#writer services

WHAT IS A BETA-READER?

A beta-reader is a professional reader who goes through an edited, unpublished version of your story before it goes off to publishing/pitching. It’s basically a critique on all things that your reader would or wouldn’t like in your work. For example, the protagonist changes drastically through the story–without the character development. Bam! Now you know what you need to work on.

WHY DO I NEED A BETA-READER?

Unless you’re the most perfect person on Earth (which I strongly doubt) you need a beta reader. While an editor can fix all your typos and sharpen your sentences, they won’t look at your manuscript through a reader’s eye. You wouldn’t know that the protagonist is the most underdeveloped character or worse, no one believes in your villain’s motive. The readers would tear this apart once it hits the shelves. Allow me to do that beforehand and polish your baby for the real world.

WHY DO I NEED YOU AS MY BETA-READER?

I’m an avid reader who has been reading for quite some time now. Considering myself an eclectic reader, I have come across varied genres and the numerous tropes/cliches accompanying them. This gives me an insight to what has been done a ton of times and what you can do a ton of times. Plus, character development, overall plot, pacing, and genre relativity among others are areas I strongly critique on. You can get a hint of those in my reviews. In fact, I’m a writer myself and have a gist of what a story needs more or less of.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM YOU, AS A BETA READER?

When you hand over your manuscript to me, you can be assured it won’t be disclosed (not even the title or author name) unless you give me the permission to do so. I’m also up for signing an NDA if that’s more like you.

I do sound conversational and a bit humorous in my writing but I can assure you, I work as professionally as a person being paid is supposed to. I’m also easy to communicate so you can expect exactly what you want for your project. Work flexibility is my trait so things can always be worked out.

I will read your MS from a reader’s viewpoint and give a detailed, in-depth feedback on what was excellent, what was lagging, and what is strongly suggested to be done.

Pacing, plot holes, character development, world-building and overall plot will be analysed.

Specific solutions and creative input will be provided without changing the author’s vision or voice.

The feedback can either be as a chapter-by-chapter or a general, comprehensive take on the manuscript. I’m also open to answering specific questions.

While I won’t be diligently proofreading your work for grammar, spelling, and punctuation (that’s a job for the editor) I would certainly point out consistent errors or errors that might’ve missed the eye of an editor. For example, using an Oxford comma for the first half of the story and not the other half.

I will not provide a line-by-line critique. That’s something I offer in my critique services if that’s what you’re looking for.

I will not ghostwrite bits and pieces of your story. I do provide creative suggestions but they are not something you’re forced to accept.

All my feedback will be delivered in a constructive manner and would, in no way, be intended to belittle you or your writing.

WEBSITES HELPFUL TO WRITERS This is a series of posts which, I think, will be beneficial to writers. But first, I would like to include my usual warning about using websites. Whenever you check a website you are, in my opinion and I talk from experience, being put on a list for sale. So, expect the possibility of being bombarded by ads from companies you, perhaps, have never heard of and have…

Writing a Stellar Elevator Pitch for Your Book

When you hear the words elevator pitch, the first thing you might think of is tech companies, start-up businesses, investor pitches and the like, but also know that books need a killer pitch as well, and a concise one at that.

Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch, also known as an elevator speech, is a marketing tool that writers can use for a multitude of purposes. As a writer, you can use it to entice your readers, reach out to people willing to partner with you, when you happen to be at the right place at the right time with someone important, or when you meet with your agent/editor.

A strong elevator pitch will make it easier for you to answer “what’s the book about?”

The Five Steps to Developing an Elevator Pitch

There are five steps to help you develop your perfect elevator pitch. We’ll try to give you examples in each step to help you understand how an elevator pitch is crafted from start to finish.

Please take note that the examples in this article were created for example purposes only and were made entirely out of imagination. Any similarity with published books is purely coincidental.

1. What’s the content?

Try to write down what your book is about in no more than 50 words. Don’t make it clever or witty. Write it as it is, only the facts of it.

What if it’s fiction?

You can try to put the plot and what happens in it.

What if it’s nonfiction?

Focus on what your reader will learn from it or what you want to share in your book.

Here are some examples:

Fiction

The book is a story about a scientist who was recently fired from his job, and everything seems to be going downhill for him until he stumbles upon a series of posters that will start to define his everyday decisions.

Memoir

The story is about my grandfather’s account of the events in World War II and how he managed to escape his detainment facility.

Self-Help

This is a book about what to do after a breakup of any relationship like friendship, with a loved one, letting go of a dream, etc. 

2. What’s the context?

Most, if not all readers want to have a glimpse or a sense of where they will be transported to or the world they will be immersed in when they read your book. You need to give an idea of what to expect with your book.

With fiction and memoirs, it would be advisable to talk about the story where it is set. This could be the time period, world/universe, location, or any other place that would be the setting of your story. While for nonfiction, you might want to consider the cultural and philosophical context of the problem/issue you’re helping your readers with.

Here are some examples to help you:

Fiction

The book is set in a present that values science and status quo more than intuition and leaps of faith. The story is about a scientist who was recently fired from his job, and everything seems to be going downhill for him until he stumbles upon a series of posters that will start to define his everyday decisions.

Memoir

The story starts from the small town of Joseph, Oregon, where my grandfather was from, and his account of the events in World War II and how he managed to escape his detainment facility.

Self-Help

We are set in a time where pacing yourself is a big step towards self-help and improvement. This is a book about what to do after a breakup of any relationship like friendship, with a loved one, letting go of a dream, etc.

