Support NeoGAF

[FlowersisBritish]

Sooo....I have the issue in my hand.

Holy shit, congrats! Was it just this one article, or are you like a paid writer for that magazine now?

 

[Ashes]

Sooo....I have the issue in my hand.

Still feels surreal.

I bet it does. Congrats!

 

[BorkBork]

Holy shit, congrats! Was it just this one article, or are you like a paid writer for that magazine now?

Just one story. But it's nice to have a working relationship with an editor for the future.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Sooo....I have the issue in my hand.

They gave me the spot for the Coda section. Still feels surreal.

Super late, but congrats!!! I bet it feels amazing!

 

[Mike M]

Oh man, the Submission Grinder updated their system and I thought it ate my submission history for a few minutes there D :

 

[DD]

Guys, I'm thinking about putting my book on Amazon before trying the conventional route with publishers and such. But I'm wandering if I'll be able to replace the first file I upload with a better revised one latter, and I'm also wandering if I'll be able to take my book away from Amazon if I find a publisher in the future. Do you guys have any knowledge about this stuff?

Cheers!

 

[Soulfire]

Guys, I'm thinking about putting my book on Amazon before trying the conventional route with publishers and such. But I'm wandering if I'll be able to replace the first file I upload with a better revised one latter, and I'm also wandering if I'll be able to take my book away from Amazon if I find a publisher in the future. Do you guys have any knowledge about this stuff?

Cheers!

It's very easy to update the file you've uploaded. I've had to several times to update back matter and such. It's also very easy to unpublish a book from Amazon. Their publishing site is fairly intuitive so you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[FlowersisBritish]

It should be noted though, that most publishers aren't usually interested in previously published material, and posting your novel on Amazon, or even a blog, does count as self-publishing .

 

[SolVanderlyn]

I am guilty of using my family as editors. I used my brother (20 something college student into fantasy) and my mother (60 something housewife who reads like, Food Network magazine, but also likes Star Trek and Wars and the like) as test audiences. Both of them liked it, but what really helped me is that they both like different parts.

My brother loves the world building and action scenes, which are my favorite parts to write.

My mother, however, finds them fairly boring. On the other hand, she likes the character interactions, slower scenes, and mystery elements more than my brother does.

Writing for two different audiences helped me create a more fully fleshed out story that appeals to a wider range of people. To be honest, I was really glad they didn't just tell me it sucked, lol.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

I am guilty of using my family as editors. I used my brother (20 something college student into fantasy) and my mother (60 something housewife who reads like, Food Network magazine, but also likes Star Trek and Wars and the like) as test audiences. Both of them liked it, but what really helped me is that they both like different parts.

My brother loves the world building and action scenes, which are my favorite parts to write.

My mother, however, finds them fairly boring. On the other hand, she likes the character interactions, slower scenes, and mystery elements more than my brother does.

Writing for two different audiences helped me create a more fully fleshed out story that appeals to a wider range of people. To be honest, I was really glad they didn't just tell me it sucked, lol.

That's awesome. I would recommend getting involved with a writing group that might be less emotionally attached to you, however.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

That's awesome. I would recommend getting involved with a writing group that might be less emotionally attached to you, however.

Yeah, I want to, as I was definitely worried about that myself, but I don't know where to start looking.

 

[Conkersbadfurday]

It should be noted though, that most publishers aren't usually interested in previously published material, and posting your novel on Amazon, or even a blog, does count as self-publishing .

This also includes most agents.

Very few specify that they're okay with it, which is why I view self publishing as plan B and not A.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Yeah, I want to, as I was definitely worried about that myself, but I don't know where to start looking.

Start with a Google search of "writing group + wherever you live" and you might be surprised. If that doesn't work, there are online groups.

 

[DD]

It's very easy to update the file you've uploaded. I've had to several times to update back matter and such. It's also very easy to unpublish a book from Amazon. Their publishing site is fairly intuitive so you shouldn't have any problems.

It should be noted though, that most publishers aren't usually interested in previously published material, and posting your novel on Amazon, or even a blog, does count as self-publishing .

This also includes most agents.

