Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Writing Success: 3 Tips To Make It Easier

If you’ve ever asked: “Why is writing so hard?” chances are that you’re looking at writing as just one thing.

Writing isn’t just one thing. Many elements go into a successful writing career, and some of the elements have (shocker) nothing to do with writing.

Writers develop bad habits which become engrained. For example, content creation has become commodified. If you check the freelance marketplaces, the bids are low. Buyers are used to cheap content, which is fine, because it’s a huge, global marketplace…

BUT writers have become used to creating cheap content too, and this is harmful. Cheap, junk content sets you onto a hamster wheel of churning out content. You’re not to blame. We’re living in a junk content world.

Junk content is everywhere. Strive to improve your skills and target higher-paying clients. You’ll need to educate your clients, because content buyers are used to ultra-cheap content: show them the benefits of good content, targeted to their audience.

Junk content and other pitfalls aside, consider tracking your writing output.

Track your output and publishing (no matter what kind of “publishing” you do)

Try scheduling a daily and weekly review, and ask yourself: “What did I write today? How many words did I write this week?”

The benefits of writing faster:

• You’ll make more sales. Not only will you be able to take on more clients, but you’ll also be able to do more marketing for your writing services and products like books;
• You’ll be more creative when you’re more productive — ideas come when you’re writing;
• You’ll become more confident. Your confidence will attract more clients and will help you to make more sales; and finally…
• You’ll enjoy writing more. It will be fun, rather than a chore.

Let’s look at some tips to help you to become a successful writer.

1. Keep track, so you avoid the “busy, busy” trap

Set deadlines. Track your words every day.

Over the years, I’ve learned that if I don’t track my word counts carefully, whole days can go by when I’m “busy”, but accomplish nothing of importance.

2. Task list shenanigans: chunking is your friend

“Writing” isn’t one thing. It’s many things:

• Idea generation and development;
• Research for current projects and upcoming projects;
• Creating titles and other copywriting tasks;
• Drafting;
• Revision;
• Final editing;
• Publication in one form or another, whether you publish a book or a blog post, or send the final draft of a project to a client.

Chunk down each project into tasks.

If you add “write a book” as a task in your calendar, it seems intimidating. Small tasks, none of which take longer than 30 minutes, are much less intimidating:

• Brainstorm chapter titles;
• Write the outline of a scene;
• Check cover design;
• Revise Chapter 1, etc.

3. Take time: relax, and be patient with yourself

It’s impossible to be creative if you’re stressed.

Moreover, writing is an iterative process. You write something today, and expand on it tomorrow. Or you get a better idea tomorrow.

When writing seems difficult, it’s because you’re trying to do too many things at once, or you’ve missed steps in the process.

Chunk your projects. Take time and track your output.

You’ll be a success — and you’ll have fun with your writing too.

Self-Publishing Secrets: Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days

Want to sell more — easily? You can boost your Kindle sales FAST with our new program, Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days: Your Blueprint For Success.

The program’s powerful, practical, and tested. You’ll get results too. Use the strategy to increase your sales — you need a mix of long and short fiction to appeal to today’s readers.

How many novellas would you write if you could write a novella in seven days? Would your novellas boost your sales?

Naked WordPress: Create Starter Content For Your Writer's Website

I’ve been talking about WordPress in the newsletter, specifically setting up my “name” website, angelabooth.com.

The site’s been online for 20 years and rather than starting with a site audit and a new theme, I wanted to start afresh with NEW everything.

Several readers asked what they should do first when they had a new installation of WordPress.

My preference is to install my favorite plugins. Then I create some starter content.

Naked WordPress: you need “starter” content

When you install the WordPress script, the result is a stripped down and naked version of WordPress. You need some content so that you can visualize how you want to set up your pages and your blog. 

If you like, you can generate some Lorem Ipsum dummy text for a couple of blog posts and a couple of pages, but I like to kickoff with real blog posts. Once you’ve got some starter content, you can manipulate the look of the site.

