Hello all,

I recently finished writing and editing my book, the first draft has been sent to close friends and family.

My question is - now what? I would love to have my work published (under a pseudonym). Should I look for an Agent willing to represent me? Or directly message publishers, hoping for a chance?

This is all very new to me, so far I have only written for myself. Any advice is welcome, thank you in advance!

as a writer, i struggle the most with creating characters:') i tend to overthink things too much and have a hard time making real people instead of someone to fit the plot and theme.. especially in my current WIP where the plot/theme is very close to home but i don't want to just base off of myself -- even more so when i want to write about trauma and escapism and im trying not to just delve into Allll my traumas for it to be enough to justify the need for escapism... my adhd brain is very all or nothing and I've been stuck for years on this story;-;

i always see people say characters come so easy for them! and talk about their oc's and character designs and quirks, and i really want to learn how to get there :'))

does anyone that also used to struggle wanna offer some advice please 🙏

also tips from people that can make amazing oc's or don't struggle at all could be helpful;-;

I've known many writers (myself included) who had struggles coming up with a plot. Ironically enough because on the outside you'd think it'd be the first thing you'd come up with. From an inward glance I realize many writers are far too encapsulated with their own worlds and characters that it's hard to come up with something tangible. Plots are the true spines of our book; the skeletal innards that frame the story. So what was your process within it? I'm curious to know.

Some people after taking SSRIS or antidepressants lose their vivid imagination/daydreams and gain a thing called aphantasia where they can’t visualize/daydream at all period.

Residencies, workshops, and retreats. Key word: emerging! I know about Tinhouse, Kenyon, Sewanee, Northwoods etc but I have two lit mag publications and I feel like many of these programs prioritize people with more publications or even a forthcoming or already published book. Bonus points if this program offers financial aid.

Thank you!

So. Several months ago, almost a year now, I decided and steeled myself that I was going to make a BIG fanfic, an original story that used the characters that I loved so intensely, a story so great and polished that was worthy of the original work, and enter the hall of multichapter +50k fanfic writers. Week after week, publish a chapter on AO3 and have my readers go crazy with each twist. What I didn't take into account was that my ambition would lead me into a story so big, expressive and unique that the only thing left of the original show would be the character names and very similar personalities (This isn't the weird part, a lot of longfics have very different stories, sometimes readers just like to imagine their favorite characters in new scenarios). I could easily change all of the names and end up with a completely original novel (Yes, that's how far deep in I was in this project).

After a few months of planning this beheamoth, I am ready to bring it to reality, but I have reached the point in which I have to actually answer the question of how I want to publish it. The point in which I must grapple with the question of what to do with this.

The assumption I've been going with was that I was going to make it as fanfiction and have an edited, IP-less original version ready, post chapters week by week on AO3, and then at the final week publish the edited version as an original work somewhere else. In shorter terms, I'd be selling my book, while its fanfiction twin is sitting there in AO3.

However now I am feeling conflicted. Is this a good idea? Would it be unwise to do? Ignoring the obvious, that having your paywalled book free in its entirety could potentially hurt sales, I'm thinking from a pragmatic sense. A few points to consider:

• The published original would be completely separate. I wouldn't say "Like you read it in fanfiction form!". I could advertise to my fanfic audience, but if you never opened AO3, you'd have no way of knowing this came from a fanfic.
• I'm planning on self-publishing, but I'm also slowly being convinced of trying tradpub as well. I'll probably self-publish but that could change in the following months as I pour more words into the pages.

Honestly I'm not entirely sure what I'm even asking. "Is this the vague sense of ok?" would be a good approximation, maybe? I'm just conflicted about what I'm doing. I'm not legally worried, it's my work and I can do whatever I want with it, and, it being fanfic wouldn't be any more dangerous than any other fanfic.

Hi All - first time here and just starting my writing journey. I've noodled on ideas for most of my life but I have now decided to actual write a novel. I'm trying to figure out how to find groups where I can just meet others for no more specific reason than to have others to talk to about writing.

