Angela Booth's Writing Blog

The easiest-ever way to write fiction (for some authors)

Write fiction: an easy tactic

Here’s the tactic: follow your inspiration.

Primarily, try writing non-sequentially.

We looked at this in How To Outline A Novel If You’re A Natural-Born Pantser:

Be prepared to write non-sequentially… I keep a “Scenes” folder. If I want to write a scene which won’t come up for several chapters, I place the scene’s document in that folder.

Why write non-sequentially?

We discussed writing non-sequentially in a recent writers’ group meeting. Seven members write like this.

Read the complete article.

 

 

Complete freelance writing beginner? Or pro? Get results

Everyone starts a writing career as a complete beginner, from zero. It will never be as hard again.

Everything you do counts, even though it might not seem like it at the time. Over time, your tiniest communications and smallest actions get a big result: suddenly, you’re hero. You made your dreams happen, one baby step at a time. Often your dreams happen MUCH faster than you think possible.

Already freelancing? Wish you could stop tapping your fingers to the bone and attract top-tier clients? This program (and your Action Plan) will ensure it happens for you.

 

WITH THIS PROGRAM, YOU’LL SHORTCUT YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS

You’ll benefit from my experience. Over the years, I’ve made horrible mistakes which derailed my career (in one case, for a decade.)

While the world’s changed since I tapped away on my Olivetti and IBM Selectric typewriters, freelance writing hasn’t changed. Human nature is the same as it ever was. And the same kinds of people and situations are still taking advantage of inexperienced writers and other creatives.

Learn more

Market your book: an easy essential (try it, it's free)

A lesson for you: use your pre-orders to promote your other titles. Your pre-orders are free advertising in many different ways. Do take advantage of this.

Plan your pre-orders and launches carefully

When should you offer your book for pre-orders?

That’s up to you. Choose your release date carefully.

My suggestion, since we’re dealing with technology, is to upload the book as soon as you’re reasonably happy with it… just in case things go wrong. Leave yourself plenty of time between establishing the pre-order and the submission deadline.

You’ll be able to update the file later; remember to upload the final version before the submission deadline.

Read the article.

If you can't sell your fiction, these tips could help

Please, write consistently, and effortlessly. If you’re forcing yourself to write, it will always be a struggle, and sooner or later, you’ll give up.

Luckily, writing can be easy, and so can sales, if you’ll stop worrying, and use your creativity and imagination.

To sell your fiction, write the easy way: avoid forcing yourself

Writers and authors who think “writing is hard” are flogging a dead horse. That is, they’re calling on their logical self to create. Your logical self can’t do that, only your creative self can.

Develop the habit of free writing. From The Tao Of Writing: Imagine. Create. Flow, by Ralph L Wahlstrom:

Free writing is as close to magic as anything you are likely to experience in writing. It can give you story ideas, article topics, and more; through it, you may be able to break through writing logjams by appealing to your inner voice.

Read the article.

 

Characters in fiction: imperfect is perfect

Perfect characters annoy readers, AND they’re unbelievable

Recently I read a novel by a bestselling author. Although the author’s known for creating glamorous characters, the main character in this novel was way over the top:

• She’s a doctor: a consultant pediatrician. She’s also…
• A gourmet cook;
• Married with three children under seven;
• An athlete, who’s entered several marathons;
• Flies her own plane for recreation…

After around 30 pages, I thought: oh come on… No one has enough hours in the day for a stressful job, a family, and lots of free time to run marathons and fly planes. This author created a classic Mary Sue.

Read the article.

 

Write a novel, or write a serial? Choose

The more novels you write, the more skills you develop in keeping a novel organized, so you write better books. However, writing those novels can be challenging.

On the other hand, when you write serial fiction, it’s less like writing a novel—it’s more like writing several short stories. You’re only concerned with a limited number of words per episode, so there’s less to keep in mind, and you’ll write episodes more quickly.

Let’s look at reasons to consider publishing serial fiction in more detail.

1. Faster publishing and reader-feedback inspires you

With a novel, you can’t know if it’s a dud or a bestseller for months, or even years. It’s challenging to keep your motivation. With a serial, you publish more quickly, so you win readers, who inspire you.

Read the full article.

 

Struggling to create real conflict in your fiction?

Let’s look at some tips to help you to create believable conflict.

1. Try to make your characters’ conflicts stem from who they are

The most realistic conflicts between characters stem from who they are. The Odd Couple is my favorite example of this type of conflict. When Felix and Oscar live together they’re so different that conflict is guaranteed.

Have you watched any episodes of the long-running TV series, MASH? The series’ major conflicts came from the Korean war, but the characters were all in conflict too.

Most of the conflicts in your novel will be minor, but your major conflicts should be difficult or seemingly impossible to resolve.

Read the article.