You can:

• Create footers and sidebars;
• Menus;
• Your own ecommerce store;
• Image sliders;
• Sign up areas;
• Etc.

What you create is up what you -- decide what want to achieve from your website, and you'll be able to create it with WordPress.

Perhaps you want to create a shop area where clients can buy services instantly. If you do, look for a theme which integrates WooCommerce: this will enable you to sell services. WooCommerce is popular because it's made by Automattic, the developers who develop WordPress, so there's less chance that the plugin will suddenly be out of date and stop working. If you want to sell products, you can do that with WooCommerce too.

A reader asked whether WordPress is suitable for non-techies. Yes, it is. In its latest incarnation, WordPress includes the Gutenberg editor, which is a breeze to use -- you just start writing, and your blog post looks just the way it will look when you publish. If you need real technical help, you can hire help on sites like Fiverr quite inexpensively.

Have fun creating your writer's website. :-)

Want To Write A Bestseller? Write HOT Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Word for word, mystery authors earn more than authors of most other genres, including romance.

Check out our new report, “Write Your Bestseller: Write HOT Mystery, Thriller & Suspense”. You’ll discover how, why, and what types of mystery fiction are selling today, and how to develop a mystery writing career.

New In The Newsletter: Get Visible To Sell More

What kind of website?

Do you need a website?

If you’re just starting out as a writer or author, no. Websites take time and energy, so focus on writing. On the other hand, if you’re a professional, then yes, you do need a website.

There are endless ways you can create a website; some ways are free. We won’t go into your options for a site because it depends on the kind of site you want: 

• Want a one or two page quickie site? Use a template-based website builder like Squarespace or Wix;

• Need a powerful website that will grow with you? Use WordPress: buy web hosting and install the WordPress script; the WordPress script is free. Most hosts today have one-click WordPress installs.

If you decide on WordPress, you’ve another challenge. 

DIY or hire a designer? I won’t get into the pros and cons of WordPress designers here, because our focus is on visibility, and making your website sell. Site design will help you to sell, but you need to know what you want. Designers are focused on the appearance of your website, rather than its function.

From now on, I’ll be talking about making a WordPress website sell. However you can use the general ideas no matter what kind of site you have.

via angelabooth.substack.com

5 Ways Sell More Books, Even If You Only Have Ten Minutes

A writing student complained that his recently-published book had only sold a few copies.

“What book marketing are you doing?” I asked.

He told me that he’d bought advertising, built an email list, was running a giveaway… I congratulated him on his excellent efforts.

“When should I give up?” he asked. “It’s obvious that I’ll never sell any books. Why am I wasting my time?”

“Who’s in charge?”

I pointed out that self-publishing is a business. And as with any business, marketing is ongoing. A business always markets, through the good times and the bad times. Finally, I asked him “who’s in charge of your business?”

Most writers have a touch of Cinderella syndrome. We want to be discovered. We imagine that there’s just ONE thing we could do and we’d never, ever, have to market again… :-)

Fact: you need to be visible. (We’re currently talking about visibility in the newsletter.)

I suggested to my student that he’s in charge of his business. Moreover, he’s the marketing director.

He responded that he had no time to market.

That’s OK. I don’t know any writers who “have time” to market. We do it anyway, even if it’s only for five or ten minutes a day.

Here’s why a few minutes count. It’s because all the marketing you do is cumulative. (Remember, visibility.)

When you have no time, find ten minutes, even if you’re posting to your blog via your phone, while you’re sitting in your car. Everyone has ten minutes a day. Plan to use those minutes efficiently.

Here are some ideas of ways to sell more books, even if you only have ten minutes.

1. Write a collection of tweets

Please stop thinking (and saying) that “social media doesn’t work”. Give it a try for THREE MONTHS.

And yes, I’m shouting. Most of your marketing efforts will bear fruit in three months. So, write a collection of tweets.

Tweet them, over the next week.

2. Snap a photo of your book’s cover and post it to Instagram

Many authors use Instagram, because it sells books.

