Writing resources

Reedsy Studio FAQ: How does Reedsy’s writing software work?

Reedsy Studio is an all-in-one book production tool that allows you to effortlessly plan, write, edit, and format any piece of writing for publishing. Designed with books in mind, it has already al...

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How to Write Faster: 8 Strategies for Productivity

Trying to write your book faster? Here are 8 strategies to get the words flowing on the page and increase your output.

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What Are the Standard Book Sizes in Publishing?

Find out why trim size matters, what the standard book sizes are, and what yours should be.

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How Many Sentences Are in a Paragraph?

From fiction to nonfiction works, the length of a paragraph varies depending on its purpose. Here's everything you need to know.

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How Many Words in a Novel? (Updated for 2025)

Does word count really matter? YES! Read our guide to learn what your word count should be and our editors' tips for sticking to it.

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How Long Does It Take To Write a Book

How long does it take to write a book? It's one of the most common questions we receive at Reedsy, and for good reason. In this post, we'll tackle this million-dollar question.

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How to Format a Book in Microsoft Word in 7 Steps

A step-by-step guide on how to format a book in Microsoft Word, from styling the text to exporting your final document.

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How to Format a Book in Google Docs in 7 Simple Steps

While there are much better alternatives, here's how you can format a book in Google's popular writing app.

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How to Format a Book Professionally in 7 Simple Steps

Learn how to format a book using Reedsy Studio in a few quick and easy steps.

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How Many Pages is 1,000 Words? A Thorough Account

Whether you’re writing an essay or assignment with a set word count, or you’re simply wondering how many blank sheets of paper to prepare before you click “print,” determining how many pages is 1,0...

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How to Format a Book Manuscript (+ Template)

Download a free template and learn how to format a book manuscript that agents and publishers will love.

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How to Set Writing Goals That Actually Work

Learn how to set helpful and realistic writing goals that actually help you finish your book.

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How Long Should a Chapter Be? (Updated for 2025)

How long should a chapter be? Discover the sweet spot for your chapter's word count in this post featuring J.K. Rowling, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Henry James.

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How to Outline a Novel in 9 Simple Steps

Learn how to outline a novel that will ensure that you finish your draft without running into the dreaded writer's block.

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How to Plan a Novel: From Idea to First Draft in 7 Tips

Have an exciting book idea that you want to work on? Hold your horses and discover how to plan a novel before jumping into the actual writing!

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How to Plot a Novel: 4 Ways to Get from Idea to Story

Here are four different ways to plot your novel. Choose your favorite or draw inspiration from multiple methods!

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What Is a Flat Character? Definition, Examples & Helpful Tips

Find out whether your protagonist is a flat character or a round character. Includes a definitive flat character definition and 8 examples to help.

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90+ Must-Know Metaphor Examples to Improve Your Prose

If you're looking for metaphor examples, look any further than this master guide to 90+ metaphors in literature, films, songs, and more.

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Book Cover Sizes: What are the Right Dimensions for Your Design?

Find out what book cover dimensions you should be using when designing a jacket for print and ebook. Includes popular aspect ratios and recommended resolutions for creating your own book cover.

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12 Types of Characters Every Writer Should Know

What are the 12 essential character types and how can you use them? Find out in this super-thorough guide!

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How to Write a Killer Author Bio (With Template)

Learn how to write a professional author bio that gets readers' attention in just 3 steps.

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70 Interesting Character Flaws to Use In Your Story

Character flaws turn your ideas into three-dimensional people. Check out these 70 fascinating flaws to use in your own stories!

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How to Write a Short Story in 8 Simple Steps

Learn the 8 steps for how to write a short story — starting with your basic understanding of the form and ending with how to edit it like a pro.

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10 Types of Creative Writing (with Examples You’ll Love)

From personal essays and novels to graphic narratives, short stories, and memoirs — here are 10 types of creative writing you might enjoy.

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Atticus Review: Is It Worth The Money?

Does Atticus deliver on its promise of pro-level book formatting for indie authors? We put it to the test.

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How to Introduce a Character: 8 Tips To Hook Readers In

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450+ Powerful Adjectives to Describe a Person (With Examples)

Want a handy list to help you bring your characters to life? Discover words that describe physical attributes, dispositions, and emotions.