3. Why should they care?

Readers are fussy. They read what they want, and they want to read something specific. It’s very rare to see a reader randomly attracted to a book they want to read because, more often than not, they know what they want, and they know what they want to get out of it. They want to be informed, educated, entertained, inspired, or challenged, which is why when you’re describing your book, make sure you tell them why they should care about it.

In fiction/memoirs, try to add a line about what your readers might feel after reading the book or how it would impact them. You can try to compare your book to others in the same genre.

In nonfiction, explain what they will learn from your book. What’s your key takeaway?

Here are your examples:

Fiction

The book is set in a present that values science and status quo more than intuition and leaps of faith. The story is about a scientist who was recently fired from his job, and everything seems to be going downhill for him until he stumbles upon a series of posters that will start to define his everyday decisions. It’s a story that highlights the human instinct of faith and feeling that, more often than not, drives us everyday in our decision making.

Memoir

 The story starts from the small town of Joseph, Oregon, where my grandfather was from, and his account of the events in World War II and how he managed to escape his detainment facility. The world has many unsung heroes, and very few of their stories have been told. 

Self-Help

We are set in a time where pacing yourself is a big step towards self-help and improvement. This is a book about what to do after a breakup of any relationship like friendship, with a loved one, letting go of a dream, etc. We’ll talk about regret, how to cope, how to move on, and how to do it at your own pace.

4. Make it memorable.

Make sure that your description is polished and perfected. You can add texture and details to it to allow your story to shine. This way, your readers will get a glimpse of your style and give them a chance to test out if your book is something they will be able to vibe with. As with any writing, you should always read, review, and revise.

Here are your examples:

Fiction

In a world where everyone values science, proof, and living by the norm is the track, it’s difficult to allow yourself that chance to take a leap, let alone convince others to do it as well. When scientist John Willis gets fired from his job at one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the state, his life starts to dwindle before his eyes until he stumbles upon a series of posters that will start to define his everyday decisions. As a man of science, will he take the leap and make his own destiny? 

Memoir

When the local newspaper catches wind of a local hero, they waste no time and ask for an interview with the veteran’s granddaughter Isabelle Moore. Her grandfather Larry Moore was a war veteran from the small town of Joseph, Oregon where the story starts. She begins to remember her grandfather’s account of the events in World War II and how he managed to escape his detainment facility. The world has many unsung heroes, and very few of their stories have been told. 

Self-Help

We are set in a time where pacing yourself is a big step towards self-help and improvement. Whether you’re getting over a broken dream, a broken heart, or a broken home, your goal is to move on and move forward at the time you’re most comfortable with. In this book, you’ll learn about what to do after experiencing a heart-wrenching event in your life and how you can move on and move forward afterwards at your own pace. 

5. Don’t forget your accomplishments!

You know the blurbs you see behind the book? You’ll often see accomplishments placed here. Did you win any awards as a writer? Was your book a New York Times bestseller? Did someone give you an amazing blurb? Did you get awesome reviews? This is the place to add them. If you don’t have any of these, don’t add it. Don’t worry, your goal is to get the readers to read the book itself.

 Here are the final example elevator pitches:

Fiction:

Elevator Pitch Example

In a world where everyone values science, proof, and living by the norm is the track, it’s difficult to allow yourself that chance to take a leap, let alone convince others to do it as well. When scientist John Willis gets fired from his job at one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the state, his life starts to dwindle before his eyes until he stumbles upon a series of posters that will start to define his everyday decisions. As a man of science, will he take the leap and make his own destiny? Stacey Hubb, bestselling author of The Honduras Escape

Memoir:

Elevator Pitch Example 

When the local newspaper catches wind of a local hero, they waste no time and ask for an interview with the veteran’s granddaughter Isabelle Moore. Her grandfather Larry Moore was a war veteran from the small town of Joseph, Oregon where the story starts. She begins to remember her grandfather’s account of the events in World War II and how he managed to escape his detainment facility. “The world has many unsung heroes, and very few of their stories have been told.” Christopher Florence, bestselling author of Autumn Nights

Self Help: 

Elevator Pitch Example 

We are set in a time where pacing yourself is a big step towards self-help and improvement. Whether you’re getting over a broken dream, a broken heart, or a broken home, your goal is to move on and move forward at the time you’re most comfortable with. In this book, Kiara Francis will guide you on what to do after experiencing a heart-wrenching event in your life and how you can move on and move forward at your own pace. “It’s inspiring, daring, and altogether exciting.” Kiefer Brandt, bestselling author of The Art of Surrender

Creating elevator pitches is more than just shortening your story and hoping for the best. It takes time, thought, and a lot of editing to get to the point where you’re so happy about it, you want to put it out as soon as possible! Be patient, and work smart and diligently. Your book will come together soon, and you’ll finally get to share your story to the world!

For more book writing tips and articles, we have our whole blog section dedicated for that. Make sure to contact us with your feedback and suggestions for any new articles you might want us to write!

Today we look at what your options are when writing and editing a book, and the bigger picture of how to become an author. These endeavors – the journey of book writing and the resulting life of an author – are among the most cherished and rewarding of all. I make a point of emphasizing that to aspiring authors because so many find the process of sorting through all the options, the decision-making, and the work of actually writing WELL WORTH IT.

WRITING SERVICES

Full-service companies offer authors everything from collaborative book writing to ghostwriting, editing and more. For example, Writer Services accepts inquiries about any and all aspects of writing a book. We work with aspiring and established authors and entrepreneurs alike to determine which of our services will best achieve our clients’ goals.

Our services include:

Ghostwriting – You simply tell us what you want, and we take care of everything else. As explained in further detail below, your name (and your name only) appears on the cover of your book as author. In other words, your writer remains anonymous.