From How to Promote Your Book On Instagram:

Believe it or not, Instagram is one of the best social media platforms. It can be a perfect place for your marketing strategy and book promotion.

You can do a lot in ten minutes.

Post another photo tomorrow.

3. Create a new Pinterest board (my favorite)

I choose my marketing venues based solely on what I enjoy. Please try doing that, because when you use a social network you enjoy, you’ll find time to do it. I love Pinterest, so I find time to rummage through it.

Take ten minutes a create a Pinterest board: use your book’s title as the name of your board.

4. Find an interesting character from your novel and blog about him

Tell your readers about your inspiration for the character.

If you’ve got a deleted scene or two, post snippets from the scene — you can do that in ten minutes.

5. Get social: retweet, repost, comment

Social media is social, above all. So retweet others’ tweets; follow people. Mention other authors in your blog posts. Post comments on blog articles you enjoy.

You should be able to retweet several authors in your genre in ten minutes.

Ten minutes to get visible (remember, it takes three months)

Make your own “ten minute” list.

Then take ten minutes a day. You can do it, and when you do, you’ll sell more books. Have fun. :-)

Resources to help you to sell more books

 

A short story of 5,000 words can make more money than a 60,000 word novel

New: Your Short Fiction Formula: The Easiest-Ever Writing Process (Workshop)…

Are you happy with your self-publishing sales?

If you aren’t, there’s an answer. Savvy authors use short fiction (short stories and novellas) to generate sales and income quickly.

Explore Your Short Fiction Formula: The Easiest-Ever Writing Process (Workshop) now. You’ll be glad you did.

How To Plot: 3 Steps To Make Plotting Fiction Simple And Fun

Stuck on plotting? At least once a week I get a call from a current or former student who’s stuck on plotting.

You can get unstuck quickly: focus on your characters, because your plot is what your characters do.

Your plot is what your characters DO

However, you can’t follow your characters around during an ordinary day when they get up, go to work, come home, etc. and expect people to read your story.

Consider that when it’s used as an adjective, “novel” means interesting: new, unusual: this gives you a hint that your novel mustn’t be boring. When you’re writing fiction, you’re writing about people with problems, so create people with problems. When they act to solve their problems they’ll plot for you.

Let’s look at some steps to make plotting simple.

1. Plot: create a character with a BIG problem

Creating characters is simple — and it’s fun, too.

Here’s my favorite character-creation template to make it super-simple:

• Name

• Age

• Occupation

• Attribute

• Primary external problem

Fill in the information without thinking about it too much — do it now.

Without any thought at all, I came up with:

• Name: Rosemary Wilson

• Age: 21

• Occupation: Florist

• Attribute: Ambitious

• Primary external problem: she delivers flowers to a house with a dead woman on the front porch. She realizes that the woman is her ex’s fiancée.

Does poor Rosemary have a problem? She might have. What if it turns out that the fiancée got her fired, and that she and the fiancée had a loud public argument?

2. Tell the reader: “who, what, and why”

Create your character and give him/ her a problem, and make it a BIG problem.

You’ve got your WHO. In our example, the WHO is Rosemary Wilson. We’ve also got a WHAT — the dead woman. Now we need a WHY.

Why’s the woman dead? Who killed her?

(Thanks to Debra Dixon for Who, What, and Why, from her book GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. )

3. Conflict happens with people, so create more people

To discover your WHY, create another character.

In the first 25% of your fiction, you’re in the setup phase of your novel, novella, or short story. You can create as many characters as you need. (You can remove them later if you don’t need them, or consolidate characters if you wish.)

When you create characters, remember conflict — don’t create a bunch of people who all get along. Follow the character creation template above, and give them ALL problems. Other characters’ problems may develop into a subplot or two.

Give your characters the freedom to grow your plot

Fiction is about people with problems; plotting is much easier when you let your characters do it.

So give your characters the freedom to plot for you...

 

Commercial Fiction Secrets: Plot Your Novel In 60 Minutes Or Less

Does the thought of developing a plot for your novel make you cringe? You need a plotting method that's fast, simple and organic. By organic, I mean that you allow your characters to develop and help you to plot the novel.

