What are
/r/writers'
favorite Products & Services?
From 3.5 billion Reddit comments
The most popular Products mentioned in /r/writers:
The most popular Services mentioned in /r/writers:
Wavemaker
LibreOffice
Hemingway Editor
MasterClass
Power Thesaurus
Reedsy
Tapas
Thesaurus.com
This Person Does Not Exist
Meetup
Project Gutenberg
Notion
Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator
FocusWriter
Microsoft OneDrive
The most popular Android Apps mentioned in /r/writers:
JotterPad - Writer, Screenplay, Novel
Amazon Kindle
The most popular reviews in /r/writers:
Actually I am quite new at this I hope this is a good way to share links.
(Mods, feel free to remove if it isn't allowed)
It's called <em>The Stars of Heaven</em> if you're at all interested in historical fiction (thanks a lot for asking in general, though :) )
Hey Y’all! 😄
Well, after taking 16 years to publish my first book (Fate of the Firelight), I was determined to write my next book much faster. In fact, I challenged myself to write the next one in 16 days. While I didn’t accomplish that goal, I did manage to write the rough draft of The Liar’s Bite in that time.
But now I’ve got two books published!!! I did it!!!
Here is a little bit more about The Liar’s Bite:
“Nine tales that will sink their teeth into you and not let go. Two detectives seek answers at a grisly massacre, a bullied boy struggles with his tragic memories, and a man shipwrecked on a sandbar must cross unspeakable lines to survive. These stories and more—-will haunt you into the night.”
Here is the link: The Liar’s Bite
First, congratulations on your 141 pages. Having a writing schedule and sticking to it is critical to improving your work. However, just getting words down on paper, doesn't mean you're finished.
Writing is rewriting. Hemingway said it, "First drafts are shit."
It's a bad idea to give people first drafts to read, and I am going to guess this is the first draft.
Here is the opening paragraph:
>Pune, India 21st April 1997 The clock was nearing five pm. It was the twenty first day of the blisteringly hot month of April. The bright orange sun reluctantly made way for the clouds. The beautiful orangish red tint on the evening sky was consumed by darkness. Soon, it became totally dark, the sun had surrendered in front of the clouds.
There are many things to mention here.
The paragraph has five sentences. Three of them start with the word 'the' - that is not an effective way to grab your reader.
Since you identify the date along with the location, I don't know why you use your second sentence to tell us the date again.
It also recommended limiting the use of adverbs (words that end in -ly) because they can be replaced with more effective words. You have two adverbs in your first five sentences.
The rest of the paragraph tries to describe a sunset, using the words 'orange' and 'orangish' and then explain that the sun has set (at 5 pm) by going behind clouds. That's not how it works. Sunset happens after the sun dips below the horizon.
My point here is that these issues can be easily fixed by re-writing and polishing your work. Try reading things out loud. It's a great way to reveal issues such as repetition. Use a thesaurus to replace weak words like 'beautiful'
I hope this was helpful. Good luck and keep writing.
Thanks!!
Sure thing! It’s even free on kindle unlimited
Artha and OneLook are the best thesauri I've come across.
As always, though, a word of caution - thesauri are great forwhen you just can't quite remember the word you're looking for, but it's almost always a bad idea to spend too much time browsing and using "fancy" words that don't come naturally to you. Chances are, you will either use them incorrectly, or the sudden shift in vocabulary will seem contrived.
It's worth getting into the habit of cleaning up book links. B094Q6NJJK is the product ID for your book. Everything after it is metadata about the path you took or what you searched for finding it.
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B094Q6NJJK is all you need. Short, clean, and to the point.
I've always wondered this too. I enjoy reading most zombie apocalypse stuff on Amazon, even the most amateur and self published. Some of those authors have thousands of reviews. A favorite is The Remaining series. https://www.amazon.com/Remaining-D-J-Molles/dp/0316404152 It's got over 2200 reviews which means he likely has sold 10s of thousands of copies. Does he make a living? I don't know!
Know that you are not alone. All writers suffer from this. The crushing doubt is why some turn to booze and drugs. It won't help. You have to believe and then you have to work hard.
Go to Writing Excuses, they are masters that can help make the process a step by small step.
Know too, a good idea can be a brilliant flash of light, yet we all know we need to work the ideas , they have to be explored, questions, tested, thought about, figure out a start, the middle, some kind of end. Remember, perfect is not needed.
Write a story you like one you want to read, something that will change your life. Write about the deepest truths, the greatest fears.
Read 'On Writing,' by S.King,
Don't spend too much time here. Its limited.
You can write, I believe you can. I know you can, I can see it in your honest writing here.