 

Profitable ideas: make an income from your words today

Writing ideas for profitable ebooks: develop a list of potential ideas

Want an ebook idea?

Here you go:

• Make a list of what you want to know, or things you’d like to learn more about. Do it now. Make the list as a long as you can.
• Next, message friends and clients. Ask them what they want to know. Add their topics to your list.
• Visit your favorite online group or forum, and ask those good folk what they need.
• Enjoy Pinterest? It’s a great resource for ideas.

You should have a list of topics.

Read the article.

 

Disappointed with your writing? Change that, right now

My goal was to write 500 words every day: my DDT (Do, Don’t Think) acronym helped. I pasted it on sticky notes: on my computer monitor, car dashboard, fridge.

The biggest benefit? I discovered that writing every day made me feel a lot better than procrastinating.

These tips helped too.

1. Get over yourself: you can always improve on what you wrote LATER

Are you a perfectionist? Judging your writing kills it.

So does overthinking.

Write. Edit later.

Or don’t. You can always start a new project, and you should, if you’ve lost your inspiration for a project.

Read the full article.

 

Writing a novel? Consider a series

Let’s look at some tips on how to get inspired to write a series.

1. Write a series: perhaps you’ve already started

You may already have written the first novel (or short story) in your series.

Many bestselling series which are focused on a single character “grow” as the the character grows. However, you don’t need to write chronologically.

For example, bestselling author C.S. Forester published the novel The Happy Return, in which his naval hero Horatio Hornblower is already in command of a ship, in 1937. Forester didn’t publish the start of Hornblower’s naval career until 1950, with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.

Read the article.

 

Fiction: easy tricks to create characters readers love

Something important MUST be at stake in your story. If not literal life or death, then metaphorical life or death. When there’s nothing at stake, readers don’t care, and they won’t read.

For readers to care, your characters must care.

Let’s look at ways to create killers, saints, and idiots.

1. One-word characterization: “killer”, “saint”, “idiot”…

Here’s an easy trick you can use to plan, plot, and create characters for all fiction.

Start with a one-word characterization: he’s not (undecided name), he’s the killer. She isn’t (undecided name), she’s the saint.

Read the full article.

 

Self-publishing? Try adding short stories to your publishing mix

After coming from the world of trad publishing where it takes two years from idea to published book, I still get shivers at the power of self-publishing.

Imagine: you can get an idea in the morning. By mid-afternoon, you’re publishing your new book. What’s not to like? Oh—you get to keep more of the profits too, which is as it should be.

Here's a secret: every story you write acts as a "taster" and introduction to your writing. You'll sell more, when you're visible to more readers. It's a wonderful way to build your fan base.

Writing short fiction has many benefits in self-publishing, as you'll soon discover... Learn more.

 

 

STOP... Before you dive into promoting your book, check it

Book marketing: look at the book’s product page, first

Yes, you can change the title!

When I chat with authors, I’m often shocked at how few consider changing their book once it’s been posted. Why wouldn’t you change things, if the book isn’t selling? Always give your books the best chances to succeed.

So, change anything and everything.

TIP: only change one thing at a time. Otherwise you’ll never know what worked. If you spot obvious boo boos: bad title, incorrect categories, etc—change them at once. For minor changes, give your change ten days to kill or cure, then change something else. Make a list of potential changes.

Discover more fixes.

Things your novel absolutely must have

Here’s a checklist of essentials for your novel.

1. Thrills and spills: make bad stuff happen to your characters

You’ll grow to love your characters. However, if they have a wonderful time, your readers won’t. Put your characters into a tough situation at the start of your novel.

Then make the situation worse… and even worse.

2. The bad stuff must make sense

You can’t just dump a load of misery onto your characters. Put them into a bad situation and ensure that the “worse” happens because of your characters’ actions.

Avoid coincidences and random events. Everything must happen for a reason. The reasons are always something your characters did, to get out of their initial bad situation.

For example, let’s say your main character’s a wonderful guy. He gets fired, because he sees something he should not see. When he gets home, he has a fight with his wife. He heads to a hotel but forgets to take a change of clothes.

Read the article.

Available now: new book marketing solution

In response to her students’ requests, Angela recently developed a professional,  “done for you” book marketing service. It includes basic copy and content: a tagline, blurb, and keywords, as well as a customized marketing strategy and plan. She says the service is for authors who need help, and find that hiring a book publicist is beyond their reach.

Angela said: “Book Marketing, Done For You, kickstarts marketing for authors. They have the framework: a strategy and plan, plus basic marketing collateral. My students tell me that it’s motivating, and makes marketing more enjoyable. They procrastinate less, because they become more enthusiastic about their books.”

All authors are different. For those with small budgets, Angela focuses on developing zero-cost plans. On the other hand, for authors with a marketing budget, Angela suggests advertising options, and helps with targeting and other essential advice.

Learn more about Book Marketing, Done For You.