This program teaches you no-fail plotting: you can plot a novel in an hour.

Sell Your Writing: New Theme In Newsletter

Sell your writing

Today, writers have it made. The world is our oyster, to coin a cliche.

You can write something in an hour which can change your life — or someone else's life. You can write something in eight hours which will make you thousands of dollars a day, and give you an on-going income for life.

Wonderful, right?

Yes. And no. Selling your writing is easy enough, but before you can do that, your buyers need to find you.

via angelabooth.substack.com

The first issue of the newsletter is out. Our theme -- selling your writing, no matter what kind of writing you do.

Writing Career: Yes, YOU Can Create And Publish

Recently I coached a couple of new freelance writers. It was huge fun for me because I got to motivate and inspire them, and in the process, I inspired myself.

I’d forgotten the sheer hard slog of hustling every day. The slog itself isn’t difficult, rather it’s the doubts which plague you and drain your motivation:

• Am I charging enough/ too much?
• Am I good enough?
• Is this the best use of my time?
• And on, and on…

The doubts will kill you, if you let them.

Here’s what I suggested to my students: as soon as possible, create and publish something, so that you have a product to sell. You need to create something that’s just for you and gets you out of bed in the morning.

Enhance your writing career when you write for YOU, too

Refuse to allow doubts to creep in. YES, you can create and publish, even if you’re a brand new writer.

What you create is up to you — you can publish short stories if you like. Or you can do as my students did. They created mini-products which they hoped would appeal to their current clients.

The operative word in the previous sentence is hoped. You’ll never know whether something you create will sell, or not. All you can do is create it. Scroll down to the Resources which will help you to create and promote fast.

Create FAST, and have fun

When you’re a new freelancer doubts are ever-present. They’re present for veteran writers too, unfortunately. So, aim to create something quickly, preferably something you can create in a few hours on the weekend.

That might be:

• A tutorial;
• A short report;
• A checklist…

Make it short, make it useful

One of my students created a tutorial for an app which is used by many people in her clients’ industry. She told me that she’d had to learn the app and found it tortuous: “The app’s Help file was a mess. You clicked and clicked, and at the end of seven clicks you got a paragraph which repeated the information in the menu.”

So, she created a five-page PDF, put it up on her website, and charged $25. Initially, she was too diffident to promote the tutorial — she gave away a few copies for free.

After a couple of months, the tutorial started to sell and it keeps selling. She says: “I sell at least a couple of copies a day.”

What could you create in a few hours which has the potential to bring in on-going income? Ignore your doubts. Create and publish. You can do it.

Resources to help you to create and publish FAST

These books will help you to make the most of your time so that you can create and publish fast.

Build a fiction ghostwriting business: start today

Our new program, Story Spinner: Build A Lucrative Fiction Ghostwriting Business In 7 Days, is available now.

In this new program you'll discover how to build a new business as a fiction ghostwriter in just seven days. The program includes everything you need. Get started today.

This Week’s Writing Tip: Write It, Get Visible

You’re a writer. How much thought do you give to promotion?

Whether you do a little or a lot, promotion is essential for all writers. You can’t get out of it. Even if you’re writing for someone else — perhaps you’re a ghostwriter or other writer for hire — you need to promote your services.

Luckily, all the promotion you do is cumulative, also: your name on your writing is a form of promotion all on its own. Years ago, when I wrote for magazines, my byline managed to win me healthy copywriting and ghostwriting gigs.

Sadly, when the tech wreck happened in 2000 I lost many magazine gigs. Then I had to do the heavy lifting of promotion myself, but magazine bylines taught me about the value of visibility, and I’ve never forgotten it.

Visibility counts: the more people see your name the better

Writing and promotion go together, and visibility counts.

Scam alert: the “this will give you visibility” enticement is often used by people who want you to write for free. “Free” has pretty much lost its punch these days.

So how can you increase your visibility? Let’s look at two easy ways.