Collaborative book writing – With this service, we work with you one-on-one through every step of the book writing journey. If you’d like to be more involved in the process of writing than what’s available through a ghostwriting service, this might be the perfect choice for you. You get to be involved as much or as little as you want.

Developmental editing – A more engaged, ongoing editing relationship throughout your book writing process is available through this particular service.

To most authors, this is an invaluable service because of the camaraderie between you and your editor. You have someone to rely on and trust in who will be very honest with you about the quality of your work and the effectiveness of your writing. Any doubts or reservations about your book are resolved.

You can look at this service as more collaboration than in ghostwriting and regular line editing, but less than in collaborative book writing.

Line Editing/Copy Editing – This is a high-quality editing service provided in a more traditional writer-editor relationship. Your material is checked for grammar and sentence structure.

Proofreading – We provide a service that puts the final polish on your work. S/he checks your manuscript for spelling, consistency of the use of punctiation marks and many other things these unsung heros do to make you look like a true professional.

Social media and traditional marketing As a full-service firm, we also offer marketing of your book(s) using our social media and traditional marketing resources. Our marketing services are available at several price points to fit your budget and goals.

GHOSTWRITING DEFINITION

Ghostwriting is a writing service where a hired professional book writer, who remains unnamed, writes your book—using ideas and concepts provided by the hiring party—which is then credited to the payer/author.

WRITING MENTOR

A writing mentor works closely with you, offering their vast experience and unique insight. Every aspect of being a book writer and being an author is real to your mentor, because s/he is a seasoned book writer and experienced author.

You may find that you learn quite a lot just by working with them, such as their writing habits, theories, and even style, which is okay because those inevitably give way to your own preferences as you grow as an author.

To give you a clearer picture of writer/mentor dynamics, you might have a look at one or two unique depictions of the relationship in film.

The Only Living Boy in New York (2017) stars Jeff Bridges as a successful author who stumbles into the mentorship of a young man who is his neighbor.

Adult World (2013) stars John Cusack as the reluctant mentor of a young woman who admires him greatly.

Although these portrayals aren’t typical, they offer a sense of the personal interactions that create the mentor-author bond.

Video Transcript:

“The life of an author is often portrayed as strictly independent – a one-person show. But, did you know that working with a mentor is one of the best gifts you can give your own writing? Even the great philosopher Plato had a mentor in Socrates. Plato, in turn, mentored Aristotle. Great minds seek other great minds to improve their work.”

WRITING COACH / WRITER COACH

Writing coaches (or writer coaches) differ from writing mentors in the type of relationship they offer to the author.

The writing coach is not necessarily an author themselves, and their role is more like that of a motivator. They’re not the same as a life coach, though, in that they usually have some experience with editing and/or another facet of writing.

Accountability, inspiration and motivation are the tools of the writing coach’s trade. You might find that the interactions with your writing coach are less personal and deep than those with a mentor. Still, without question, to have someone to answer to is better than having no one at all.

WRITING LESSONS

There are a great variety of writing lessons and classes available online and off. These, of course, can be taken alone or as part of a coaching or mentoring program. They might come in the form of:

1. Writing prompts – Prompts are challenges and/or ideas you can use to jump-start your daily writing practice.

 2. Creative writing classes – Just about every university, community college, and adult continuing education program offers a course on creative writing. Almost all of them also offer the course(s) virtually.

 3. Membership websites – With the recent boom in online learning due to the pandemic, we may begin to see more membership training sites showing up. Though there aren’t many out there to date, we are extremely proud to announce our own membership website for authors! You can get more information about how you can have on-going guidance for literally just pennies a day. It’s called Author Utopia. See it by clicking the following link: https://www.authorutopia.com

 4. Vocabulary expansion – Words are the endless variety of colors available to squeeze onto your writer’s palette. The greater your vocabulary, the better you will do at expressing your ideas in compelling and varied language.

Reading is one great way to expand your knowledge of words, but there are dozens of other ways, too. Online tools such as dictionaries and thesauruses provide vast opportunities for learning. You might also try a quick search for “vocabulary expander” and/or “vocabulary tests”.

5. Reading for writing – In my own experience, I find reading an excellent lubricant for writing. The published word has a certain power to condition an author’s mind towards better writing. As you read, you learn the music of well-written phrases. Like a catchy tune, this music stays with you as you write. You write more and more, eventually finding your own unique voice and your own “songs.”

Also, reading improves your vocabulary. This is proven. Some wise writers keep a list of words they don’t know and look them up after a session of reading. In these ways, reading is one of the best activities to improve your own writing.

6. Journaling prompts – In journals, you’re writing the true story of your life as you experience it or shortly thereafter. You can see how this practice can help you develop your own authentic voice as an author. As with creative writing prompts, there exist many sites that offer prompts for journaling.

6. Editing classes – Editing isn’t just a task, it’s an art. Writer and editors (especially), must look at  manuscripts with a critical eye. Is a phrase redundant? Delete it. Can a different word provide pleasant alliteration? Use that word instead. Clarity, efficiency, inventiveness – all these and more are the goals of excellent editing.

7. Grammar and punctuation – A good writer is never done learning and relearning the rules of writing. Just as a jazz musician must learn their basic scales before launching into improvisation, an author must know the rules thoroughly before they break them.

8. Journalism and blogging – These two types of writing have ethics and rules of their own. It’s worthwhile to familiarize yourself with these, even if they’re not your specialties. It’s likely that some of the practices and skills involved in journalism and/or blogging will translate to an aspect of your future writing processes.

9. Research and writing – Research is another rewarding endeavor for writers. When researching a topic – any topic at all – you might gain all types of ideas and inspiration for your book. Depending on what you’re writing, research could account for a large percentage of your time working. For example, non-fiction books generally require extensive research into the real people and actual events you’re writing about.

