Word Magic
Writing fiction for self-publishing authors, as well as aspiring authors
Are you wondering about writing fiction? If you’re a professional writer, fiction makes a wonderful side hustle. Who knows? You may write a bestseller. On the other hand… Recently I chatted with a couple of writing colleagues who’d tried fiction and gave it up as a pain in the you-know-what. One said: “I’d rather binge-watch Netflix than write another novel. … Read more
I’ve received some questions from readers who want to write fiction. When they try however, they find that they’re writing from their life. Is fictionalizing your experiences allowed? Of course it is. Most first novels are semi-autobiographical. Think of it this way. When you write fiction, you’re tapping into your emotions. Memory’s tied to emotion, so your own “stuff” will … Read more
If you’re a new author, there’s a lot to learn about writing fiction—and you never stop learning. Something to keep in mind. When you write fiction, you’re writing a story. Here’s a brilliant explanation of “story” from Lisa Cron’s excellent book, Wired For Story: A story is how what happens affects someone who is trying to achieve what turns out … Read more
Are you writing fiction? Lately I’ve received many more questions about fiction. Most of them can be answered in four words: do it your way. Writing fiction without rules Questions: I don’t know how to… But what if… I can’t write (something or other)… Someone said that… To repeat: do it your way. Every novel and short story you write … Read more
Ideas are seductive, especially when you’re writing fiction. They can be dangerous too, during your first draft. If you revise while writing your first draft you might get into such a tangle that you never complete your novel. A couple of weeks back, an author asked: “is it essential to write my first draft straight through? I’ve got a couple … Read more