Very few specify that they're okay with it, which is why I view self publishing as plan B and not A.

Thanks, guys. What is happening is that Amazon here in Brazil is running a contest with a publishing house to find a new novel, selected by a guy from the Brazilian Academy of Letters with a $20000 prize and a contract with that publisher for the physical copies.

If it doesn't work, I'll look for alternatives, for sure. That's why I asked if I could pull it out of Amazon if I wanted to.

Thanks again!

 

[Conkersbadfurday]

Thanks, guys. What is happening is that Amazon here in Brazil is running a contest with a publishing house to find a new novel, selected by a guy from the Brazilian Academy of Letters with a $20000 prize and a contract with that publisher for the physical copies.

If it doesn't work, I'll look for alternatives, for sure. That's why I asked if I could pull it out of Amazon if I wanted to.

Thanks again!

Oh cool! Good luck with the contest.

 

[DD]

Oh cool! Good luck with the contest.

Thanks! o/

 

[Mike M]

Got rejected by Pseudopod in the end : (

Kind of stings more knowing I got further than ever but didn't seal the deal.

 

[Enduin]

So I've had the same couple story ideas stuck in my head for years now, like 6+ sadly. Problem is I just don't like writing, at least not in the traditional book sense as much as I've tried. I get too caught up in the minor details and overwhelmed by the massive scale of my own imagination, but the thing is I like the minor details and massive scale and falling down that rabbit hole of "why." That's what got me interested in all this in the first place. So while I still would like to one day write the works I've been bouncing around for years I have for a little while now thought up an alternative outlet that may better suit my particular strengths and interests. Possibly even resulting in something tangible and presentable to the public. That alternative is I guess what you'd classify as non-linear storytelling, or rather world building. OK really it's just wikia, but hopefully a good one.

I think it's safe to say we've all been down the Wikipedia/Wikia rabbit hole before. Even with books series I've never read or game series I've never played, or fully played, I've on more than a few occasions stumbled onto their various official or super fan wikias and been lost for hours going from one page to another. Following that hyperlink breadcrumb trail from one article to the next. So my basic idea is to write original work specifically to feed that impulse many of us have. And to eventually build off that with more meatier content should it prove successful.

The benefit of tossing the same couple of stories, and more importantly the shared setting they're all in, around your head for the better part of half a decade is you come up with a lot stuff. Much I've written down, much more I just have rolling around the noggin in an ever evolving and shifting soup. I have begun to craft the wiki using Tiddlywiki, but it's a lot of work. Hardest part is just committing to certain aspects and ideas so I can lay the foundation and build on it from there. All the wikis I know have the benefit of actual completed source material to copy from and have many contributors adding and filling out the various entries. Right now it's just me making shit up and trying to keep track of all the various threads. But I like it. I like the discovery of it all and coming up with all sorts of historical events, cultural and regional traditions and so on. I watch documentaries and listen to history podcasts and mind my just starts thinking how cool this or that is and what if it was like this and how would that affect that and where would it fit into my world.

Anyway, to get the actual point of this whole post. First I guess I'd just like to hear people's thoughts on the whole idea. Questions, suggestions, resources, examples if they exist. And secondly, possibly more importantly, if any writers on here would be interested in collaborating on such a project, and/or know of other places to seek out collaborators. I'm fine if this just remains some hobby of mine. Something I do to indulge myself, but I would certainly like for it become more. However unlikely that is and to do so I think that almost definitely means getting assistance.

I have a big imagination and am constantly trying to learn more to better fuel that, but that in and of itself is a rather slow and time consuming process, and I don't exactly fancy myself a master world builder like Tolkien or Pratchett. Not that even they, or anyone really, created their grand works in a short period. Creating an entire universe with a couple millennia of history, cultures, places, people and so forth isn't exactly a small task for one person. Especially if I don't want to take another half a decade to come up with just the ground floor for it all. Even then, just having someone to bounce ideas off of is incredibly helpful. And I know I work far far better when I'm not just answering to myself.

It's quite late and this post is already long enough so I won't try to summarize my actual setting, which is kind of glaring omission, but that would take a good amount of time and effort to encapsulate, so I'll wait till tomorrow and on any interest this generates to tackle that.