1. Self-publishing? Write in series

Self-publishing? Avoid standalone titles as much as you can. Aim to create series, whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction. When you have a series, one book sells the rest. Each book gives you more visibility.

The "series trick” is often used by publishers. Rather than signing an author to a single book contract, they'll offer the author a multi-book contract. They know that when a reader buys Book 1 of a series, if the reader enjoys it, she's primed to buy further books in the series. It's a painless way of built-in promotion.

When thinking of writing in series, remember that short sells. ( See our Short Reads Report.)

2. Got clients? Ask for links

Links are the currency of the web. When you write for a client, ask for a link from the client’s website to yours — put the link requirement right into your terms of service.

If you’re writing web content for the client, it’s easy to link to your own website, and add whatever keywords you want to the link.

Back in the days when I wrote a lot of blogs for corporate clients, I failed to ask for links. It was in the early 2000s, so blogs were new to the commercial world. Nevertheless, it makes me wince to think of the opportunities I missed.

Suggestion: it’s never too late to get a link from a client. Asking for a link gives you an excuse to get in touch too. Who knows, the client may have a gig for you.

Look for ways to gain visibility

I encourage my writing students to get as many links as they can. Often all you need to do is ask.

Examples:

• If you’re a self-publishing author, ask for a link from your local area libraries — you’re a local author, so chances are they’ll do it;
• Looking for clients? You can ask for a link from libraries too, as well as from your clients, past and present, and from local news websites.

Over the years, I’ve never paid as much attention to winning links as I should. So don’t do as I do. Get links from your clients and from local organizations.

How will you become more visible this week?

Self-Publishing Secrets: Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days

Boost your Kindle sales FAST with our new program, Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days: Your Blueprint For Success.

The program’s powerful, practical, and tested. You’ll get results too. Use the strategy to increase your sales — you need a mix of long and short fiction to appeal to today’s readers.

How many novellas would you write if you could write a novella in seven days? Would your novellas boost your sales?

Newsletter: How To SELL Your Writing

This coming week I’ll be posting to my new “behind the scenes” newsletter. Our initial theme is how to sell your writing.

Selling your writing will be on ongoing theme in the newsletter. We’ll look at sales for writers, including: content writers, copywriters, bloggers, self-publishing authors, etc.

We’ll start with the foundation: a sales mindset, because “sales” includes everything.

“Sales” includes everything: your branding, platform and more

Not sure about building your platform? Check out Publicity And Marketing Magic For Writers: How To Build Your Writing Platform And Sell More Every Day.

Since I’m redoing my angelabooth.com site from the ground up, it can serve as an example.

As you can see from the image above, currently angelabooth.com is a blank slate. I’ve installed WordPress with the default theme.

In the newsletter we’ll look at the thinking behind setting up a site which sells. We’ll ask some basic questions, and we’ll set some goals. Then we’ll start building out the website to achieve those goals.

Creating a writer’s website: it’s not about the site

I often work with bloggers who want to create a profitable blog. They’re eager to dive into themes and color palettes. Sales are the furthest thought from their minds, even though that’s what they want the site to do.

Today, a WordPress website can do anything: it can be an online store, a major news magazine, an online portfolio.

The newsletter posts won’t be about “blogging” — they’ll be about sales, and how you can make them happen, no matter what kind of writing you do. (Or where you choose to sell.)

Subscribe if want to sell more of your writing. (It’s free.)

Self-Publishing Secrets: Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days

Boost your Kindle sales FAST with our new program, Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days: Your Blueprint For Success.

The program’s powerful, practical, and tested. You’ll get results too. Use the strategy to increase your sales — you need a mix of long and short fiction to appeal to today’s readers.

How many novellas would you write if you could write a novella in seven days? Would your novellas boost your sales?

Join Me Behind The Scenes: What Works, What Doesn’t

Want to know what happens behind the scenes?

As you may know, I recently consolidated my writing-related blogs to this blog. At the same time, I took down my “angelabooth” name website.