Get steady work. Continue to write. You can work and write, you and I both know this. Don't let the writing be anything but honest, don't lie about why you aren't programing.
We all get the flash, then we must tell the story, each painful step of it, let the story tell its voice, you can write anytime, small bits daily, one word at a time.
If you love it, just know that its fine if you write a letter to yourself saying so. Write the letter and mail it your self. Give yourself the stamp of gold. You deserve it.
I just finished this book called 'How to Write Asexual Characters' from the publishing house, Salt and Sage Books. (I'll attach the link below.) I really enjoyed this book because it discusses what asexuality is, the spectrum of it, the stereotypical tropes, misconceptions about asexuality, etc. Again, highly recommend as it's a basic starter for people who want to learn more and don't know where to start. The read is super short (80 pages), so this length is a bonus.
First of all, read. Read as much as you can. If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write.
I recommend picking up On Writing by Stephen King. He goes into detail about his writing technique, which might help you.
If you can't get started with your story, try something else first. Writing exercises are plenty on the Web, or have a look through r/writingprompts for ideas.
When I'm writing, I stay away from the page at first. I think about my protagonist, their facial features, gait, characteristics, desires, etc. Once I have a clear picture of what my person looks like, start writing and drop them into whatever situation you have planned. Write how they react to each situation and see how it grows.
Most importantly, remember, your first draft will be terrible. When you're done, there will hopefully be enough good stuff in there to make your second draft worthwhile. Your first draft should be more like a stream of consciousness than a coherent story.
Have fun!
If you've not already tried it https://wavemaker.co.uk It's basically a mini scrivener that works on everything. I built it you can get more info at r/wavemakercards has a lot of good reviews!
Get MAMP, LAMP or WAMP (for mac, linux or windows, respectively). Install it on your comp. Then download and install mediawiki to use to catalogue all of your notes. There's a slight learning curve, but if you've ever edited wikipedia, it's the same deal. The way this works is it creates a local server that exists only on your computer (so backups are absolutely essential). It's private, it's reasonably secure, and you can really have at it.
I've run the gamut of paid and free writing software. Nothing has come close to the wiki solution. It's absolutely the best. I was able to convert multiple binders full of notes and research into wiki pages, all cross linked and indexed and searchable.
Any writing software will work at that point. It's just words. All the extra stuff is neatly housed in the wiki.
Thank you!!
It can be found on both amazon (kindle unlimited option) as well as Barnes & Noble
If you don't see the point then there isn't one.
Writing and the meaning/impact of story telling is unique to each individual writer and honestly if you don't see any joy in it then why bother? Art isn't generally done just to pay the bills, it's done because the artist feels like they need to accomplish it because they have some sort of investment in it.
If you want to try to find joy and meaning in writing again, try reading more. Try going to open mic nights and listen to others preform. Try reading poetry? Try reading an inspiration book on writing? (Maybe even Stephen King's "On Writing" since it's a favourite of many writers)
No one is forcing you to write. If you want to, do it. If you don't, don't.
I could go on and on about things that could or might help you, but here is my hard and fast reference that I use for just about anyone that wants to get started.
Books:
On Writing by Stephen King Strunk and White's Elements of Style
Apps: Dropbox or really any cloud based storage Evernote Mindly (not sure if this is on Android)
Software: Scrivener Vellum
Blog: http://www.novelpublicity.com/blog/ (Free advice blog on writing, editing, and marketing)
Wavemaker is free, and has several novel planning options: Database Cards, Planning Board, Snowflake, Mind Map, Grid Planner, Timeline.
I personally like the Grid Planner because you can layout concurrent events side by side in columns.
If you mean that you're looking for something other than www.wikia.com, the only similar-but-different thing I'm aware of is Legends and Worlds -- it sounds fantasy-flavored, but it's for all genres.
There are two tool I found that immediately improved my writing. Maybe they’ll do the same for you.
The first is Hemingway App. It analyses your writing for active voice and succinctness, lower grade is better. http://www.hemingwayapp.com
The second is Dan Harmon’s analysis of story structure. It lays out what humans expect from a price of writing before they identify it as a story. aka “flow”. http://channel101.wikia.com/wiki/Story_Structure_101:_Super_Basic_Shit
Good luck and keep writing
It’s currently on preorder for eBook and KU and launches August 12. The paperback is coming soon! Trying my best with Amazon’s formatting.
Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BDFBN89
It’s a zombie outbreak story. Here’s the blurb:
>The Collapse follows the how of a viral outbreak, taking you on a heart-wrenching journey of familial love.