Well since this hasn't generated any interest yet I figure I should provide some details of the actual project.

I've co-developed the history/origins of the world as it really occurred along side the history/origins as the people/religion believes them to have occurred. Developing the former and then shifting and changing it here and there to become the latter and vice versa. It's a lot of fun to think of how certain "real" events can be reshaped into myth and legend and the opposite, coming up with myth and legend and then thinking of what real events that might have come from. I like simple premises that underneath are much more complicated, whether that is made known or not.

An example: The religious belief: Long ago God destroyed the old world but sent twelve families to travel to the new world and start over. The reality: A bronze age collapse on steroids occurred and Eurasian type peoples fled across the ocean to the new world.

As well I like things that are fairly simple at the macro level but much more nuanced and complex at the micro level.

An example is the religion itself. At the macro level this new world all follows and believes in the same tripartite God and the religious order that teaches it, but due to the specifics of the religion and the actual history of the world the local(micro level) traditions and beliefs vary greatly. From Greek/Roman style demi-gods to Shinto style Kami or Hopi style Kachina to Judeo-Christian like angels and demons and a lot more. Similar differences exist when it comes to the afterlife, though not exactly salvation as we know it.

On a totally different note, here is one example of a unique cultural practice, though not religious. This come from the nation of Rhiad, one of the most Classical Mediterranean like civilizations in my new world, who have a Parthenon/Pantheon-esque building at the center of their city. The purpose of which is to honor and commemorate those great people from the past. Every year they hold a vote to choose someone who had died in that period for their services and contributions to the city. One person alone can be selected and a statue of their likeness will be erected and placed inside the temple, though it requires a certain number of votes, so many years can go by without a single person being selected. But they also hold the tradition that any person who dies or whose body is found within the temple after the selection ceremony is over will be given the same honor. So there is a long and storied history of families and individuals preserving and then attempting to smuggle in bodies for honoring. Even stories of suicide and murder within the temple. As well though, every 13 years they hold another ceremony to select one statue from those erected during that period to be destroyed by the city. Where they use the same stones they vote with to pelt the statue and destroy it. This serves both as a check on people who were honored that did not deserve it in the light of time, or sometimes retribution/political revenge on their family who may have abused or squandered the honor their relative's selection garnered them, as well as a simple reminder that nothing is permanent.

I could go on and on, but I'll cut it here and just provide the two maps I've made showing the New World and the Old World.

 

[BorkBork]

Super late, but congrats!!! I bet it feels amazing!

It does feel good - it's a magazine that not a lot of people know, but it's super well-regarded amongst those who do know. The thing is, I wrote the piece a long time ago, and I've moved on to just working on other works, so seeing it in print is nice, but piecing together something new is more enjoyable right now.

 

[FlowersisBritish]

Got rejected by Pseudopod in the end : (

Kind of stings more knowing I got further than ever but didn't seal the deal.

I know its a shitty consolation, but you got further than a lot of other people. Pseuodopod's a pretty big time place. I feel like we should get a counter going saying "Days since a heartbreaking rejection"

I would have originally said "Days since a success" but BorkBork and Aiden are beating us enough that I don't think I could handle that brand of heartache.

 

[H.Protagonist]

Been a while, so catching up from a few pages back...

I have three incredibly embarrassing but fundamentally brilliant pornographic stories available on Amazon. I still hold hope that the ... "pornographic stories people" will stumble across them accidentally and it'll somehow lead to worldwide fame and fortune.

A relatively awkward to explain fame and fortune to my kids, but I always figured I'll cross that bridge when I come to it and just buy them stuff.

That challenge still makes me laugh. Every now and then I'll get a mail about it that reminds me 1) such a hilarious thing exists, that 2) none of us can ever now run for president bc they would eventually get dug up, and 3) I begin to wonder anew if it is possible to make decent money doing it and shouldn't we try again (New Years resolution challenge?). It certainly took no time or effort and both sirap and Soulfire seem to make monies. It's certainly a fun thought to toy with while I work on book 2, at any rate.

Sooo....I have the issue in my hand.