Launched in the late 1990s, the “angelabooth” site went through many iterations over two decades. I couldn’t face the thought of revamping the old site yet again; I wanted to start bright and sparkling and NEW.

Then I had a thought… What if I took you with me as I branded a new “angelabooth” site, installed WordPress and plugins, and created a content plan for it? A behind-the-scenes glimpse into my ideas and thinking.

I could pull back the curtain on other activities too, in writing, marketing, and self-publishing. I hope that that will inspire you in your own writing business.

Trouble was, I didn’t want all my warts-and-all posts too public. Yes, I want to share all my oh no, good grief! and yippee! posts with you, but I don’t want them hanging around on the open web. So, I decided to create a newsletter on Substack.

Here it is: Angela Booth’s Newsletter.

How often can you expect to hear from Angela Booth’s Newsletter?

I estimate around two or three times a week, maximum. Of course, you can unsub at any time.

Next year, I may offer a paid version of the newsletter with additional, premium posts, but the main newsletter will always be free.

Sign up now so you don’t miss the first issue.

Already subscribed to a newsletter?

If you’re already subscribed to my “blog posts you may have missed” newsletter, that will continue, because I’ll be posting here as well as on the new “angelabooth” site.

Angela Booth’s Newsletter is solely for the behind-the-scenes material. :-)

Build a fiction ghostwriting business: start today

Our new program, Story Spinner: Build A Lucrative Fiction Ghostwriting Business In 7 Days, is available now.

In this new program you'll discover how to build a new business as a fiction ghostwriter in just seven days. The program includes everything you need. Get started today.

3 Reasons To Write And Publish A Novella FAST (Before Christmas)

Getting ready for the holiday season? We’re almost in the final quarter of the year. Quarter 4 is the year’s BIG sales season, so businesses boost their advertising spend.

Savvy self-publishing authors make the most of the season too. They publish “Christmas” themed novels and novellas, right through the next several months.

Here’s why they do that — and why you should, too. It’s because indies are out-spent by major companies’ advertising over the holiday buying season. Traditional publishers plaster Amazon with huge advertising campaigns. They can afford to out-spend indies, and they do. Many indies resign themselves to slow and no sales until January.

Do you need to get used to the idea that you’ll lose money over the holidays? No! Publish more over the holiday season, instead. You can write one, or several novellas over the next couple of months. Here are some reasons that might be a good idea.

1. The holiday sales season is launching now

The holiday sales season starts in October. Companies huge and small have sales and offers. It’s expected. You need to have offers too — but don’t lower your books’ sales price. Publish a novella or two instead, because NEW sells.

Readers get new phones and tablets either as gifts, or they update their older devices. Either way, they’re looking for reading materials to load onto their new goodies.

When you publish something new, it’s given a boost by Amazon’s algorithm, which rewards “new”. When you make sales of something new, your older titles are promoted too, via the “also bought” titles.

2. Novellas introduce new readers to your novels and series

Another reason to write novellas: they make ideal introductions to your books. Everyone’s caught on to this idea now. Many traditional publishers encourage their authors to write novellas.

For the holidays, write holiday-themed novellas. Promote your novels with a preview at the end of each novella.

3. Advertisers are preparing a major sales push (and they’re prepared to lose money)

If you’re not aware of the holiday season push by major publishers, your advertising dollars will be outspent and you’ll wonder what’s happening. You’ll think that readers have suddenly gone off your books.

Nope. Readers haven’t gone off you. It’s simply that they can’t see your books — they buy books which are promoted.

You can’t out-advertise the publishing behemoths. So it’s time to step up publishing (you can do it, when you publish novellas) and promote your novels, both new, and older, with content campaigns in social media. (Keep building your mailing list too.)

Ready for holiday sales?

Get ready. Publish, and your sales will increase, rather than languishing. Start writing a novella now. Happy publishing. :-)

Self-Publishing Secrets: Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days

Boost your Kindle sales FAST with our new program, Write And Sell A Novella In 7 Days: Your Blueprint For Success.

