Word Magic
Writing fiction for self-publishing authors, as well as aspiring authors
Want to write serial fiction? I adore writing serials because the motivation is built in. It’s impossible to get bored; you have deadlines to meet. I get lots of questions about writing serials; it’s challenging for authors to realize that there are no rules, as such. If you’re not sure what serial fiction might be, here’s a quick definition: a … Read more
Love writing short fiction? You can spend a few hours writing, then publish something readers love… And turn those readers into fans. This was brought home to me recently. I asked my fiction writing students: had writing short stories made a difference to their self-publishing business? Short fiction: how one author turned her self-publishing career around One author said she … Read more
When an author tells me that he’s stuck on a novel, or is completely bored by it, I suggest he consider writing serial fiction. Serial fiction can be quick-fix to get you back into a writing groove. You receive feedback fast: write the first 5,000 word episode, publish it, then assess the response you get. But what’s serial fiction? A … Read more
Love to write short fiction but struggle to plot a short story? You’re not alone. A novel gives you freedom to go off on tangents; a short story or novella doesn’t. Many authors find corralling their story a hassle. I do too. I’m a wordy writer, so I’ve had to learn to stick to the point in short fiction. In … Read more
Do you wish editing fiction could be easier? Perhaps you have a NaNoWriMo novel (or several NaNoWriMo novels) on your hard drive and can’t get inspired to start the edit. One of my students faced this situation; here’s the simple process which helped her to get started on the editing process. Editing fiction: the process needn’t take forever Over time, … Read more