They gave me the spot for the Coda section. Still feels surreal.

Congrats! That's brilliant. Frame it!

Got rejected by Pseudopod in the end : (

Kind of stings more knowing I got further than ever but didn't seal the deal.

Awww. It sucks after the initial interest, but even getting anyone from a pub to read it is huge! And he liked it! That means you just have to shop it even harder bc you do have a winning book in your hands.

 

[aidan]

Exciting personal news! My second pro-level short story sale is now available in Unfettered II!

It's an anthology of fantasy stories published by Shawn Speakman, and has a hell of a ToC:

• Foreword by Terry Brooks
• Bradley Beaulieu (Song of Shattered Sands)
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Rachel Caine
• Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia)
• David Farland (Runelords)
• Charlaine Harris
• Mark Lawrence (Gunlaw)
• Erin Lindsey (Bloodbound)
• Seanan McGuire
• Aidan Moher
• Naomi Novik
• Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven)
• J.A. Pitts
• Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow)
• Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive)
• Scott Sigler
• Shawn Speakman (Annwn Cycle)
• Michael J. Sullivan (The Legends of the First Empire)
• Django Wexler
• Janny Wufts (Wars of Light and Shadow
• Todd Lockwood (Cover Artist)
• Don Maitz (Interior Illustrator)

Like, seriously. I'm still pinching myself.

Story blurb:

To save his friend, Farid Sulayk, the Patchwork Priest, needs to get to O’oa Tsetse before the next full moon. But between here and there are highways crawling with rebels, and a range of sky-scraping mountains riddled with blood ghosts, kō-dan, and worse. Ethereal Tóu Mǎ offers Farid passage through the mountains, but at a cost: defeat the warlock Wu-jiu, who holds the village of Tt’Hsiung in her blood-soaked fist.

Accompanied by Tóu Mǎ, a mischievous fire djinn, and his growing doubts, Farid races to reach O’oa Tsetse before it’s too late; but first he must defeat the deadly warlock and her ghostly Yoo-in. As secrets are revealed and blood is spilled, will Farid’s battle-hardened mechanical arm and djinn magic be enough to see them through alive?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQMK2A/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfettered-ii-shawn-speakman/1124748701?ean=2940156958108

As always, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the years, Writing GAF. It means so much!

 

[Mike M]

Exciting personal news! My second pro-level short story sale is now available in Unfettered II!

It's an anthology of fantasy stories published by Shawn Speakman, and has a hell of a ToC:

• Foreword by Terry Brooks
• Bradley Beaulieu (Song of Shattered Sands)
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Rachel Caine
• Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia)
• David Farland (Runelords)
• Charlaine Harris
• Mark Lawrence (Gunlaw)
• Erin Lindsey (Bloodbound)
• Seanan McGuire
• Aidan Moher
• Naomi Novik
• Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven)
• J.A. Pitts
• Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow)
• Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive)
• Scott Sigler
• Shawn Speakman (Annwn Cycle)
• Michael J. Sullivan (The Legends of the First Empire)
• Django Wexler
• Janny Wufts (Wars of Light and Shadow
• Todd Lockwood (Cover Artist)
• Don Maitz (Interior Illustrator)

Like, seriously. I'm still pinching myself.

Story blurb:



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQMK2A/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfettered-ii-shawn-speakman/1124748701?ean=2940156958108

As always, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the years, Writing GAF. It means so much!

Don't take this the wrong way, but I hate you.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Exciting personal news! My second pro-level short story sale is now available in Unfettered II!

It's an anthology of fantasy stories published by Shawn Speakman, and has a hell of a ToC:

• Foreword by Terry Brooks
• Bradley Beaulieu (Song of Shattered Sands)
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Rachel Caine
• Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia)
• David Farland (Runelords)
• Charlaine Harris
• Mark Lawrence (Gunlaw)
• Erin Lindsey (Bloodbound)
• Seanan McGuire
• Aidan Moher
• Naomi Novik
• Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven)
• J.A. Pitts
• Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow)
• Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive)
• Scott Sigler
• Shawn Speakman (Annwn Cycle)
• Michael J. Sullivan (The Legends of the First Empire)
• Django Wexler
• Janny Wufts (Wars of Light and Shadow
• Todd Lockwood (Cover Artist)
• Don Maitz (Interior Illustrator)

Like, seriously. I'm still pinching myself.