10. Poetry workshops – Here’s a double-power tool for improving your work. Writing poetry hones your senses of efficiency, rhythm, and tone, as well as aiding your creativity and inventiveness. Workshops offer contact and interaction with other writers, and everyone usually emerges from them better editors.

11. Character creation and development – Classes are also available for specific aspects of the fiction-writing process. Think of the value of well-developed, three-dimensional characters to a good novel. Learning this skill can go a long way in making you an effective writer.

12. Fiction for beginners – On the other hand, you might not be ready to dive into in-depth classes on specific techniques. Fiction lessons for beginners are great ways to dip your toe in the water and get a feel for the process and promise of a professional writing career. Make all the mistakes you want! In beginners classes, you’re free from the pressures you might feel elsewhere. In the meantime, you’re getting solid footing for the next steps towards authorship of a book.

13. Advanced writing – Maybe you’ve already taken many of the classes I’ve listed above. Maybe you’ve even written a book or two. Your learning isn’t done! Advanced classes offer learning opportunities to authors who are ready to accept the next higher challenge.

BOOK EDITING SERVICES

“Writing is editing,” is an old adage that holds true today. Editing affords your work a reader, among other benefits. A reader/editor who is not the author often facilitates the best results. Writing is communication, and communication is always a two-way street. You want to make sure that what you’re writing is as close as possible – in clarity, meaning, and tone – to what the reader perceives.

We often think of editing as work done exclusively after a book is written. That isn’t the case at all. In fact, editing often begins in earnest at the beginning of your second draft. So, it’s useful to think of editing as much more than polishing a completed draft.

Working with a developmental editor, for instance, is a fantastic way to refine ideas as you go along. You might find that this type of editing service helps put you on the writing path that you were seeking all along. 

Working with a developmental editor means having a working relationship, including dynamics both personal and professional, with an experienced author with whom you feel comfortable. This type of editor guides you towards not only improving your writing but also clarifying and defining your message. Think of this person as just one step shy of a mentor. In fact, a developmental editor can become your mentor under certain circumstances. The definitions are not set in stone, but usually a mentor is more invested in you as a writer. This makes sense because the relationship with a mentor can last a lifetime while a developmental editor is usually on board for one of your book projects at a time.

All these resources, services, and tools can be mixed and matched to fit your goals and needs. I hope that with this article I’ve given you a clearer picture of some of the pathways and work-ways available to burgeoning and established writers. Now it’s up to you to choose the first (or next) step in your journey as an author. 

Video Transcript:

“Mark Twain once said, ‘Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.’ And with that, the great American humorist leaves us back at square one. In a way, he was talking about editing. A subject so broad that a good author is almost always studying it. Fortunately, the resources available to you are also almost endless.”

Worried about having a solid book project idea worth writing? Does your book need to be the only one on the subject? This article will help you navigate the myriad of possibilities you have right now—some of which you may not even be aware you have right in front of you. Just remember this:

“Every book is like a snowflake; each one fascinatingly unique because of the wonder, beauty and creativity that comes from the soul, of which there is only one of its kind.”—Robert Nahas

The Right Book Project Idea

How can you know whether you have a good book project idea or a dud? So many people are inspired to create a book but have insecurities about the interest level of their audience. “Is it as important to others as I think it is?” “Will people see this as valuable?” In other words, will people want to buy and read your book?

How do we decide or discover what to write about? Do we write for ourselves or is there some larger scheme of things? What’s the best way to come up with a book project idea? In this article, we’ll explore how to narrow down numerous book ideas to reach the one to go with on your book writing journey.

We’ll look at different types of books that might stir your imagination.

We’ll review some book plot ideas to start picturing the world where the action of your story takes place.

Brainstorming is a sort of “book idea generator” that gets concepts flowing from your mind and onto the page. So we’ll look at this as well.

As important as plot is the book character idea, which usually starts with a protagonist (the person you want to root for) with whom the reader will be spending much time.

Finally, we’ll explore some ebook ideas, looking at some of the bestselling genres in this important format.

It’s important to remember that your idea for a book project can come from many sources. Usually, the concept you settle on for your book comes out of developing and writing ideas from several different places. If you’ve read my article on creative writing prompts, you already know that your inspiration can come from things like books, music and other art, places, experiences….

Also, there’s the rule of thumb from one of the most successful writers in history, Stephen King: When you begin your second draft, that’s when you’ll know what your book is about.

Ultimately, your book ideas, though inspired from different sources, will come from the place inside you where insight and intuition live. In other words, where you feel your ideas resonate. Sometimes that may be from your heart, other times your mind, and so on. The sources that resonate strongest within you will stir and awaken some part of you where you can facilitate your most organic writing. And your most compelling stories will be unique to you, coming from your imagination, perspective and feelings.

Like I’ve been known to say often, “Every book is like a snowflake; each one fascinatingly unique because of the wonder, beauty and creativity that comes from the soul of which there is only one of its kind.”

This reveals how there can be countless books on the same topic, and yet people continue to read more than one of them. So take your inspiration from others and make your book a reflection of you.

Video Transcript:

The world of the novelist or non-fiction author can be thrillingly creative. There are endless genres and hybrid genres into which you can place your story. Gaining ideas and inspiration is half the fun. Start your author journey today.

Type of Books

When considering the type of books you might want to write, it’s good to look at these three categories to see which resonates with you and you generally feel strongest writing in:

EXPERIENCE

1. Autobiography

This is the genre for the long format, relatively unabridged story of your life.