>Karen Gallagher is a mother, a wife, and a scientist, and her past is catching up to her. As the world falls victim to a viral pandemic, Karen struggles to keep her daughter safe, forced to turn to the people who burned her all while harboring an awful secret.
A little about the book:
When Kitt Barlow flips a coin to decide whether or not to quit his job, winding up on the front lines of World War I was the last thing he expected to happen. Now, his only hope of survival depends upon his wits…and the change in his pocket.
Get your copy today: Cents
“When Kitt Barlow flips a coin to decide whether or not to quit his job, winding up on the front lines of World War I was the last thing he expected to happen. Now, his only hope of survival depends upon his wits…and the change in his pocket.”
Here is the link to get your copy today: Cents
I have been working on this novel about a second civil war coming to the US again for the last couple years or so. It’s inspired by current events. But unlike the last civil war which was between north and south, this one is a lot more messy because ideologies don’t adhere to geographic lines so much anymore. The internet can make radicals in any community so the US Balkanizes as a result.
During lockdown, I made great headway on it, but I’ve slowed a lot since getting back to work full time. It’s my second novel, longer and more ambitious in scope than my first (which is available on Amazon btw) I’m hoping to get the second one out to beta readers by the end of the year and publish by mid to late next year. I just hope the story isn’t stale by then.
Thanks for the support! You can check it out here if it seems like something that might interest you. If not, thanks for the love anyway!
Here it is if you wanna check it out!Thanks for the support either way.
I'm a student of King's 'On Writing', so during work hours I try to emulate his technique.
I try to listen to things I've heard a hundred times before, since it won't be jarring to my mind. For me, that's 80's and 90's stuff. For Mr. King, that's apparently hard rock. :)
Thank you for your encouraging words. It means much to me, really.
I have read King's "On Writing" and it was really inspiring I have read many other books about writing, about how to hone writing skills, how to persist in writing and so on and so forth. But it is still hard. :))
Thank you again, I am glad I discovered this community
Well, one thing one needs to do to become a good writer is become an avid reader. Now, I don't know how much you read, of course, but based on what I read I'd recommend you read more good books and you'll see great improvement in your writing.
Have you read Vladimir Nabokov? And do you have a copy of "The Elements of Style"?
For basic format, style and word usage, some good books are The Elements of Style and On Writing Well. Those both cover sentence structure and word usage in a technical sense. The Writer's Lexicon focuses almost exclusively on word choice. Which words are overused, which words are stronger/weaker, etc.
For the emotional aspect of words and sentences, I’d recommend The Elements of Eloquence. That's definitely more advanced than the previous three.
For things like font choice, footnotes and images, that goes beyond the realm of writing and into graphic design territory. Typically when a book is published, an author just provides an unformatted manuscript and a designer handles the layout, font choice, etc. With that said, Thinking with Type is a good book. I had a Typography class in college and that was the textbook we used.
I haven't read a lot of books that deal with chapter length or pacing, but Brandon Sanderson often talks about this in his video lectures (available for free on YouTube). He also has a podcast (Writing Excuses) where chapter length and pacing are often brought up.
Honestly, if I want definitive 'stats, traits, and background' for a character, I will make them up D&D style.
"Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us show up and get to work."
Set aside time, and use that time to work, even if that work is Staring at the empty screen/page for one hour, thinking about it. Your piece isn't going to write itself.
https://lifehacker.com/inspiration-is-for-amateurs-the-rest-of-us-just-show-u-5972825
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses#Literature%20Courses
Also there are a bunch of free literature courses you can take if you follow this link.
A couple of suggestions:
Keep using Excel. This is what I'm doing but with Google Docs. It's not ideal but I have a few separate folders. I have a folder for each project (1 project right now), with a subfolder for each revision (I had a false start but didn't want to throw it away, and my 2nd draft is going to be a ground-up rewrite of the 1st, so it's a new start), and then subfolders for things like setting, characters, scenes (outline & manuscript go here), random exploratory writing that I did and didn't want to delete or add to the manuscript. Your mileage may vary. This is how my project manager / technical engineer brain works. Edit: adding an auto-maintained Table of Contents to documents helps a lot
World Anvil. It was literally developed to address this specific problem, the owners are passionate about adding new functionality, and it's pretty easy to use. There's a paid version, which I tried but was too lazy to make work
Wiki ... IMO the current best wiki platform is Notion.so. I use this for technical projects and it's great.
I'm the guy behind https://wavemaker.co.uk a free and cross platform writing & planning app You may want to have a look at that - I'm also floating around r/wavemakercards
It can sync a database file to a google drive account.