Story blurb:



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQMK2A/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfettered-ii-shawn-speakman/1124748701?ean=2940156958108

As always, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the years, Writing GAF. It means so much!

Congrats, man! Keep living the dream!!

 

[FlowersisBritish]

Don't take this the wrong way, but I hate you.

Yeah, what Mike said. Congrats on your success and my ever rampant alcoholism. Everyone gets a drink!

 

[toddhunter]

That challenge still makes me laugh. Every now and then I'll get a mail about it that reminds me 1) such a hilarious thing exists, that 2) none of us can ever now run for president bc they would eventually get dug up, and 3) I begin to wonder anew if it is possible to make decent money doing it and shouldn't we try again (New Years resolution challenge?). It certainly took no time or effort and both sirap and Soulfire seem to make monies. It's certainly a fun thought to toy with while I work on book 2, at any rate.

It was a bit hard last time but I could probably work it in somewhere.

 

[Soulfire]

That challenge still makes me laugh. Every now and then I'll get a mail about it that reminds me 1) such a hilarious thing exists, that 2) none of us can ever now run for president bc they would eventually get dug up, and 3) I begin to wonder anew if it is possible to make decent money doing it and shouldn't we try again (New Years resolution challenge?). It certainly took no time or effort and both sirap and Soulfire seem to make monies. It's certainly a fun thought to toy with while I work on book 2, at any rate.

I don't know about sirap but I ended up taking down my shorts because Amazon changed a few things and I didn't make anything from them anymore. Everything I publish now, which I haven't published since April, is 40k plus.

A challenge sounds fun and maybe it would get me back to writing more frequently. I'll have a newborn so maybe not though lol

 

[BorkBork]

Exciting personal news! My second pro-level short story sale is now available in Unfettered II!

It's an anthology of fantasy stories published by Shawn Speakman, and has a hell of a ToC:

• Foreword by Terry Brooks
• Bradley Beaulieu (Song of Shattered Sands)
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Rachel Caine
• Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia)
• David Farland (Runelords)
• Charlaine Harris
• Mark Lawrence (Gunlaw)
• Erin Lindsey (Bloodbound)
• Seanan McGuire
• Aidan Moher
• Naomi Novik
• Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven)
• J.A. Pitts
• Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow)
• Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive)
• Scott Sigler
• Shawn Speakman (Annwn Cycle)
• Michael J. Sullivan (The Legends of the First Empire)
• Django Wexler
• Janny Wufts (Wars of Light and Shadow
• Todd Lockwood (Cover Artist)
• Don Maitz (Interior Illustrator)

Like, seriously. I'm still pinching myself.

Story blurb:



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQMK2A/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfettered-ii-shawn-speakman/1124748701?ean=2940156958108

As always, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the years, Writing GAF. It means so much!

Congrats Aidan! That's an amazing list of writers, holy smokes!

An aside, I don't know how useful this is for everyone, but I really got a lot out of the Review Review's blog on publishing. They have a lot of great posts with advice and tips directly from editors. Some of it is common sense, but some might be useful. Check it out!

 

[toddhunter]

Don't take this the wrong way, but I hate you.

I take solace from him having to be associated with that cover

But seriously congratulations, you are an inspiration.

 

[zulux21]

Exciting personal news! My second pro-level short story sale is now available in Unfettered II!

It's an anthology of fantasy stories published by Shawn Speakman, and has a hell of a ToC:

• Foreword by Terry Brooks
• Bradley Beaulieu (Song of Shattered Sands)
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Rachel Caine
• Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia)
• David Farland (Runelords)
• Charlaine Harris
• Mark Lawrence (Gunlaw)
• Erin Lindsey (Bloodbound)
• Seanan McGuire
• Aidan Moher
• Naomi Novik
• Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven)
• J.A. Pitts
• Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow)
• Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive)
• Scott Sigler
• Shawn Speakman (Annwn Cycle)
• Michael J. Sullivan (The Legends of the First Empire)
• Django Wexler
• Janny Wufts (Wars of Light and Shadow
• Todd Lockwood (Cover Artist)
• Don Maitz (Interior Illustrator)

Like, seriously. I'm still pinching myself.