My area isn't a huge metro (but not small either). All I'm finding are things targeted at kids or literary groups. My focus is on sci-fi/fantasy.

Oh, I'm also not big on the whole Zoom meeting thing - am I just out of luck? Or am I looking in the wrong places?

Basically, this is set in a continent where Europeans and Asians are forced to coexist due to a large accident that destroyed most of Europe, leaving few with no homes. My protagonist grew up in a racist family that refused to procreate with Asiatics to remain "pure-blooded." Protagonist believes in this ideology, or so he thinks. He befriends some Asians and realized he doesn't care that much- that this belief was forced on him. Now, how the hell do I make readers want to continue reading his story

I'm writing a story with two of the main characters being Mexican. I wanna know what I should avoid and what I should add (to be fair their race isn't important to the story I just don't wanna accidentally add something that is offensive or not accurate to Hispanic culture)

Edit: omg this is so annoying yes I am familiar with Hispanic culture just tell what I should avoid or add in my writing it's not that deep

Hi,

I'm in the midst of a large project and I'm wondering if there are any similar published works to the one I'm making that I can analyze. I'm looking for anything in the realm of novel length fiction (preferably fantasy) that are focused on a single character and their progression over a series of short stories (that also preferably feature a element of time progression; my own project takes place over the course of 40 years with time skips of mainly 10 years each).

Given the (at least to me) unconventional focus of my search, I don't expect much, but any recommendations are welcome. Thanks.

if I'm skipping forward 3 days should I start a new chapter or just say three days have passed?

For now, as a teenager. I have no desire for any of my stories to get published or anything. However, that sounds relatively fun! But just what skill do I need to have for it to happen?

Is it fun? :0 It sounds like a fun yet tiring thing at the same time...

Just an honest question, not trying to create conflict, I swear. I'm wondering why it is that the instant someone says they went through a hybrid publisher people become so... passionate against it? I absolutely think it's important for oblivious writers to understand exactly what a hybrid publisher is and does versus what a traditional publisher or self publisher does. Yes, it's super important to understand that traditional publishers do NOT ask for money to publish, and that money flows to the author. But I have one or two writer friends who have gone through hybrid pubs because they have the money, they wanted to pay someone for the service of editing, cover art, formatting, printing, etc., and are happy to share their royalties. They simply wanted to get their work out in the world and money is of no consequence to them. This is not a reason to shame them.

I fully expect this post to get downvoted to hell and back, but I just start to feel really badly for writers who understand what they are getting into, are asking for some help with something that doesn't have to do with whether they went through a hybrid publisher or not, and are getting shamed for it. PLEASE be kind in your comments. Ultimately, we're all in this together and just want to help a writer out.

Also, thanks to u/online_too_much for calling me out

I've been writing on and off as a hobby for about six years now, and I've finally landed on an idea that I think is interesting enough to be a full-length novel. It's been about a month and I'm roughly 6,000 words deep. I'm in for the long haul it seems, but it's the first thing I've written that I feel committed and attached to. (Aside from a D&D campaign I wrote a few years back.) I look forward to writing and feel bad when I can't make time for it that day. I can see the flaws poking out as I'm writing, but I know this is only the first draft and I'll never be done if I spend several months just trying to perfect chapter 1.

One major thing I struggle with, however, is seeing the bigger picture. It's why many of my projects go unfinished. The very beginning is vivid in my mind and some vague ideas for the end that I'll flesh out as they become more relevant, but I struggle to see what should fill out the middle leaving me pretty much writing as I go and I feel it much less compelling that if I'd planned it out. At the same time, I feel like if I spend so much time laying out the story beat by beat, I'll never get to writing it and will likely end up hating the ideas I've come up with when I look back retrospectively.

It's a catch-22 for sure and I'm worried that it will kill my motivation once I run out of steam in the first act. At this point, I'm not sure what the right option here is, but one way or another I'm resolved to continue writing until I'm completely stuck.

