writing tips
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Jun 16, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“I’ve written 75% of my novel, but it has a medium-sized cast with quite a few subplots. For a satisfying ending, what do I prioritize for the final...
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May 26, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“How do you come up with a satisfying ending to a story? And what different types of endings can a story have?” Writing an ending that does justice...
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May 2, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Do you have any posts on turning a book into a series, and/or deciding how many books the series should be? I’m plotting my story and not sure how...
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Apr 25, 2025 | by Crystal Kamm | Editing
Before I wrote my novel, I scoured the internet, searching for facts about how to write one. I got all the books, I took all the seminars, and I...
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Mar 31, 2025 | by Crystal Kamm | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Is there a process for writing a novel, or does everyone just figure out what works for them? I feel like I’m making it up as I go and wondering if...
#plotting, #productivity, #writing tips
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Mar 14, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Have you ever been completely engrossed in a book and found yourself desperately invested in its characters? Those characters more than likely had...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Mar 10, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr
“My story has two time lines, 2010 and 2024 Should i make theses two alternate?” Some of the most effective stories I’ve read move seamlessly between...
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Feb 21, 2025 | by Crystal Kamm | Writing
Have you ever wondered why some stories grip you from start to finish while others leave you feeling flat? The secret often lies in one crucial...
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Feb 17, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Anyone have any advice on how to build and maintain tension? I just read through an old story, and my tension is… nonexistent at best” We’ve all...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Feb 14, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
The perfect mixture of romance and humour, romantic comedies are the ideal escapist genre. They remind us of the fun and drama of being in love, full...
#downloadable templates, #plot templates, #plotting
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Jan 31, 2025 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Subtext is a powerful tool in creative writing. It spans every genre, and we even use it in everyday life (passive aggression and flirting are great...
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Dec 9, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr, Writing
“what are some uncommon tropes or ones that haven’t been done? what are some plot twists that are uncommon? i have a story where there are supposed...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Oct 4, 2024 | by Summer Keown | Writing
A plot twist is a sudden, unexpected turn of events in a story that changes the plot’s direction or reveals a previously unknown fact. These twists...
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Sep 2, 2024 | by Lindsay Sfara | Ask Novlr, Writing
“Why do writers love to torture their own characters so much?“ One word: conflict. Conflict is the chef’s kiss in a story. The secret sauce to...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Jul 1, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
When you read a story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the final page, chances are, that story had a powerful theme at its core. A theme...
#plotting, #theme, #writing exercises, #writing tips
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Jun 25, 2024 | by Lindsay Sfara | Ask Novlr
“Hi I’m interested in writing, but idk how and where to start. Any advice?” Starting your writing adventure can seem daunting, but it’s actually the...
#character development, #genre, #plotting, #writing tips
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Jun 21, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
The ABDCE structure is a great way to outline a short story. It stands for Action, Background, Development, Climax, and Ending. By following this...
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May 20, 2024 | by Crystal Kamm | Writing
“Start late, leave early” is a screenwriting principle that has made its way into the wider writing world. Essentially, what it means is not to...
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May 13, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
There’s something special about a Cozy Mystery. They’re great escapism, and without the gore and violence so often associated with “hardboiled”...
#downloadable templates, #plot templates, #plotting, #writing tips
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May 7, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Ask Novlr
“How would you go about creating an interesting middle of a story?” As a creative writer, you know that the beginning and end of your story are...
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Apr 5, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
The mystery and crime thriller genre has captivated readers for centuries, drawing them into a world of suspense, intrigue, and the darker aspects of...
#downloadable templates, #plot templates, #plotting, #writing tips
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Feb 23, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Every writer aims to tell a story that captivates, resonates, and stays with readers long after they turn the last page. Everybody wants to write a...
#character development, #plotting, #writing tips
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Feb 5, 2024 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
The romance genre is a tapestry of human emotions that has captivated the hearts of readers for centuries. With a myriad of sub-genres—ranging from...
#downloadable templates, #plot templates, #plotting, #writing tips
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Dec 1, 2023 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Writers know that characters are one of the most important things for a story to be successful. But without fully developed, believable characters,...
#character development, #downloadable templates, #plotting, #writing tips
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Oct 9, 2023 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
A story resolution is one of the most important elements of your plot because it will leave the most impression on your reader. It resolves the...
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May 26, 2023 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Horror is one of the most enduring genres of fiction. It touches something within us – letting us explore our most primal emotions. There are no hard...
#downloadable templates, #halloween, #plot templates, #plotting
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Jan 14, 2022 | by Pamela Koehne-Drube | Writing
Outlining a novel can be the hardest part of any writing journey, so having the right tool for the job is absolutely essential. The more complex a...
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