2. Memoir

Akin to the autobiography, this genre is based on your own experiences. But it usually focuses on a specific time in your life. It can be about days or decades, but it’s not as comprehensive as an autobiography.

 3. Biography

Biographies can be written through research and/or personal experience with the person about whom the book is written. They are the life stories of people other than yourself.

KNOWLEDGE

 1. Non-Fiction

Art:

The art world is rich with potential sources of inspiration for your non-fiction book. Maybe you already have a favorite painter, film director, style of music, and so on, which you can expound upon at length. If so, a book of collected works and/or insights might be the choice for you.

Criticism:

Art books and books of criticism differ in that the latter usually take a more academic form. Criticism looks at art in depth, offering quantitative and qualitative assessments of the subject art and artist(s). In criticism, the reader expects detailed analysis and contextual information on the topic at hand.

Education:

Best practices, scientific surveys, and emerging methods are just three of hundreds of approaches one might take in writing a book for students, teachers or established professors.

History:

This genre has gained popularity in recent years, especially with the publication of biographies of Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. Of course books can take any number of approaches; they don’t need need to be biographies. There can be a period of history that interests you, such as the Civil War or one of the world wars. The American Industrial Revolution and the dawn of the Information Age or peacetime, among many others, are options for writing history.

Non-Fiction for Children:

This is another genre that often crosses over into biography, since children generally enjoy stories with real people “just like them.”

Politics:

Suffice to say that this genre has never been more popular!

Science:

Some say science is out of fashion, but you wouldn’t know it looking at non-fiction book sales. Books about the human brain and biology in general are popular, as are anthropological stories.

Sports:        

Avid sports fans number in the many millions, and sports authors have been venerated for a hundred years or more.

2. How-To

Are you an expert in a certain field or do you have a specific skill you can teach others? If so, then the how-to book might be the choice for you.

3. Memoir or Biography

These genres are included here in the “Knowledge” category as well as in the “Experience” category, because memoirs and biographies sometimes begin as documents of what the authors know about a topic. Later, perhaps in the second draft, the writer gains an understanding that the story is more personal.

CREATIVITY

1. Fiction

Within the very broad category of fiction, perhaps more than in any other, you’ll find authors who combine two or more of the genres listed below. Inexperienced writers sometimes feel locked into only one narrow style, and that can be at the detriment of good storytelling.

Take for example the wildly successful “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling. In her books, you’ll find elements of adventure, children’s fiction, fantasy, mystery/suspense, psychological thriller, sci-fi, young adult, and more. Her particular concoctions will not likely be the same as yours; you’ll create your own. Whether you strictly stick to one genre or mix together 10 or more is up to you. If you find yourself working with an editor from a publishing house, they will likely have a say in it as well, but that’s a good “problem” to have because they have data about what books sell. 

Here are some common genres of fiction:

            Adventure:

            This genre usually sees the main character setting out on a physical or mental test.

            Children’s Fiction:

            Children’s books are very popular, and their topics can be as tiny or grand you like.

            Crime:

We’re all familiar with the detective books of the old days: the “noir” novels with a tough-talking, gumshoe private dick (private detective) who stays one step ahead of the criminal. Of course, there are thousands of variations on the crime novel.

            Fantasy:

The fantasy novel has long been a favorite of imaginative authors who realty want to let their creativity roam free and soar. We see examples of this genre in stories featuring hobbits, dragons, wizardry, and more.

Historical Fiction:

This genre has grown in popularity in recent years, as more readers become interested in novels set in some iteration of a storied past.

It’s nice to know that you can combine fact with fiction in what’s known as Historical Fiction. You write the facts and also have the creative license to tell a story of how things may have plausibly happened over the things we don’t know about events in history.

There are limitless possibilities you can write about, from how two people might have fallen in love to what the fallout was like for a family or neighborhood from some major event.

Literary Fiction:

These novels can be regarded as the equivalent of “serious” drama films. The literary author is as concerned with the craft of writing as they are with the plot of any given story.

Mystery/Suspense:

Here we have the famous territory of the Agatha Christies and Arthur Conan Doyles of the world. Here we also see examples of the blurred lines between and among the genres of fiction. After all, mystery and suspense novels almost always include a crime or a series of crimes.

Psychological Thriller:

This genre is often a hybrid, too. Elements of mystery, suspense, crime, and other types of stories are often blended together with some form of (known or unknown) psychological disturbance in one or more characters.

Romance:

These novels don’t have to be the stereotypical, flowery, saccharine love stories. Again, romance can be just one element of just about any genre. Anne Rice famously made romances out of her vampire stories — or vampire stories out of her romances!

Sci-Fi:

Science fiction is a tremendous genre within the realm of fiction. Hundreds of classics hold places in the pantheon of sci-fi authors, and more books are being added every year. You probably know some of these stories set in the future, about space travel, about science here on Earth, and much more.

Western:

The American West is a classic setting for stories of all kinds — even sci-fi, if you consider the recent mashup book Cowboys & Aliens. The familiar, transportive feel of westerns contribute to their popularity.

Young Adult:

Authors and publishers alike have been chasing after the next Twilight, The Hunger Games, or “Harry Potter” ever since they got over the shock of how many books each series sold. Even outside of those blockbuster titles, the young adult market is a big one, offering many types of stories for readers 12-18 years old.

Experimental:

As with any art form, writing invites experimentation. The genres listed above are meant as starting points for ideas and structure. We’ve looked at examples of books where the author has combined elements of several genres. The experimental author might take it a step further. They might combine fiction and non-fiction into a hybrid form. The possibilities are endless. The major categories, genres, and any combination thereof exist to serve your writing craft and storytelling.