So, obviously writing is fun for me. I love it, its my hobby and I get to explain controversies outright with all the words I can think and use. However, I kind of want these papers to be published. I’m 16, and more then likely publication companies won’t take me seriously. Where can I publish? I’m planning on just making a wix site to put my papers on, then just asking people to follow it? Please help :(

EDIT: I’m going to use substack, thank you to those who replied!!

Hello all! So I was listening to a writing podcast and it had the usually advice of not writing things like "he said angrily" or "she exclaimed excitedly." But it also recommended not doing things like "He grinned." For example:

"Looks like a beautiful morning." He grinned.
She laughed. "I bet every morning is beautiful since you got out."

However, I've also heard that this type of tag is fine. I maybe wouldn't use them back to back or too often but I personally don't see an issue with it if done sparingly.

Is there a general consensus on this? What do editors look for?

I'm in the middle of writing my first book (an adult dystopian fiction story) and hope to have a first draft done at the end of the year!

I've been exploring what I plan to do for my author platform online. My background is in tech, business strategy, operations and online marketing for small businesses, so I'm approaching this from that standpoint and plan to share so people can follow along with me as I test things (not a promotion rn because there is no where to sign up to follow right now; I'm still building it!)

I want to learn more about what kind of support people would find most valuable. This would be super helpful to me and I'm happy to answer questions in the comments that I have time to get to.

What feels the most confusing or scary or about where to start when it comes to creating platforms to promote your books and yourself as author online? This could include website, email platform, social sites, etc.

I appreciate any and all responses :)

Hi all, I’ve recently decided to sit down and write my first novel. I’m sure it will be a terrible one but I’m fascinated by the notion that everyone has a novel in them be it good or bad.

I’m not asking for advice on how to write a novel, but I was curious about people’s opinions on what approach they used starting out. I sat in front of my computer last week and just started typing with really no idea what I was going to write about. The ‘prologue’ started with “It was a day like any other: early to bed and early to rise, two pieces of toast and a black coffee that was bitter but essential. The same way a shot of strong whiskey can cause revulsion and incoming relief. The only difference today was the heightened anticipation Celia felt, the nervousness that affected her usual morning routine. The growing fear combined with a remote sense of hope that she was going to murder her husband”.

So basically I wrote this not setting out to write a suspense or horror novel, but I wanted to add a twist or ‘gotcha’ moment within the first few lines and this is what I ended up with. From that, the outline of the first 2-3 chapters seemed to quickly formulate in my mind about the plot ie lonely girl in remote town meets and marries a serial killer or something similar.

I can already see I’m using too many words to explain some detail which would be removed or revised in later drafts, but on the whole I’m enjoying the free writing or ‘pantsing’, it feels very creative to just let it flow into the page so to speak. Putting ideas down, linking them together in a cohesive fashion at a later point, I suppose in a way I am outlining a couple of steps ahead the plot of the story but I have no roadmap to follow and feel at this point in time I would like to carry on in this fashion until I hit a roadblock in the story.

I was wondering: how do other writers feel about this approach? Do some writers still employ this approach? Or was it an initial exuberance later tempered with wisdom whereby outlining and planning was employed through learning from mistakes inherent with pantsing? Thanks in advance🤟

Hi all! As the title suggests, I’m at the editing stage for my manuscript as I intend to query this book (again). I’ve already gotten requests from agents with this particular manuscript. I’m almost done receiving structural edits from my beta/crit partner/friend for this particular work.

I need advice on effectively & effectively implement the changes!! For context, I did rewrite the manuscript once over (the agents that requested materials know about this & still want me to submit when ready!) and I’m worried I’ll have to do that again!!! So with that being said, what resources have you found helpful to navigate this process in your path to pub? :) Any help / advice is welcomed & appreciated! Please be nice. Thank you 💜

Pure evil villains have no sympathy or “relatable” motives, so what personally draws you to them?