I would love to exchange stories. I'm a 45, African American female. I'm currently writing an urban fiction serial, titled "Patient". Here's a free bonus chapter I'm offering http://hubpages.com/literature/After-Denise-A-Urban-Fiction-Series
Hope we can touch base!
http://www.thesaurus.com/ the online thasaurus, it seems practical. Also, as I'm a natural spanish speaker but have wrote somethings in english, Google Translate... it's weird to write in spanglish, but I manage.
Novels in the present tense are in the minority, but they're definitely out there - this is a pretty good basic article about pros/cons and variants -
I think present tense is especially good for an unreliable narrator - you can pull the reader in very close, and let them see what is unraveling in the narrator's worldview, without making the narrator self-reflective!
Yep, the Freewrite Traveler.
For what it's worth, I built my own similar device: https://www.hackster.io/cameroncoward/featherquill-34-hours-of-distraction-free-writing-bf522b
I've been working on a new and improved version, which would be far sleeker, have much longer battery life (100+ hours), and a large e-ink display. But that's kind of in limbo at the moment.
I also have never used this, but get the meetup app or use meetup.com and you can find a lot of local groups that are free, that will let you engage with groups of writers willing to critique each others' work and swap ideas and advice.
I wish I could tell you more about Writer's Spaces; I can't even find a meaningful hit on the phrase, as it's obscured by articles about what makes a good place to write.
I built and Use wavemaker (https://wavemaker.co.uk) because I wanted a set of cross platform tools for writing that helped structure your work better than one big document.
You really need an "other" here because your list is in no way exhaustive
Try Ywriter: http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter6.html
This is free planning software. There are a few tutorials for it. It's helping me put all of my ideas and notes in one file.
Good luck!
https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/
Azgaar! It's a bit clunky but it has so many options!!!, including temperature maps, state borders, custom biomes, a 3D map feature, and glacier mapping and more!
I like the internet typewriter it has an excellent free version and I can log in anywhere. If you pay and it's not expensive it will open options for you to save to google drive Dropbox etc
I also use Google docs.
You're in luck, because there's been a resurgence of traditional plant based medicinal interest via the 'witch' movement, so there's lots and lots of books about using native plants as natural remedies. The top 2 results on amazon, with the key words 'plant witch' are as follows:
The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More
Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants
There are many, many more similarly formulated results for discovering uses of plants as medicine-- there's 20 pages more of results, and that's on amazon. I can imagine googling similar terms should come up with some quick and dirty surface level guides as well.
Hey! Thank you so much! Here's the Amazon link to check it out! It’s on preorder and will deliver to Kindle on August 12. It’s on kindle unlimited, too!
Do you want to read a children's chapter book? If so check out https://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Up-Magic-Paris-Adventure/dp/1736163604/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mixing+up+magic+book&qid=1625510932&sr=8-1
Lainey tackles a diagnosis of type 1 with heart, humor, mental health support and a wee bit of magic :) If you not into kids books please consider requesting your local library order it. We want to support type 1 kiddos with representation.
Dark fantasy/urban fantasy, first in series: Vulcan Rising
Tag line: Even your most deeply buried secrets can find their way back to you.
Synopsis: Agatha and Joseph are raising a family in the quiet suburbs south of Birmingham. But the secrets of Agatha's past threaten to expose themselves after Joseph investigates a noise he hears in the middle of the night and stumbles upon a world that he did not even know existed.
When their son Thomas is kidnapped, Joseph and Agatha have to rely on each other to figure out why he was taken and how to get him back, whatever the cost.
Along the way, Agatha discovers to her horror that even her most deeply buried secrets are finding their way back to her. And the consequences are inescapable.
I'm a little bit late to the party, but I just posted on writing about wanting to share my book for free. It's a story that I originally intended for young lesbians. Being lesbian is definitely not the main focus at all, though.
If you are interested you can download it from Gumroad for free:
https://sandrakyuumei.gumroad.com/l/ONYZR
Or if you can also get it from Amazon. Although, not for free:
It's here - C Met Anthology 7 there's tons of other fantastic work in there by other writers too
Firstly cool name, secondly the full thing is in here C Met Anthology 7 I'm thinking of doing some short stories for the internet in the future though, do you know any good platforms to post that sort of thing?
Well, this is my first thing published so currently no where 😅 but hopefully I will have an answer to that in the future. For now the full story is in the Anthology here C Met Anthology 7
It's a collection of short stories and poems by the university students!
I had so much writing in the uniquely devestating magic system, the stark violence and horrors of war, the political rollercoasters of the ruling families, and the sinister forces slowly consuming the world.
It will be free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers! Check it out on Amazon for a full synposis- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094Q6NJJK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_FPA8YVYVKC39KKMKY155
Hi there! It finally happened. It's real. I think this makes me an author, now.
