Fiction and Freelance Writers Resources

2009-07-18T23:35:00.001-07:00

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Should you hire an editor?

2008-01-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

If you want to have your work look it’s best when submitting to a publisher than yes, but most publishers have their own inhouse editors that edit your work once it is accepted.
You should keep in mind though that a lot of publishers won’t read a manuscript unless it is coming from a literary agent, and a lot of agents won’t read a mss unless it has been edited and approved by a professional editor.

Fiction novel self-published success stories

2008-01-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

This is another example of why you should not listen to the endless “downers” that try to tell you that self-publishing is a waste of time. Many fiction and non-fiction authors have used this route to get their book out to the public, in most cases after they were rejected by the mainstream publishing houses. Business professionals, entrepreneurs, associates, or anyone with expert knowledge in a particular subject have used this method. Many of these authors went on to claim bestseller status with their books.
Before you get into self-publishing it is important that you do your research and be aware that there are self-publishing scammers out there that tell you they will get you thousand’s of dollars for your book but will actually milk YOU out of thousands of dollars and give you no real exposure or value for your money.
Below is just a few success stories of self-published fiction novels followed by a link to a site that lists hundreds of successful self-published authors:
M. J. Rose-- self published her first novel “Lip Service” and then it became a best selling novel. She got picked up by a big time publisher-Pocket Books.

Christopher Paollini-- self-published a book called “Eragon“, a fantasy novel, which also was later picked up by a major publisher.

Bill Branon-- self-published “Let us Prey”

And here is a link to a huge list of successful self-published authors, both fiction and non-fiction. This site has more details of each book and author. Self Publishing Hall of Fame: Honoring great self-publishers, self-pubishing authors, and self-publishers who have gone on to sell lots of books or make a contribution to society.

Writer's "word" block

2008-01-16T20:29:00.000-08:00

Put blank spots, dashes, or the word blank in areas of your writing where you can't think of the word you need or want to use. You can always come back to it later and fill it in when you remember the word or when your writing 'flare' has returned. I got this advise from another writer and I know it has helped me very much. Just think about it. The human mind thinks of things, situations, actions, ect... that there is a word for but you just don't know it or can't think of it at the time of writing. You say "I know there is a word for this, what is it"!

Useing or favorite author's novel as reference

2008-01-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

Use your favorite published novel or publication as a guide in writing your work. You can pick up phrases and words that you would have never thought of to use on your own. Now I'm not saying you should copy the other writers work. If you see a phrase that is good and you hear it a lot you should use it. And that goes for single words too. You should make sure any phrase you use IS commonly used though, that way you will be sure your not stealing another author's thunder.

Don’t let your inexperience and UNEDUMICATION stop you from writing.

2008-01-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

For years I let my inexperience and lack of education stop me from writing (artistically mostly). Until one day I decided the heck with it and just started writing because I enjoyed it and I had a lot to say and a lot of stories to tell. I joined writing groups and started publishing my stuff online, and because of that, I have reached many people spiritually that I would not have done if I kept on going the way I was keeping it all inside. My point is.... Just keep writing and don’t worry about if people will accept it or not. If your heart is in it, you will get rewarded in one way or another. If you are concerned you will look foolish because of your bad grammar (like mine) just get someone to proof read it first before you present it to anyone else.

-Mike

Do not listen to or believe self-proclaimed writer's on the internet

2008-01-16T20:10:00.000-08:00

It is very important not to listen or believe everything that is told to you by self-proclaimed writers on the Internet or in person. Back when I first started getting into writing, I got on some writing forums and asked for some tips and advise from the people that frequented the forum. Long story short they told me things that were not true, not because they were trying to deceive me, but because they were either ignorant about the matter, or because of their own failure in that specific matter. Some of them assumed that if they couldn't do it, it couldn't be done. Also some of them were just flat out miss-informed and as naive as I was back then I let it discourage me without doing any research of my own. I can't tell you how many of these self proclaimed writer's turned out to be wrong once I woke up and did some research of my own.So when your taking advice from people on a website, don’t assume that everybody on there knows what they’re talking about. Make sure you get a lot of second opinions and research it before you make up your mind if it its true or not. I know most of you do just that, but I know there are some out there like me who have made the same mistakes.-Mike