Tag Archive for 'fiction writing'

WAHM, Dad, or Grandparent (Part 4)

Published on May 2, 2010 in Fiction Writing, Writing for Children and Writing/Publishing. 15 Comments Tags: , , , , .

This is the last part of Choosing Your Niche, and covers…

Fiction Writing:

Fiction writing can be a lot of fun.  It can also be difficult to break into, especially if you reach for the stars and decide not to start at the bottom of the ladder.

What I mean by that, is many writers believe they can sit down and write a piece of fiction, and immediately get picked up by a big name magazine (for short stories), or a big NY publisher (for novels).

The unfortunate thing is that’s far from the truth.

Everyone has to start at the bottom.  And from there you need to build your portfolio, and your reputation.

Again, as mentioned in an earlier section, don’t sell your work for peanuts.  Most editors know which publications pay zilch, or very little, and they will often hold that against you.  On the other hand, some editors don’t care provided your story and writing are brilliant.

The best way to break into this market is to start small.  Endeavour to get a short story published, and build from there.

Flash fiction is also good, and can often be easier to sell.

Things I love about fiction writing:

I can be creative as I want to be.

I get to create characters, settings, and be the sole producer of the plot.

My stories can bring a lot of enjoyment to others.

Things I dislike about fiction writing:

Fiction is very subjective.  While one editor or reader will love it, another will hate it.

That publishers make me wait around forever while they make a decision.

That all publishers are not created equal.

Payment:

Varies – from $5 up to hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.  In the case of novels, royalties vary depending on the publisher, and also the type of publisher.

Recommended Resources:

“Outside the Square Fiction Workshop” – This award-winning workshop is my number one best-selling ebook, and has literally helped thousands of writers with their fiction. It covers all the concepts, and teaches you how to step outside the confines of fiction writing. *Comes with free bonus copy of Think Outside the Square: Writing Publishable (Short) Stories.

” Think Outside the Square: Writing Publishable (Short) Stories” – This book was written specifically for short story writers. Many writers believe if you can write novels, then you can write short stories. The truth is, there are different ‘rules’ that apply to short story writing.

“How to Write a Children’s Book in 14 Days or Less” – You really can write a children’s book in 14 days or less, and Mel McIntyre will shares his ‘secrets’ with you in this book.

*******“To save $10 off the normal price, click here AFTER reading the info at the above link”

Advice On Writing A Novel

Published on June 18, 2009 in Writing/Publishing. 1 Comment Tags: .

November is National Novel Writing Month, and a contest is held to see who can finish a 50,000 word novel in a month. Some people are scared off from trying this fun challenge by the scope of how large a 50,000 word novel must be.

The key to writing a novel is actually just a few simple steps.

1. The Idea: It doesn’t have to be mind-blowingly unique. It can even be a twist on another book or movie. It does, however, have to be different enough from an other work that your not guilty of plagiarizing.
2. The Characters: This is the real meat of a novel. If you don’t have interesting characters, no one will want to keep reading. Uninteresting characters are the primary reason people will put a book down.
3. The Story: When you sit down to actually write, it helps to have an idea of how the characters and story progress from the beginning to the end. You don’t need to have it all mapped out before your start, but you do need to have a general idea of how it things will proceed.

Now, a lot of would be writers are ultra-protective of their ideas. Don’t be. Ideas are, as they say, a dime a dozen. If you have an idea for a horror novel, for example, odds are that Stephen King has already thought of it. But don’t fear — it’s not the idea that matters by itself. It’s the combination of ideas, characters, and your unique voice that makes the entirety of the story compelling. There are a bunch of writer’s resource sites and forums on the Internet. Don’t be afraid to use them to bounce your ideas off other writers.

When it comes to sharing ideas with colleagues and other writers, most people new to writing are afraid of their ideas being stolen. Legitimate authors aren’t going to steal your idea; they’re too busy working on their own ideas to pilfer yours. In creative writing, ideas are literally a dime a dozen — it’s the implementation and the actual writing that’s difficult and what really matters.

Now that you have the basics of your story in mind, it’s time for you to know what the real secret to writing a novel is: doing it. That’s right. It’s as simple as putting your butt in the chair, and typing away (or using pen and paper if you’re so inclined).

* Take reasonable breaks.
* Write every day.
* Don’t stop working on the project until you’ve finished it.
* Don’t be a perfectionist — mistakes can be fixed once you’ve finished.

If you can follow those tips, you will finish that novel. Once you do that, you’re ready for the next step of the journey … getting published.

More tips and ideas on writing fiction can be found at The Twisted Writer.

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