(It is also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo in case you don't like Kindle)
Graveworld Book 1: Death Magick
I checked your Reddit posting history and found a youtube channel. I found your real name by checking your youtube channel. From there, I googled it. Then I found your author page on Amazon; sure enough, 6 books must be you. Welcome to the wonderful world of Reddit. It is great for people with autism, not so great for people who are paranoid. LOL.
Have you ever read "The Gods Themselves"?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553288105/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_fabc_YHMJ4JJB6PAWWSVN9P62
It is three short stories that can be read separately (the second is my favorite), but if read in order, are connected by an over-arching storyline to which each short adds important elements.
Definitely give your idea a shot, it's an interesting story style.
Right now it is on Amazon and I ordered author copies to bring to local book stores and coffee shops! Should be shipped in the next day or two!
Almost Night. Has a sequel, but I never got around to finishing the trilogy.
If I rewrote it, the whole trilogy would be in one book (which would be better, because the first and second books are more like novellas, I think they're both ~30,000-40,000 words.
Wikipedia has a decent overview, but if you want to go deeper, I highly recommend The Second World War by Martin Gilbert. https://www.amazon.com/Second-World-War-Complete-History/dp/0805076239
Followed! I am also a graphic designer and writer. Insta: jonesdesignworx and a novella I published a long time ago but never promote: The King's Pamajas (I designed the cover a long time ago before getting an AAS degree).
The first answer is to actually read, not write. Read similar material to that which you wish to publish, and study how the author has written certain things. Do you like how a certain sentence is structured? Do you like the feelings you get when reading their work? What devices have they used to make you feel that way? What words did they employ? What about the language and the grammar that makes it gripping? Then you should write, and never stop reading. Look up certain phrases the authors have used to help when you get stuck (e-books in this day and age are particularly useful here). This isn’t to say that you should copy what the author has done and use it in your work, but rather study what they have done, and how they have done it. Only then will your work improve.
Also, I highly recommend editing on the go, and re-read the previous section (whether it be a paragraph or page; personally, I read the last two pages of my work before writing more so there is a natural flow to the story). I would recommend reading Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ as well: it’s an excellent read for the aspiring author and provides many useful tips for those wishing to break into creating literary worlds of their own.
Finally, don’t be afraid of a critique. Only hand it to friends and family if you trust them enough to be brutally honest, and don’t settle for critiques simply saying ‘this is bad.’ Rather, you should have people critique your work in a constructive fashion, offering advice for why they think certain elements don’t work, and what they think should be improved. There are many subreddits that deal with critiques, and it would be wise to use them to your advantage. You may even generate a following on there, which is always useful when trying to sell your work later down the line!
King's 'On Writing' explains it better than I can, but in short: Finishing a book is a willpower issue.
You don't need to have a very strong or definitive endgame to become massively popular as an author. Look at Neal Stephenson. He's legendary for just kind of trailing off towards the ends of his books, but they're still amazing.
Perfectionist, by the way, is the alter ego of fear. I don't want to publish this because it's primitive/imperfect/whatever is just code for 'I'm afraid to expose a full body of work to the public'. The mind will constantly try to trick you into this, because if you never really try, you can't really fail, right?
Beat that feeling down. Gut it out. Finish the novel, get it in front of beta readers, and step through the process.
One more suggestion: Buy On Writing by Stephen King. The entire book is 200 pages and the last half is all craft and process and writing. The first half is memoir and how he got started, interested but the second half is gold. Good luck!
It's a great description, but you know that it's also overkill, It's too detailed, you need to reduce the info overload. What you are really asking is how to tell the important from the mundane. Use a check list and ask Erin. She will tell you what's important.
>> 1. What's the marvel? what makes Erin go ooh and ahh. Make that detail stand out and have her look at the main thing she finds marvelous. Sketch in the rest. One main item can stand in for why she is loving the room, why it's a marvel, make us see it through Erin, description as narration will just be skipped.
2. The room had everything that Erin loved, everything she was passionate about. Her Ideal room; a room she had never even dreamed about since it was nothing she had ever imagined really existed.
2. Tell us through a combination of why Erin loved it and a sketch of the thing/item; Erin looked at the Posters, she loved the 90's like no one else, she knew every band. Yet there on the wall were bands she'd never heard of.
3. Right now it's not a marvel of any kind, the things are not magical except to her. You have the very tough job of selling the room through her eyes. The items and description are going to be boring and tedious to read unless you find the balance of what's important to the story flow that the reader needs to know. Not what you think they should know, only just enough to move the story and action.