Story blurb:



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQMK2A/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfettered-ii-shawn-speakman/1124748701?ean=2940156958108

As always, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the years, Writing GAF. It means so much!

congrats. I don't think I could ever do that mostly because I fail hard at short stories


in other thoughts, I really really really need to sit down and go through my story and clearly figure out the time line and what I have revealed when ect. it's getting hard to keep track of everything, and even if I am close to being correct about details if I ever publish I need to make sure all the details are lined up otherwise if I ever get any fans they will figure out something like where I am at in the story is actually 3 months from the start instead of 2 months and two weeks like I think it is right now.

to be fair, at this point it is only like 160k words to go through and make details notes about as to time passing, character stuff and what chapter things are in ect... so it should ideally only take a week or two to do.

though I think I want to finish book 3 before I do that (so will be more like 200k words but still)... so I think I will just try to keep things lined up the best i can and make notes of stuff I need to double check.

man I am going to need a ton of notes... I really do love planting very little things that are hinting at future things but aren't clear that they are at the time they are done it's the huge plus of doing a long series with no plans to publish it anywhere until I near the end... I can repeatedly go back and tweak little things where they make sense.

 

[sirap]

I don't know about sirap but I ended up taking down my shorts because Amazon changed a few things and I didn't make anything from them anymore. Everything I publish now, which I haven't published since April, is 40k plus.

A challenge sounds fun and maybe it would get me back to writing more frequently. I'll have a newborn so maybe not though lol

I still have a few bundles that pull in half a grand each month but it's definitely not the goldmine it once was. For romance, writing a series of 35k books is the way to go (serials for every other genre)

Short erotica is fun and it's a good exercise for first-time indie authors. You'll definitely learn a lot about pacing, structure and hitting reader expectations (+ telling your inner-critic to fuck off )

 

[H.Protagonist]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.

It was a bit hard last time but I could probably work it in somewhere.

It was definitely tough to work in sometimes, but at the end it did make me put something out there. Plus, it got me into the habit of writing daily, which was kind of cool, not to mention the hours of amusement spent making a cover for it.

I don't know about sirap but I ended up taking down my shorts because Amazon changed a few things and I didn't make anything from them anymore. Everything I publish now, which I haven't published since April, is 40k plus.

A challenge sounds fun and maybe it would get me back to writing more frequently. I'll have a newborn so maybe not though lol

That bad, huh? Things definitely slowed down after they made that change, but their system is so easy and familiar/their audience so wide that it's hard to know where to go instead. Did you find an alternative place to sell your books? Do you think 35-40k is a better number than 20-35k to shoot for?

And, I can't deny that the challenge was silly fun. At the very least, it encourages writing more frequently.

Exciting personal news! My second pro-level short story sale is now available in Unfettered II!

As always, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout the years, Writing GAF. It means so much!

Congrats again, A! Definitely inspiring stuff.

I still have a few bundles that pull in half a grand each month but it's definitely not the goldmine it once was. For romance, writing a series of 35k books is the way to go (serials for every other genre)

Short erotica is fun and it's a good exercise for first-time indie authors. You'll definitely learn a lot about pacing, structure and hitting reader expectations (+ telling your inner-critic to fuck off )

I was considering trying romance for the challenge if I did it since that seems to be an evergreen market. You think 35k is the sweet spot? And series, not serials?

 

[zulux21]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.

even if I wasn't busy with my long series that will never sell I don't think I could join this.

I really don't think I can write something that I think will sell.

really I only find writing sci fi or fantasy interesting, and of those I only have two ideas that could maybe fit in that length, one of them is a prequel/set up to a much larger story (though stand alone at the same time) and the other is actually a psychological horror, which i have no confidence I can pull off interestingly at all.

 

[Delio]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.

I might be. After the Nano thing fell through Ive been itching for it. I just dont know what I would be writing lol.

