by Ali | Sep 18, 2025 | Editing
Why a Bad Ending Can Ruin a Great Story (and Seven Ways to Fix It) Have you ever been really into a book, engrossed in the story, waiting to see how it all ends … … only for the ending to disappoint you? I’ve read a few books like that. And the sad thing is, I...
by Ali | Sep 11, 2025 | Fiction
How to Name a Character: Four Key Considerations (and Why They Matter) Choosing names for your characters can feel almost as tricky as naming a baby … you want to get it right! Your character’s name needs to reflect not just their age, nationality, and upbringing – it...
by Ali | Sep 4, 2025 | Fiction
How Long is a Novel … and How Long Should YOUR Novel Be? This post was first published in September 2016 and last updated in September 2025. How long is a novel? And perhaps more importantly, how long should your novel be? You might think this doesn’t really...
by Ali | Jul 18, 2025 | Fiction
Aliventures Summer Break 2025 – Eight Posts to Catch Up On Summer’s here in the UK and I’ll be taking some time off from blogging. I’ll still be sending the Aliventures newsletter weekly (though it may not always be on a Monday over the summer). To get that, just pop...
by Ali | Jul 10, 2025 | Fiction
What is Subtext in Fiction – and How Can You Use it in Your Writing? Subtext is what’s unspoken or implied. It’s what lies beneath the surface-level meaning of what someone says or does. We’re all familiar with subtext in everyday life. Let’s say a family member asks,...