4. You can add more in later, so be frugal for now and move the story along.
>'Skills in description, dialogue, and character development. All boils down to seeing or hearing clearly and then transcribing what you see or hear with equal clarity (and without using a lot of tiresome, unnecessary adverbs).' -On Writing, Steven King
Here are a few quotes advisory quotes from On Writing I would call pragmatic:
"The most important things to remember about back story are that (a) everyone has a history and (b) most of it isn’t very interesting."
"It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around."
However, I do realize there are a few more sentimental portions, such as when he speaks of his wife and childhood. Here's one peice of advice that might fit under that category: "Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well."
I guess the more pragmatic voice stuck with me? Idk.
That has a lot in common with turn of the century academic writing. Comma comma semi colon comma period. There's many half thoughts that lead into the post semicolon concluding thought. He also uses parentheses in a pretty old school manner. His sentences are much longer than most contemporary writers would use.
Have you read The Elements of Style? It lays out some of the basic foundational elements of writing. Using those elements in combination create a work. Using those elements in a reliable way creates a writer's style.
Take an idea and write, write, and write some more. Do not worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Just sit down and tell yourself a story. There's no one else in the world at this moment besides you and your characters. They are your puppets, they are your lovers, best friends, and family. They are your strangers in the night, your villains in the shadows, and the monsters the reside deep in your heart. You will need to put yourself in their shoes and in their minds to understand how they feel and translate that into words on the page. And when you write, you are God. Make something interesting happen.
When you are finished, go over what you wrote again, and try to eliminate 10% of the word count because there is going to be a lot of extra words and they will most likely end with -ly (nicely, gently, ect.). Once you are done with trimming down the wordage, look over syntax because if every sentence goes like "Charlie ate dinner. Charlie stabbed himself in the eye with a fork. Charlie called the ambulance. Charlie was possessed by the Demon God, Bladderbulb.", you will bore your readers.
If you are writing a novel or book, when you are finished with your story, save it in a file and write a note on the calendar for 3 months into the future. On this day, 3 months later, you will re-read the story and tear it apart once again because you have gotten out of the writer mode and into the reader mode. You'll see things you didn't see before with a critical eye and fix them. After that, you can shop it around for someone to publish, self publish, or just stuff it into a drawer for eternity.
Or read "On Writing" by Stephen King.
Don't focus too much on getting more things to help you organize to start writing. That quickly becomes the hobby. Keep it simple. Start writing and figure out what you need as actual problems occur during your process. If you're just starting out, there's nothing better than finishing a story. Finish a story before you start amassing tools to help you finish something.
I also keep a notebook that I rarely revisit. Sometimes the act of jotting down an idea commits it to your memory.
Read "On Writing" by Steven King. No matter what you think of his work, that book is invaluable.
This is rediculous and awesome all at the same time. With a bad guy named Murder Cock you can't go wrong.
You could try printing it out, placing it in sheet protectors, and then putting it in a 3-ring binder. You can put the pages front-to-back that way, like a book. That's probably going to be the cheapest option. If you're in the U.S., you could have the printed copy spiral bound at FedEx Print & Ship, someplace similar, or whatever the local equivalent would be where you are. There are also book binders and book binder kits.
https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Jones-Capacity-Imitation-W396-11/dp/B00094H3SY/?th=1
You have a Twitter profile. Ask #WritingCommunity.
https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Ordinary-Life-Self-Help-People-ebook/dp/B075HTRB4T/ is yours. 49 ratings is considered good. You can mention it when you query. HOWEVER, if this is the book you're pitching, no one will take it. You already published it.
I just picked up this book and am loving it. If you're interested in fiction writing, I recommend it.
KM Weiland has a book "Outlining Your Novel" and a companion workbook that are very helpful for me to get my story structured.
I also found Jim Butcher's Livejournal from years ago to have a very easy-to-follow guide to structuring story, scenes and sequels. Vastly helped me with my current WIP
Wow! for off the top of your head, your writing is outstanding!
There are fans that redirect the heat from fireplaces. The rising air powers the fan, so it is realistic. I love it when science fiction tech ends up being real. It shows that your speculation is on target.
I think to be an even better system the fireplace should be a stove with a glass front and a damper. The fire might not be crackling because the best heat comes from when the coals are glowing.
I'm guessing P.S Do you Remember Me? is yours https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09YP9F1B6
-Ebooks sell better than paperbacks for self-published/indie authors.
-As a self-published author, you need more of a net presence. Join social media platforms, talk about your books more, create an author page, update your Amazon Author page, etc.
