Conflict is a core part of the human experience, often expressed through violence in storytelling. 

From classic novels like Little Women to modern thrillers, violence can drive the plot and develop characters, but it should always serve a purpose. The key is to consider your goal: Are you creating atmosphere, building tension, or highlighting a turning point?

Continue reading Understanding the Purpose of Violence in Fiction at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

Frenemies—they’re the perfect blend of love and hate. 

Often a staple of the friends-to-lovers trope, or sometimes just that one character who’s gone from warm and fuzzy to annoyingly prickly. They’re as complicated for your protagonist to deal with as they are for your readers to understand. 

The trick? Give them enough depth to hold their own subplot.

Continue reading How the Frenemies Trope Drives Stories We Love at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

Dialogue is crucial in a book – it brings the story and characters to life. The way characters speak—what they say, how they say it, and even what they don’t say—gives readers insight into their personality, background, and emotions.

Well-written dialogue makes a story feel more natural and engaging, pulling readers into the world you’ve created.

Continue reading Top Tips for Writing Great Dialogue at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

Episodic stories have always been a hit—just look at TV today. 

But back in the Victorian Era, serialized fiction ruled the scene, giving us classics like Dickens’ novels, Sherlock Holmes, and The Three Musketeers. While this format faded for a while, it’s making a big comeback thanks to modern platforms like Inkitt.

Continue reading How to Write Episodic Fiction – A Guide at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

What is Genre-Blending?
Genre-blending is when a book combines elements from two or more genres to create a unique story. For example, a romance with a mystery twist or a fantasy with horror elements. It mixes different styles, themes, or tropes to appeal to a wider audience and make the story more exciting and original.

Mixing genres is like spicing up your story with a little bit of everything awesome!

Continue reading What is Genre-blending and Why You Should Do It at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

As Kindle Vella officially closes on February 25, 2025, and new purchases of episodes will no longer be available, we’re here at Inkitt excited to provide you with a new home for sharing and monetizing your ongoing fiction stories. And the best part is that you can keep 100% of your profits!

Continue reading Kindle Vella is Shutting Down—Switch to Inkitt Author Subscription at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

A central dramatic question in a novel is the main issue or conflict that drives the story forward and keeps readers engaged. It’s the “big question” that arises early in the narrative and creates tension, curiosity, and stakes.

The central dramatic question of your novel is the driving force behind your narrative. It is what your protagonist wants and is fighting for throughout the book.

Continue reading How to Define a Central Dramatic Question of Your Novel at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

Steampunk is an intriguing hybrid genre blending the Victorian aesthetics of the late 1800s with the science fiction tropes of a borderline dystopian future.

It mixes frilly hoop skirts with ray guns and gritty, human-like robots. It’s a genre full of imagination and paradoxes, as seen in The Perilous In-Between by Cortney Pearson, featuring a fighter pilot battling a mechanical sea monster.

Continue reading Why Are Steampunk Novels so Popular? at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

Sure – doom and gloom might be a solid portion of your narrative. But that isn’t all there is to dystopian stories – and it’s your job to highlight all of it. This week, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips to point you in the right direction as you craft a thrilling story that holds readers captive.

What is a Dystopian Novel?

Continue reading How to Write a Dystopian Novel – Inkitt’s Recipe at Inkitt Writer's Blog.

Just like in music, dynamics in storytelling are everything. As thrilling and shocking fight scenes can be in your manuscript, too many for too long can exhaust your reader. The key is to layer intense scenes with more relaxed, quiet scenes. Like good lasagna with lots of ingredients and flavors, your story should be baked with a crescendo of different tones all mixing beautifully at once.

Continue reading A Fun Guide to Writing Powerful Calm Scenes in Your Story at Inkitt Writer's Blog.