Book Plot Ideas

Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, you’ll want to examine how your story develops and the action within. As I emphasized earlier, books are inextricably tied to stories. Even if your book is non-fiction, you need to tell good stories in it — in this case, true ones. Let’s look at some conflicts that can be used as “pressure points” that move your stories along.

An unforeseen event up-ends the life of the protagonist.

You were privy to an important negotiation, and the real story hasn’t been told.

Three people (a “triangle”) vie for love or power where there is only room for two.

A U.S. president struggled with poverty as a young man.

Book Idea Generator

You can develop many more book plot ideas on your own through the process of brainstorming.

Start with a pencil and a blank sheet of paper.

Let your ideas flow freely onto the page.

Now is not the time for fully crafted sentences and extensive editing.

Use symbols, draw pictures, and whatever else moves your ideas from your mind to the paper.

You can create your own book idea generator, and here’s how:

Take the following 5 aspects to a story: PROTAGONIST, ANTAGONIST, SETTING, CONFLICT and THEME.

Work through each aspect, making up a scenario for each.

Rework the aspects as you wish.

Create more 5 aspects as you need until you get inspired to write about what you’ve come up with.

EXAMPLE

Here’s an example of your own Book Idea Generator for a fictional story:

PROTAGONIST: Sara—a homeless single mom in her mid 30s.

ANTAGONIST: Calvin—ex-husband is a crooked politician who cheated on her and verbally abused her.

SETTING: Present day, New York City

CONFLICT: Sara wants to figure out how to make a better life for her son. Ex wants to make sure she never sees a day of happiness and has the connections to make it happen.

THEME: A hero’s story about overcoming impossible odds.

Creating your own book idea generator is just about being methodical.

NON-FICTION EXAMPLE

For non-fiction, “how to,” use these aspects: PROBLEM, DESIRE, CONFLICT, SOLUTION and GOAL.

PROBLEM: People are not able to pay their bills.

DESIRE: People want to have a life of success and happiness.

CONFLICT: People don’t know what to do during this pandemic in finding work.

SOLUTION: Show others how to create their own careers working from home as book authors and thought leaders.

GOAL: Readers able to startup their own home-based businesses within 30 days.

You can see how the non-fiction how-to book idea generator enables you to come up with a valuable and practical book concept.

You can do this for any genre in any type of book. Simply put, you are preplanning your book!

Book Main Idea

What is the main idea of your book? Don’t underestimate the power of questions. Ask yourself:

What is the moral of my story?

What are the main events in my story?

Why does the plot of my story unfold the way it does?

Think of this as the takeaway of your book; what readers will tell their friends they got out of it.

Book Character Idea

Developing a book character can also benefit from the process of brainstorming.

What is the character’s history?

What are their motivations?

What do they look like?

What is their temperament?

Do they live with internal conflicts of any kind?

It’s rare to find a character, in any book, who doesn’t fit an archetype (a very typical example of a person). One reason for this is because for readers to root for the protagonist, they have to be able to relate to him or her. So archetypes are well worth studying. Which archetypes do you want to include in your book?

Video Transcript:

So, you want to be an author. Most authors don’t just start writing and end up with a completed book in a few weeks. Building a book is a process, and there are infinite ways of approaching it.

Ebook Ideas

Ebook ideas are the same as print book ideas. Obviously, if you’re going to have a print book, you might as well have an e-book, and vise versa. There is no extra work involved. It’s just a matter of technology and format.

One caveat you will absolutely run into is the incompatibility of your document in being accepted to Amazon’s KDP system. You will find this process extremely frustrating. But there is a fast and simple way to avoid the countless hours and raised blood pressure.

My developers here at Writer Services will turn your book into the necessary formats like Kindle, Nook and Sony e-reader formats quickly and at low cost. Just contact us when you’re ready to publish your book and we’ll take care of this for you.

Finally, let’s consider the increased speed that books are now written and published. With the availability of e-book technologies, the manufacture of physical books is now almost a luxury. This has created great opportunities for authors.

Increasingly, writers are creating “universes” that provide characters and stories for a series—or multiple series—of books. Could you produce multiple books in, say, a three-year span? If so, what would the universe you create be like?

For a long time, maybe for years, you might have been considering how you’d write your first novel. The good news is that, using the tried-and-true guidelines in this article, you can gain the confidence to start writing your first novel today! 

How to Write Your Novel

There is no right way or wrong way to write your novel. The approaches are almost infinite. What’s important is what works best for you. Here are a few practical methods for writing your novel that you can copy or adapt to that can work for you:

 I.  The “Snowflake” Method

The name of this method refers to an organized, structured approach to developing a novel, just as a snowflake has a definite structure that gives it shape and keeps it together.

Also, a snowflake begins as a single droplet of water. This method builds upon itself, similar to how other ice crystals connect with the original droplet of frozen water.

The beauty of this writing method is its structure. Your story becomes crystal clear; with exactness, it builds upon itself.

  6 Steps to the Snowflake Novel Writing Method:

Summarize your novel in one sentence

Expand your sentence into a summary paragraph

Describe each major character, each with a one-page summary

Expound on your novel summary with more paragraphs

Further develop your character descriptions, including how they will relate or interact with one another

Rinse and repeat: Keep working through each of these parts of your novel and expand on them, over and over again.

Get the #1 Secret to Writing Your Book Fast

So, you begin by summarizing your novel in one sentence. Think of this as the center of your snowflake. Then you expand it to a summary paragraph, with the central plot, major conflicts, and a preview of how it all comes together. Each character then gets a one-page summary. You then develop each summary paragraph, without trying to write the whole novel at this point. Similarly, you return to the character synopses and develop those. From this point, you pretty much rinse and repeat the process until you have a completed first draft.