-Get an editor. I did glance through the sample and it needs polishing to justify people want to pay for/read the rest.
a little dated, but not bad
classic, may be available online for free
The look inside is enabled on Amazon for a free preview about 10 pages or so
If you want to save yourself a few bucks, it's actually discounted when bought as a bundle (but only applies to the ebooks, unfortunately) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BFK7P1GG?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_a_lnk&storeType=ebooks
It's something I wish I knew of sooner... would have saved me a few bucks on some other people's series I've bought.
I'm right there with you! I actually came here today to write a similar post, so get ready for a long one =)
I was a teacher for five years, and I honestly got really lucky that my husband's work took me far away to another state that doesn't have job opportunities for me because it gave me the courage to do what I have always wanted to do, write full time time! I am a freelance contributor to an education site as well as a couple film and TV news sites, but my true focus in getting a book published.
My weeks go exactly like yours. Some days I am bouncing off the walls with pride, some I crawl into a hole of depression. I'm only recently realizing that I have spent so much time focused on being a part of something that I respect rather than owning up to what I actually enjoy. I was forced to get out of a profession that I joined solely because of my immeasurable respect for educators, I gave myself permission to admit that it wasn't for me. Now, I'm giving myself permission to write in a genre that I actually love, YA, rather than trying to force myself to write more "sophisticated" works.
Something that I've found that helps me through all of this (aside from online groups like this), is listening to podcasts (like writing excuses) and interviews with authors, so that I feel like I am still developing my craft outside of my daily reading and writing. You also hear a lot of similar experiences and philosophies that show you that you're not alone.
I'm really introverted too, so without the forced socialization at work, I ran into the same problems you mentioned. To combat the isolation, I joined a couple of groups that I found on Meetup.com or facebook like Geek Girl Brunch and yoga, so that I always have an event or a day when I know i'm going to get some "peopling in."
Hope something I said helps, even if its just that you're not alone
It’s a fun, light sci-fi adventure filled with mystery, action, and prehistoric animals!
Here’s a blurb: When the residents of Waxahachie, Texas wake to find themselves cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded by an unfamiliar and dangerous wilderness, they must work together to survive and unravel the cause of the mysterious 'seam'.
It’s available now on Amazon and free on Kindle Unlimited.
If you like Under the Dome or disaster/survival adventures, give it a shot! :)
First off, my username is a star wars reference. Nice lol. I used my real name. I'm proud of it, and wanted my real name on it.
It's a fun, pop sci-fi survival/adventure set in the heart of Texas. It's got action, mystery, and prehistoric creatures.
Here's a quick blurb: When the people of Waxahachie, Texas wake to find themselves cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded by an unfamiliar and dangerous wilderness, they must work together to survive and unravel the cause of the mysterious 'seam'.
If you like disaster stories or books like Under the Dome, then you may like this.
It's the first in the series I am writing called 'Texas Accelerated.'
Its free on Kindle Unlimited and available on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKLT4LW4
I would mean so much if you check it out. And I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have. I'm an open book.
Regarding deviantArt, it's the first sentence on the image. BUT, most people do not read the artist comments at all (as I know from experience. 19 years on that forsaken place.)
Regarding Twitter, Amazon Author and Twitter links on my profile. I'm not particularly obtuse, then again, I'm also less scared of the Reddit user base which does have this awesome power to potentially dunk people hard. But yeah, wasn't trying to hock "Uncle Aberrant's Compendium of Cosmic Delights," but if you want easy mode... Link is here https://www.amazon.com/dp/1953312101
Your reviews haven't been bad, your problem is what of it
isn't selling. Why you can't get readership. (Why I called this a sales tactic.
You do get paid for KPU reads, btw.) You asked the wrong question.
From a basic level, your lack of marketing. You don't have
an Amazon Author page. You don't utilize Goodreads. I suspect you don't have
much of a social media presence.
Googling "The Vesalian Saga" only gets me 4 hits. Your book
cover isn't garbage enough not to sell (and this is coming from someone who has
this as a book cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2VD424G). Your blurb isn't
good though. Ex:" Dark roads and shady cars, all while running from
something. Always behind her, the darkness followed, even as she ran towards
it." You used dark/darkness and running x2. And the last line is just a
bunch of contradictions. It's not particularly informative, but it shows weak
prose use. But, it doesn't have typos, and I've seen far worse.
No one can tell your book is bad or not because no one is
picking it up, and that requires a lift on your part to sell, sell, sell.
The Collapse and Destination: Tomorrow. Both are zombie fiction. The Collapse is a zombie outbreak scenario. Destination is a post-apocalyptic romance.
Thank you dude! Please check out my first novel "Gemini Soul in the Currency Tournament." Available on Amazon and Audible.
