Blue Garret library

Free resources to help you improve your manuscript

Novel study

Deep-dive analyses of recent popular fiction, with lessons you can apply to your own work

Featured
What makes a historical novel historical?
point of view, historical fiction, setting
What makes a historical novel historical?
point of view, historical fiction, setting
point of view, historical fiction, setting
How do you use focalization in omniscient narration?
point of view, historical fiction
How do you use focalization in omniscient narration?
point of view, historical fiction
point of view, historical fiction
What can verbs do for you?
openings, grammar, word choice
What can verbs do for you?
openings, grammar, word choice
openings, grammar, word choice
How do you use time jumps to create suspense?
plot, backstory, point of view, revision talk
How do you use time jumps to create suspense?
plot, backstory, point of view, revision talk
plot, backstory, point of view, revision talk
How do you weave world-building details into a scene?
setting
How do you weave world-building details into a scene?
setting
setting
How do you lure readers into an epic fantasy world?
openings, backstory, setting
How do you lure readers into an epic fantasy world?
openings, backstory, setting
openings, backstory, setting
How do you use subplots to add tension to your novel?
plot
How do you use subplots to add tension to your novel?
plot
plot
How do you make a dialogue-focused scene feel active?
scene, dialogue, introspection
How do you make a dialogue-focused scene feel active?
scene, dialogue, introspection
scene, dialogue, introspection
How do you introduce a complex plot?
openings, plot, backstory
How do you introduce a complex plot?
openings, plot, backstory
openings, plot, backstory
How do you read a novel?
reading
How do you read a novel?
reading
reading
How do you plot a page-turner?
plot, backstory
How do you plot a page-turner?
plot, backstory
plot, backstory
How do you deliver plot surprises?
plot, scene, point of view
How do you deliver plot surprises?
plot, scene, point of view
plot, scene, point of view
How do you maximize dramatic irony in the opening of a novel?
openings, backstory, plot
How do you maximize dramatic irony in the opening of a novel?
openings, backstory, plot
openings, backstory, plot
How can a single point-of-view novel include multiple voices?
point of view, characters
How can a single point-of-view novel include multiple voices?
point of view, characters
point of view, characters
What can dialogue do?
dialogue, point of view, backstory
What can dialogue do?
dialogue, point of view, backstory
dialogue, point of view, backstory
How do you hook a reader?
openings, plot, point of view
How do you hook a reader?
openings, plot, point of view
openings, plot, point of view
How do you make omniscient narration fresh and modern?
historical fiction, point of view
How do you make omniscient narration fresh and modern?
historical fiction, point of view
historical fiction, point of view
How do you establish setting in historical fiction?
setting, historical fiction, openings, revision talk
How do you establish setting in historical fiction?
setting, historical fiction, openings, revision talk
setting, historical fiction, openings, revision talk
Does your plot need to follow a set structure?
plot, backstory, revision talk
Does your plot need to follow a set structure?
plot, backstory, revision talk
plot, backstory, revision talk
How do you get maximum value from setting and description?
setting, word choice, characters
How do you get maximum value from setting and description?
setting, word choice, characters
setting, word choice, characters
How do you use dialogue and dialect to reveal character?
dialogue, word choice, sentences
How do you use dialogue and dialect to reveal character?
dialogue, word choice, sentences
dialogue, word choice, sentences
How do you open a mystery novel?
openings, grammar, sentences, setting, summary
How do you open a mystery novel?
openings, grammar, sentences, setting, summary
openings, grammar, sentences, setting, summary
How do you balance multiple points of view?
point of view, sentences
How do you balance multiple points of view?
point of view, sentences
point of view, sentences
Should your novel have a prologue?
openings, voice
Should your novel have a prologue?
openings, voice
openings, voice
What is your cover and front matter telling your reader?
openings
What is your cover and front matter telling your reader?
openings
openings
Should you tell your story in chronological order?
backstory, plot
Should you tell your story in chronological order?
backstory, plot
backstory, plot
When is telling better than showing?
scene, showing vs telling, backstory, revision talk
When is telling better than showing?
scene, showing vs telling, backstory, revision talk
scene, showing vs telling, backstory, revision talk
How do openings pull us in?
openings, point of view, setting
How do openings pull us in?
openings, point of view, setting
openings, point of view, setting

Popular blog posts

A selection of the Blue Garret’s most popular content — find all posts, organized by topic, in the index

Featured
2023 Year in Review
working with an editor, editing business
2023 Year in Review
working with an editor, editing business
working with an editor, editing business
The Blue Garret tech stack
editing business
The Blue Garret tech stack
editing business
editing business
How to use AI tools for fact-checking
editing business
How to use AI tools for fact-checking
editing business
editing business
Report from the 2023 Editorial Freelancers Association Conference
conferences, editing business, working with an editor
Report from the 2023 Editorial Freelancers Association Conference
conferences, editing business, working with an editor
conferences, editing business, working with an editor
Ending a scene with a resonant moment
scene, theme
Ending a scene with a resonant moment
scene, theme
scene, theme
How to use sensory details to ground introspection
point of view, characters, introspection
How to use sensory details to ground introspection
point of view, characters, introspection
point of view, characters, introspection
Public speaking for introverts
conferences, editing business
Public speaking for introverts
conferences, editing business
conferences, editing business
2022 Year in Review
working with an editor, editing business
2022 Year in Review
working with an editor, editing business
working with an editor, editing business
Report from the PageBreak Conference, October 2022
self-publishing, publishing, conferences
Report from the PageBreak Conference, October 2022
self-publishing, publishing, conferences
self-publishing, publishing, conferences
Advanced Zoom tips for editors
Advanced Zoom tips for editors
How experienced novelists can use beta readers in the editing process
beta readers
How experienced novelists can use beta readers in the editing process
beta readers
beta readers
What’s the live version of your scene?
revision, writer's block
What’s the live version of your scene?
revision, writer's block
revision, writer's block
How to spot plot problems
revision, plot
How to spot plot problems
revision, plot
revision, plot
Could your secondary characters be stars?
characters
Could your secondary characters be stars?
characters
characters
How to choose names for your characters
characters, writer's block
How to choose names for your characters
characters, writer's block
characters, writer's block
Revision checklist: Chekhov’s bunnies
revision, plot
Revision checklist: Chekhov’s bunnies
revision, plot
revision, plot
Does your story need a reversal?
plot
Does your story need a reversal?
plot
plot
How SOPs can make publishing (and writing!) easier
writer's block
How SOPs can make publishing (and writing!) easier
writer's block
writer's block

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