The program’s powerful, practical, and tested. You’ll get results too. Use the strategy to increase your sales — you need a mix of long and short fiction to appeal to today’s readers.

How many novellas would you write if you could write a novella in seven days? Would your novellas boost your sales?

This Week’s Writing Tip: All You Need Is Time

One of the most common things I hear from writing students is that they “don’t have time” to write.

Me neither. No one has time to write — you must take time.

What if time is all that’s standing between you and writing success?

This week’s writing tip: schedule writing time

You can schedule your time in any way which suits you:

• An hour a day (or five minutes a day);
• An hour once a week;
• Ten minutes a day, every day…

There’s only one unbreakable rule. Be consistent.

Be consistent and build a habit

Charles Duhigg’s excellent book, The Power of Habit, reports that you build the habits you want to instill in your life by creating a habit loop.

The habit loop consists of:

• Cue
• Routine
• Reward

Set a cue: schedule your writing time on your calendar.

Over time, your block of writing time will become routine. You can create your own rewards if you like, but your satisfaction from your writing is your real reward.

Once you’ve set the cue, the routine and the reward in place, you’ll build a writing habit.

As more time passes, your writing habit becomes automatic. You don’t need to think about setting time aside to write; you just do it.

Build a fiction ghostwriting business: start today

Our new program, Story Spinner: Build A Lucrative Fiction Ghostwriting Business In 7 Days, is available now.

In this new program you'll discover how to build a new business as a fiction ghostwriter in just seven days. The program includes everything you need. Get started today.

Start Your Mystery Novel Today With Just 3 Elements

The mystery genre, which comprises mystery, thriller, and suspense novels, has a huge and loyal audience. Mystery readers buy books — if they love a character an author has created, they’ll eagerly read every book in the author’s series.

Another benefit for authors writing mysteries: the novels sell for decades. Agatha Christie's novels have sold for a century. Wilkie Collins’s classic mystery, The Moonstone, was first published in 1868 and is still enjoyed today. Beloved mystery novelist Dorothy L. Sayers called The Moonstone “probably the very finest detective story ever written.”

Love reading mysteries? You can write them

If you love reading mysteries chances are that you can write them. IMHO it’s the easiest genre to write. Here’s why. Most mysteries center around a murder: it’s the most heinous crime we can imagine.

Craft three elements, and you’re good to go — you can start writing your first (or next) mystery novel novel immediately.

The three elements you need are:

• A victim;
• A setting;
• A sleuth.

1. Create a victim: who is he, and why will he be murdered?

Many mysteries start with the crime because the death of the victim makes a powerful opening hook.

If you’re a pantser, kill off your victim and your novel is well underway.

Murder mysteries tend to feature two kinds of victims:

• Everyone loved him/ her — there are no suspects;
• Everyone hated him/ her — everyone is a suspect.

Both types have benefits for mystery authors in creating suspense.

2. Create the setting: your story world

Where will you set your story? Mysteries are set in a milieu which will appeal to readers. Ann Cleeves set her Shetland Island series in the Shetlands. Lindsey Davis’s Marcus Didius Falco novels are set in ancient Rome.

Instead of focusing on a place or time, you might like to set your mysteries among a special interest group. Readers love mysteries set amongst groups of knitters, quilters, and in the case of the Dick Francis novels, in the horse racing world.

3. Create your sleuth: who is he? (Or she?)

You’ve got your victim and setting. Now you need a sleuth… Your sleuth is the most important character in your novel. You want your sleuth to engage readers so that they clamor for him to appear in another novel, and another.

Your sleuth will arrive on the scene of the crime and will quickly interact with witnesses and suspects. It’s worth looking at long-running series: what makes the sleuth appealing to readers?

My favorite sleuths include Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs. Think about your own favorites — why do you like them?

A tip for your sleuth. Decide whether you’ll have an over-arching series plot so that your sleuth and his circumstances change over time, or whether your sleuth won’t change, he’ll merely take on fresh crimes to solve.

Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs changes, so does Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Rev. Clare Fergusson. Agatha Christies’ Miss Marples and Hercules Poirot however don’t change much.