Gemini Soul in the Currency Tournament https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097SRXF5W/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_VA6JNAP9XMTXHHMQ9V9V
I just saw it.
I have backpacked in the Middle East but I plan to do so in Europe someday.
If this is you you need to work on making your blurb far more specific and get rid of a lot of the information that we, potential readers, are not going to care about. At this point, I could be about to pick up a fantasy/adventure novel or a fictionalised account of an ordinary young missionary.
Pretty cool cover, though.
Thanks! The Space Fox Who Shagged Me, a erotica, scifi adventure, with anti-capitalist themes.
It's a kindle vella serialized novel https://www.amazon.com/Space-Fox-Who-Shagged-Me/dp/B0BF611K6D/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=the+space+fox&qid=1664743014&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjg2IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=falkor&sr=1-1
Synopsis from the book: Sophie lives a bleak and unforgiving life on the island of Reyais. Orphaned, impoverished, and illiterate, it has been just her and her older brother, Philip, for as long as she can remember. Believing that no one would blink twice about her existence, Sophie goes through her daily life unaware she is the target of those in the shadows-those who are aware of her magical abilities and are willing to exploit them.
Making matters worse, a torrent of external forces threaten the island. An enigmatic witch hunter from a faraway land ensnares Sophie and the mysterious embassy within a web of political intrigue. A malicious stranger arrives in search of young Sophie, leaving destruction in their wake. An invading armada has the port surrounded, the local sea captains plot their violent reprisal, and the local sheriff is resolute that everything must be held together, at any cost.
With tensions mounting, Sophie is forced to choose. Should she try to escape or face the coming storm head-on? Is it possible to save what's left of the only home she's ever known?
​
Available on Amazon
t's the book cover for an anthology called "Uncle Aberrant's Compendium of Cosmic Delights." Zany Cosmic Horror (TM). It features a totally-not-ripped-off-from-the-Crypt-Keeper host, Uncle Aberrant, tasked by the hellions to entertain with several stories.
I have about fifty of my own fiction stories, three are novel-length.
Eight are completely finished, five are published (by me) one had a three chaper run in a local newspaper. One was published on a site that no longer exists.
I am not great at self-promotion, but every story I have collaborated on with another writer has been well received.
My very best reviews:
http://www.scaryminds.com/reviews/2012/book144.php
>Read The Seven O'clock Man and then try telling me it won't be in the top ten stories you have read this year.
https://www.amazon.com/Magick-Misery-Lincoln-Crisler/dp/0982253044
>and easily the best tale in the collection, The Seven O'Clock Man, a chilling take on boogie-man stories everywhere, co-written with author Allex Spires.
That's me! I actually never (very rarely) google myself, and only discovered these reviews this year.
Get in the habit of writing complete stories.
They will suck, at first.
But if you never let yourself finish a story, you never will.
After you have written a draft, edit it and make it better.
Then edit it again.
Go through draft after draft to make it better.
The more complete stories you write the better you will get.
The more you edit, the better you will get.
But if you never let yourself do it, you never will.
Demonic Deals is a slow burn M/F fade to black paranormal romance about a witch who accidentally summons a demon. They must work together to keep her safe from the people hunting her powerful magic.
Tropes: Strangers to lovers & forced proximity
You can get a copy free now through September 19th.
Essentially that. Don't fall into the trap of making these characters check each other's bodies out at inappropriate times, or prioritize mainly physical attraction (it can exist, and a little sexual tension won't hurt you depending on the tone you're going for, but don't linger on it in any objectifying ways). And like u/hey_buddyboy said, reading romances written by lesbian authors, for a lesbian audience is a good way to understand the difference. Just be mindful to avoid the romcom style stuff because those inevitably fall into some pretty heteronormative tropes even when they're mlm or wlw.
One rec I can give you of a good lesbian romance by a lesbian author is my friend's book Destination: Tomorrow. It's a short read and imo a fine example of two characters who are extremely well fleshed-out on their own and a relationship that develops organically on page.
Link to my books is on my bio.
The road is long and you haven't reached the end of it yet. Read Kenneth Atchity's A Writer's Time. You don't have to follow his process verbatim, but it may change your attitude about time with regard to writing. Atomic Habits is also helpful. Good luck.
My books are available on Amazon. Dragon alien overlords, it's free if you have Kindle but there's also hardback and paperback. https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Alien-Overlords-Tejun-Fowler/dp/198454294X
Same boat here, I discovered that even though I can write, I am NOT a salesman, promoting the finished book takes more time than it took to write it, and it's EXPENSIVE to buy ads! Ads will cost you a minimum $2K/year. Minimum.
(unless you cheat a bit) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5859893