II.  The “No-Outline” Method

In contrast to the Snowflake Method, the No-Outline approach allows for a creative free-flow of ideas at any given point in the writing process. Many authors prefer this method because they feel constrained by structures like outlines and summaries.

 III.  The Three-Act Structure

Not as strict as the “Snowflake” and not as freewheeling as the “No-Outline,” the three-act structure is an approach you’re probably familiar with, especially if you’ve read or seen any dramas. In fact, most stories can be described in terms of their “three acts.”

As an approach to writing a novel, however, the method requires certain attributes—namely the inclusion and placement of “disasters” within the acts. The first occurs at the end of act one. The second happens at the midpoint of act two, and the third at the end of act two. The story is set up in a prologue of some sort or another, and the plot points and character arcs (journey of development) are wrapped up in an epilogue, more or less.

Again, as there is no finite method to writing a novel, you might want to create your own approach utilizing particular points from 2 ot all of the above methods. That’s your writer’s license, so go for it!

Write Your Novel in a Month

Maybe it’s not surprising that, in this fast-paced world, so many budding authors want to know how quickly they can complete a novel. (This is NOT the best approach.)

However, certain marketers who know of this desire to write a book practically overnight, you are certain to see online articles and gurus who pretend to be knowledgeable book writers who boast you can write 2,000 to 3,000 words per day for 30 days and so on and so forth.

They list tips and tricks like turning off your spell-check and carrying a notebook to jot down ideas when they strike. And, hey, those are good ideas in general. Stephen King reportedly writes 2,000 words every day. Having a words-per-day goal and writing down notes from moment of inspiration are great habits for an author. But…

What they DON’T emphasize is the sneaky language that promotes ideas like “a novel in a month.”

They might say “Have an outline prepared in advance.” Well, “in advance” is already telling you that it will take MORE than a month. Similarly, they note “What you’ll end up with might be a good first draft.” Okay, but a first draft is NOT a novel! Fans of Ernest Hemingway might recall his opinion of what first drafts are, but I can’t include the word here in a polite article.

Much worse is the attention being focused on speed instead of quality. And what about the enjoyment of the journey? I mean, really! Writing a book is on most everyone’s bucket list. So why would anyone ever want to miss out on the unique experience that only writing a book can offer?

But again, what is most important is the quality of your writing—nothing else. I’m not talking about grammar here. I’m talking about moving your audience, making your reader’s heart pound out in their chest; allow them to laugh or cry or contemplate…. When readers can see and heaqr and feel… you’ve got yourself a novel worthy of publication. Something thew world needs more of.

So, in my view, the “write your novel in a month” idea is equivalent to fad diets for weight loss. It sounds attractive, but you might be disappointed with the results. Proceed with caution in these schemes, if you proceed with them at all.

Video Transcript:

There are as many approaches to writing a novel as there are novelists. You might prefer a detailed outline to which you adhere strictly. Or, you might prefer to write without an outline, allowing a free flow of ideas. Or, any approach in between that helps your writing soar.

Write Your Novel in a Year

Most authors take one to two years to write a novel. Why so long to write your novel? As you’ll see in the next section, there are many pieces to the novel puzzle.

Some involve activities and non-activities like reading works by published authors for inspiration and simply taking a week or two away from your own writing, so you’re able to see it with “fresh eyes” when you return to it.

The Power of Procrastination

Not writing is an important part of the novel writing process. Did you actually describe something to the level you envisioned? A lot of the time, the mind can play tricks on us. We’re typing away, thinking This is GREAT! And then you come back to it a few days later and, boy, what a revelation.

So you have to get your mind off of something you’ve written in order to qualify whether you’ve actually succeeded at telling your information to the degree you envision.

If you are a novelist who is just starting out, giving yourself plenty of time relieves you of the stress that can come with first-time jitters. If you’re of a certain disposition common among authors (perfectionist, self-doubting), you’ll find plenty of other sources of stress. I say that jokingly, but it’s true that adding an unnecessary deadline to the process can make it less enjoyable.

So that’s another good reason to step away from your novel from time-to-time. Don’t be in a race to finish your novel. The truth is, anyone who brags about how fast they wrote their novel only tells others that they focused on the wrong importance for their book

The value in mulling over things is truly underestimated. Think of yourself on par with published authors. Those who take weeks away from their newest work, in order to gain new life experiences, new perspectives, and fresh inspiration. You’re able to reflect and even come up with better ideas and concepts. When it comes to novel writing, when you run “the marathon” and not “the sprint,” the satisfaction of work well done is even greater and your end product will be even better.

Write Your Novel Step by Step—6 Rules to Follow

Know your subject and know why you’re writing

Immerse yourself in creativity

Write a story, not just words and sentences

Start with one protagonist if you’re new to writing novels

Ask yourself about the why and where of the plot

Novels aren’t just words and sentences – but your first draft could be

There are no cookie-cutter ways to writing a novel, but being aware of these 6 rules will help you write your first novel like a pro. Here are the 6 rules explained:

Write Your Novel Step by Step—6 Rules 

1. Know your subject and know why you’re writing

Ever notice that most successful novels are set in a place where the author lives or has lived? It’s intentional. By doing so, the author starts from a place, literally, they deeply know. Readers are smart, and they know real experience when they read it. They like authenticity. That’s why, at every opportunity, write about what you know.

Similarly, a writer’s motivations are apparent in their writing. Readers reward authors who write passionately. It would seem to be a given, but many (most?) writers don’t stop to ask themselves WHY they are writing, or preparing to write, a novel. Of course, there are as many motivations as there are manuscripts in the world, and who’s to really say which is more valid than the next?

