What’s the secret behind Stephen King’s success?
Stephen King: more than just horror. Thriller author Andy Maslen reveals why writers worldwide call him the writer's writer.
Read More
Creating relatable characters for your novel
What separates a bestseller from a flop isn't a twisty plot or breathless action — it's relatable characters. Discover why relatability matters more than likability, how to uncover what truly drives your characters, and how AI tools like Marlowe can reveal who your characters really are on the page.
Read More
Getting ammunition right in your fiction writing
When writing about gun ammunition in a novel, make sure you get the details right. Here's a primer on bullets, rounds, shells and cartridges.
Read More
Writer’s guide to firearms
Think you know your pistols from your revolvers? Your magazine from your clip? This writer's guide to firearms breaks down everything novelists need to know to write gun scenes with confidence — and avoid the rookie errors that lose credibility with readers.
Read More
The number one rule for novelists
Thriller author Andy Maslen explains that the number one rule for novelists is to set the rules for your fictitious world, and then stick to them.
Read More
How to write great dialogue in a novel
In this post we'll talk about how to write great dialogue. The principles outlined below mostly apply to novel writing, but they also apply to screenplays, short stories and other forms of creative writing.
Read More
What is a book premise? What your story is really about
How to identify the premise or core subject matter of a novel or story. A premise is what forms the basis of a plot.
Read More
Mind your language: Repetition, clichés and modifiers
Repetition, clichés and modifiers can quietly sink good fiction. Here's how to catch the phrases your reader has heard a thousand times before — and replace them with something worth reading.
Read More
How to write more compelling characters
Want to write compelling characters readers can't forget? Andy Maslen reveals the one question that unlocks real conflict and depth.
Read More
How I learned to stop worrying and love AI editing tools
Author Andy Maslen was skeptical that any tool could understand his creative process — until he put Marlowe's AI manuscript analysis tool to the test. Here are the 5 assumptions he got wrong, and what actually happened when he handed over his manuscript.
Read More
Virtuous villains and flawed heroes
Andy Maslen and Alessandra Torre discuss how to create complex characters for your novel.
Read More
What to do about reviews: the good, the bad and the ugly
Best-selling thriller author Andy Maslen reflects on the good, bad and ugly of reader reviews.
Read More