Write Your Bestseller: Write HOT Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Word for word, mystery authors earn more than authors of most other genres, including romance.

Check out our new report, “Write Your Bestseller: Write HOT Mystery, Thriller & Suspense”. You’ll discover how, why, and what types of mystery fiction are selling today, and how to develop a mystery writing career.

Do More With What You Have

“I don’t know what to write,” a coaching student told me. “I’ve got some ideas, but they’re boring.”

“Do more with what you have,” I suggested.

She’s been writing fiction for over a year so she has:

• Two novels, a novella, and half a dozen short stories she’s published;
• Novels she’s started;
• Unpublished short stories;
• Ideas for characters and situations;
• Advertising she’s written…

Everything you’ve written is inventory: make the most of it

If you’re wondering what to write, why not take an inventory of what you have?

Whenever I look back over what I’ve written for the year, it sparks new ideas. Taking an inventory sparked ideas for my student too.

She decided that she would:

• Develop a spin-off series from a character in one of her novels;
• Complete three short stories and publish them;
• Collaborate on a novel with her sister.

Get inspired: take an inventory today

Not sure what to write?

Take an inventory. You’ll be inspired.

Amazon Short Reads: write short stories and nonfiction ebooks and build your profits today

Have you checked out this program? It shows you how to make money from short ebooks.

Amazon has two categories for short ebooks. They are: Kindle Short Reads and Kindle Short Stories. You’ll learn how to make money with these two categories in this eye-opening report.

After you read the report, you may well decide that your income will benefit when you write SHORT ebooks, both fiction and nonfiction. Get started NOW.

Ghostwriting: Who Hires You, And How To Get Started

A quick post… We’ve just launched our new ghostwriting program, so I’ve had questions about fiction ghostwriting.

Let’s look at two of the most common questions — and a pitfall too.

1. Question: who hires fiction ghostwriters?

The short answer: people with money who want to make more money.

There’s a lot of money to be made in fiction today, so savvy entrepreneurs create publishing companies (in reality, they’re book producers/ book packagers) to go after that money.

In addition, authors — brand-name bestselling authors like James Patterson, as well non-brand-name top-selling authors — hire ghostwriters. These authors have enormous, hungry, audiences for their books. The demand’s much higher than they can satisfy.

2. Question: how do you get gigs?

We discuss specific methods in Story Spinner: Build A Lucrative Fiction Ghostwriting Business In 7 Days which will ensure that you get the gigs you want fast.

That to one side… Primarily you get ghostwriting gigs the same way you get other gigs: you establish credibility and advertise your services.

If you’ve published fiction, those novels will act as your ghostwriting portfolio.

New author who’s unpublished? Use what you have — a couple of chapters from your current yet-to-be-published novel can act as your portfolio. Or, write a couple of short stories. If you’re a new author, you’re unlikely to be paid as much as a published author. And yes, by “published” we definitely mean self-published.

As I get more questions, I’ll post the answers, because authors tend to be unaware of how ghostwriting works… :-)

PITFALL! Please be aware that you’re worth money, even if you’re a new author

In addition to questions, authors sent me horror stories too. So, please be aware that even if you’re a new author, your fiction writing skills are worth money.

Several people contacted me who responded to ghostwriting projects on the freelance marketplaces. They were asked to develop synopses of novels to “see if you can meet our requirements.” Alternatively, they were asked to write a chapter for a novel.

(Sigh…) Please ignore anyone who asks you to write for free. Although the freelance marketplaces are fine places to get gigs when you’re a complete beginner, in general you won’t make more than a few hundred dollars per gig there.

If you’ve published fiction, your skills are worth more than that. With credits, your base rate for a short commercial novel will be from $10,000 upward.

Build a fiction ghostwriting business: start today

Our new program, Story Spinner: Build A Lucrative Fiction Ghostwriting Business In 7 Days, is available now.

In this new program you'll discover how to build a new business as a fiction ghostwriter in just seven days. The program includes everything you need. Get started today.