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How to Write an Autobiography: The Story of Your Life

Want to write your autobiography but aren’t sure where to start? This step-by-step guide will take you from opening lines to publishing it for everyone to read.

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What is Tone in Literature? Definition & Examples

We show you, with supporting examples, how tone in literature influences readers' emotions and perceptions of a text.

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What is a Subplot? Definition, Types, and Examples

What is a subplot, and how do writers use them? Here's everything you need to know about the different types of subplots.

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How to Write a Cozy Mystery: 7 Essential Tips & Tropes

We show you how to write a compelling cozy mystery with advice from published authors and supporting examples from literature.

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Reedsy Studio vs. Atticus vs. Scrivener: Which Should You Choose?

We put three of the most popular book writing and formatting apps to the test to find which one suits self-publishing authors best.

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Dabble Review: What Authors Should Know in 2025

Dabble pitches itself as a cloud-based writing tool built with novelists in mind. But does it live up to the promise? We took the Premium plan for a spin to test all the features and find out.

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How to Write a Novel: A Bestselling Author’s Guide

A veteran editor and bestselling ghostwriter shares 8 tried-and-true steps to craft a compelling novel.

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Narrative Structure: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

What's the difference between story structure and narrative structure? And how do you choose the right narrative structure for you novel?

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What is Pathos? Definition and Examples in Literature

Pathos is a literary device that uses language to evoke an emotional response, typically to connect readers with the characters in a story.

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How to Start a Children’s Book: Coming Up with Your Big Idea

If you've ever dreamed of writing a children's book but aren't sure where to start, check out this post to learn more about how you can create the perfect story for kids.

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How to Write a Mystery: The 6 Secret Steps Revealed

A clever trail of clues is thrilling to read and even more fun to pen, so why not learn how to write a mystery of your own? We'll show you how.

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How to Write a Thriller in 7 Heart-Stopping Steps

Learn how to write a thriller in 7 steps and get 4 bonus tips from top professional editors on writing your own page-turner.

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Defining Your Characters: 150+ Character Mannerisms

Sometimes, all you need are tiny physical tics and character mannerisms to help flesh out your book's character. Here are over 150 of them.

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What Is the Setting of a Story? How to Write 3 Types of Settings

The best story settings come to vivid life in their readers' minds. Learn all about the setting of a story and how to write it in this guide!

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How to Start a Story: 10 Top Tips From Literary Editors

Are you struggling to write your opening chapter? 10 professional editors share their top tips on how to start a story that will get a reader's attention.

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What Is a Motif? Motifs Defined + 10 Illuminating Examples

A motif in literature is something that's often analyzed, yet easily muddled. In this guide, we'll define exactly what is a motif using 10 helpful examples!

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How to Write a Children’s Book Families Will Love (+Template)

Here are 8 steps for writing a successful children's book based on advice from experienced editors.

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The 25 Best Writing Tools of 2025: A Guide for Writers

In 2025, the best writing tools combine distraction-free environments, organizational simplicity, and occasionally even AI-powered features. Today’s writers are spoiled for choice — so we’ve curate...

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Squibler Review: Will AI Help You Write Better in 2025?

Squibler is an AI writing software that combines templates, planning boards, and a word processor with a built-in AI assistant in one space. Find out how it performs in this blog post.

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The 5 Best Plagiarism Checkers Online (2025)

Which is the best tool to check your writing for plagiarism? Here's what we found out.

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Dabble vs. Scrivener: Which Should You Choose?

Discover the pros and cons of Dabble and Scrivener to help you work out which (if either) is for you.

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Obsidian Review: Not Just a Planning Tool?

Obsidian is a note-taking software that allows you to build a “digital web” of your thoughts and ideas through interconnected notes. It’s popular among writers as a tool for worldbuilding and note ...

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Indirect Characterization: Definition, Examples, and Tips

In this post, we explore what indirect characterization is and how to use it to create fully rounded characters, including how to apply the popular STEAL (speech, thought, effect, action, and looks...

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13 of the Best Online Writing Communities for Aspiring Authors

Looking for support from fellow writers from the comfort of your own home? Look no further with this list of some of the top online writing communities.

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