For a long time I thought I wanted to be a sci-fi writer because some of my favorite books and movies have been sci-fi. But then when I try to write sci-fi, something is just missing. It’s like it doesn’t click. I spend a lot of time just spinning my wheels and I can’t come up with a plot. Stories grounded more in reality come more naturally to me, which was surprising. I wonder if anyone here has had a similar journey of finding the genre that makes the most sense with the way their creativity works. I know lots of people write in multiple genres, but I’m just curious.

Hello. I'm basing a novel on a real life situation where the woman who the protagonist is based on is still alive. Nothing other than the situation and her subsequent career is known about her. There was a documentary about the situation and a few radio segments.

In the novel, aside from the situation, everything is v different: the character's background, motivations, the location. Aspects of the situation itself are slightly different as are the events: only the basic set-up is the same, and there will be events following it that didn't happen. None of this is defamatory, or a comment on the real-life woman.

Should I stick to the project or abandon it?

I just launched my ebook with a plot summary/back text which I wrote months ago and which is around 140 words long. For marketing purposes I wrote a shorter summary which is only 70 words long. I've been thinking on whether I should use the short summary only but I'm not sure, I mean I want my readers to be intrigued but I guess readers also want some more plot info before buying/reading a book? Especially if they've brought to my book's page by one of my marketing stunts.

What do you guys think? Is 140 words too long? Can a plot summary be as simple as not including any character names for example? Or does that become too generic and unfamiliar?

I know there are anthologies, sagas, myths, legends and stories that follow a hero’s journey, but what are some others that tell stories in a structurally different way?

Has anyone ever gone through Amazon to publish a book?

I’ve been looking for a publisher for my children’s book for over a year but luck yet.

I’d love to just get it out in the world but wanted to see what others have experienced.

Thanks!

I know this depends on many factors like how popular the influencer is and how they would promote your book (insta story vs reel vs post) but I just want to get a general idea of the fees. I just launched my ebook on Amazon and I want to promote it.

Occasionally there are books written by two authors, and I'm just left wondering how that works. I'm happy to get feedback from other authors, but to have to decide every step of the plot in conjunction with another person? I don't know how that would even work. It seems like it would take forever, yet apparently it doesn't.

I don’t understand Reddit but I hope asking a question doesn’t get my thing taken down lol, I’m not asking how I’m asking where, like every book I read about writing is in the context of a novel or screenplay or movie never a long story like sopranos or some anime is there a place or maybe book to learn this because it does affect the characters development and the plot’s progression

Someone kill this idea! I hate that I'm even thinking this!!

Unfortunately, I started a patreon page because I saw a serial novel creator have it with different tiers, they looked so eye-catching and honestly pretty niche, so I thought "k, lemme just try that." I think I would've tried it once in my life lol.

Then, slowly it corrupted my day. "Hmm, imagine earning money with your stories." and some comical thoughts like "Imagine someone paying to read your shit." This might stem from the comfort it gives and the fact I hate my part-time job. I'm in my first year of uni, always loved to craft stories (mainly horror), but never patient enough to let it grow. I always thought my stories were for me, but lo and behold, they're on Wattpad and webnovel.

I had vowed to never talk about monetary gain since I put this hobby on the "no-career" list. But IMAGINE! My job pays like 100 bucks per month, which is pretty good for a part-time job, I could be able to save up for so many things, like pay my college debt in 10 years if not 20, and I get to be financially independent. All good pros. Well, the cons are physically burning out, manager, and hours not in my favor (I found out after working the job that I am not as flexible as I put it on my resume lol). I just....want something flexible and maybe even fun.

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Has anybody ever made some money (ok, by money I do mean 100 bucks or something per month, which is A LOTTT I've never heard such a big amount earned from my writer friends) or is it all like a stroke of lottery luck?

I'm not really expecting any awesome answer, but just something that says "Hey kid, maybe you need to pull up your head from your a** because this is not a walk in the park." Also do share your experience, knowing someone's story and learning from it saves a lot of time and energy IMO.

I know that you have to use a default set of fonts when being published. I'd just like to know what fonts many of you professional & aspiring writers prefer to write your drafts?