In considering these questions, I like to consider words like: inspiration, motivation, passion and purpose. Ask yourself, “Why should this book exist?” and “What will it do for my readers? If you think along these lines, you’ll do fine in having a meaningful novel.

2. Immerse yourself in creativity

Regarding the goal of writing from a place of inspiration, many authors and editors recommend steeping yourself in creativity. What does that even mean? Well, if you picture all that the word “creativity” implies, these are the things by which you want to be influenced.

Yes, the writing process itself is a creative endeavor, but the idea is to enhance your mindset as an artist — after all, writing is an art — by experiencing other art. Such immersion can include works that are topical to your writing, but not necessarily so. 

Surround yourself with things that inspire you, things that make you feel a certain way. That might include works of art, like a painting, sculptures, plants or beautiful flowers. You might like playing Mozart. It might mean walking on the beach at sunrise. It might even be key words that strike you a certain way. Hang them up, put them in frames… whatever inspires you, put it all around.

3. Write a story, not just words and sentences

As you read in the earlier section on approaches to writing your novel, there’s an emphasis on story. It’s another point that might seem obvious, but editors at the highest levels of the publishing world often bemoan the “piles of words and sentences” they receive in manuscripts that lack any real storytelling.

Though it’s true that most of the rules of writing are “made to be broken” to a certain extent, telling a story is one rule that is broken at the writer’s own peril.

That’s because storytelling is so ingrained in every culture of the world. As children, when we saw an adult approach us with a book, what did we understand? It’s STORY time! Suffice it to say that the person who picks up your manuscript or published novel wants a story.

4. Start with one protagonist if you’re new to writing novels

Earlier, I also touched on characterization. If you take the “Snowflake Method,” for example, notice the emphasis on writing and rewriting characters for your novel. Now, imagine the details of the protagonist (the hero readers will root for) and their character arc (their journey of growth and improvement).

For a beginner, writing multiple protagonists risks making a mess of the story. This doesn’t mean your first novel has to be overly simple. Follow your inspiration. At the same time, consider the great novels in history where the author employed only one protagonist. You might want to write the next complex Game of Thrones, but trust that not doing so on your first outing might not be as limiting as you think.

5. Ask yourself about the why and where of the plot

A few minutes ago, I asked you to consider immersing yourself in creativity. This is the section that cautions you that merely wildly “creating” is not the be-all end-all of writing good fiction. Asking yet more questions, like “Why?” and “Where?”, especially when it comes to elements of your plot, can be a bulwark against immature writing styles.

These are the equivalent of the young painter who finally gets a set of paints and immediately wants to throw them all onto the canvas. This inexperienced artist is “telling a story” of interest only to themselves.

Forgetting that communication is a two-way street is a mistake that audiences rarely let go unpunished. That may sound harsh, but put yourself in the shoes of the reader who just paid twenty dollars for your novel, only to find out you wrote it strictly for your own enjoyment. Writing (and all art) is a form of sharing. The selfish author is a lonely and poor author.

Never write to reach a page count. There needs to be a reason for everything you put ito your novel. If it doesn’t give imagery to your reader you want them to see or feel, it needs to have some other purpose. Does it set something up for later in the story? Will it act like a smoke screen, tricking your reader into thinking something about a character that is actually false so you can shock them later?

When you’re writing something, ask yourself, Does this do anything for my story? If it doesn’t, leave it out.

So, ask yourself the tough questions about your plot. “Why would this happen instead of that?” It’s really a form of self-editing that is so worthwhile, because it gives your novel a valuable asset you and your readers will come to love: a story with backbone and meaning.

6. Novels aren’t just words and sentences – but your first draft could be

Now, I realize that all of this might seem daunting. Don’t fret. Once you get pencil to paper (or fingers to keyboard) you’ll see that these helpful tips flow together. They are quite the opposite of obstacles or roadblocks. They help ensure that your valuable time as an author isn’t wasted.

In fact, this is a perfect moment to let you in on a secret that might relieve any trepidation you feel as you read about how you might write your first novel. Though I emphasized before that a finished novel must be a story and not just a collection of words and sentences, your first draft certainly CAN be just that. We know from masters like Hemingway and King that first drafts are meant to be rewritten and then thrown away.

I hope this will motivate you to START WRITING today. You can always begin to incorporate all these tips and tricks into your process at your own pace. When you begin your second draft, then you’ll really know what your novel is about.

Rewrite Your Story

That brings us to the crucial point of combining your first draft with everything you’ve learned here and elsewhere, and writing your second draft! What goes into your second draft, while not written in stone, matters.

You now know what your novel is really about, why you’re writing it, where it takes place, and why the plot and its action develop as they do. Your story is focused on one protagonist (if you’re a beginner), and it has backbone, because you’re not just “throwing paint at the canvas,” you are asking yourself lots of questions about what you and your characters do and why you and your characters do what they do. And answering those questions for yourself and your audience.

Video Transcript:

Enter the world of the novelist. No matter what style fires your imagination, being an author gives you infinite possibilities. Begin your journey of passion without delay. Become a novelist today!

Write Your Novel Now

Why not write your novel now? By following your passion and informing yourself, you’re already on your way! I have some good news for you too: Writer Services is here to help you in every step of the process!

Being an author can be a highly rewarding endeavor. Not just financially, but in myriad of other ways. Imagine the great karma from inspiring your readers. You might inspire some to become authors themselves, but also to become all kinds of creatives: visual artists, actors, musicians… there’s no limit to the good you can do in the world through your novels. So… write your novel now! The world needs your input.