 

[sirap]

I was considering trying romance for the challenge if I did it since that seems to be an evergreen market. You think 35k is the sweet spot? And series, not serials?

Yup, 35-40k is long enough to make KU payouts profitable, and easy to pump out at a consistent pace.

The problem with serials is that they typically have cliffhangers to sell readers on the next one. Mixing that in with a HEA (happily ever after) usually weakens your ending.

I've tried it before and the complaints were endless. It's easier to end your book on a good note and upgrade a side character into the protagonist for the next one (best friend, ex-lover, villain).

 

[AngmarsKing701]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, because it's taken me about two years to write Part I of Book 2 of my Ahvarra series, and I'm only at the 35K point in that one.

But I'm in.

I'll try (ugh, I'm really really really gonna try this month) to finish off Part I, then I can take a little break from firing up Part II and do this. I actually have a fantasy serial in mind, a little epic, a little tongue-in-cheek, maybe along the lines of Princess Bride in tone. We'll see if I can pull it off, but heck, if not then it'll be something different in tone and a good way to get back into writing every day.

Damn you

Spoiler

with these great ideas

, H.Pro!

Spoiler

jk love ya!!!

 

[Soulfire]

That bad, huh? Things definitely slowed down after they made that change, but their system is so easy and familiar/their audience so wide that it's hard to know where to go instead. Did you find an alternative place to sell your books? Do you think 35-40k is a better number than 20-35k to shoot for?

Even though I haven't published anything since April I'm still making over $100 a month on what's up there. That's with no promotions or anything so I'm happy with that. I do have the books uploaded on Kobo, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, etc but you really have to promote heavy to make any traction there.

Word count wise it's really going to depend on your genre. I agree with Sirap, for a romance 35k is fine, but I probably wouldn't recommend having cliffhangers with romance. At least not with the romantic interests. I've got a Sci-Fi romance series that has stuff going on in the world that's not resolved but the couples are together and their story done by the end of the book.

The challenge sounds fun and I'd love to do it, not sure if I'll be able to write though because of the baby. We'll see.

If anyone is looking for ideas on genres that might sell I recommend reading Write to Market by Chris Fox. He gives suggestions on ways to write what you want to write but still make it marketable and it's only $2.99

 

[H.Protagonist]

even if I wasn't busy with my long series that will never sell I don't think I could join this.

I really don't think I can write something that I think will sell.

really I only find writing sci fi or fantasy interesting, and of those I only have two ideas that could maybe fit in that length, one of them is a prequel/set up to a much larger story (though stand alone at the same time) and the other is actually a psychological horror, which i have no confidence I can pull off interestingly at all.

Sounds like you have just the problem that this challenge tackles! A lot of us get caught up in details, world building, epic plots, and basically spend a lot of time working on something that is so complicated that we often get mired in it all. Writing something short like a novella in a set time frame can rev your writing engine because it's a quickly attainable goal and accomplishing writing goals is a serious mental boost. The fact that it's commercially themed, I believe, also takes off the pressure of trying to come up with something earth shattering. Since you're lacking confidence in your writing right now, this would be perfect for you. It's a no pressure plunge to trying out a few random ideas and it'll give your writing skills a good stretch trying something new. It was hilarious last time we did this, and making dumb covers is the best. At the least, you'd laugh a lot.

I might be. After the Nano thing fell through Ive been itching for it. I just dont know what I would be writing lol.

I might pull story plots out of a hat and make you write it as your punishment. But, yes, join us.

Yup, 35-40k is long enough to make KU payouts profitable, and easy to pump out at a consistent pace.

The problem with serials is that they typically have cliffhangers to sell readers on the next one. Mixing that in with a HEA (happily ever after) usually weakens your ending.

I've tried it before and the complaints were endless. It's easier to end your book on a good note and upgrade a side character into the protagonist for the next one (best friend, ex-lover, villain).

Excellent! That will be the benchmark, then. Cheers for the advice on things to avoid as well~

I can't believe I'm going to say this, because it's taken me about two years to write Part I of Book 2 of my Ahvarra series, and I'm only at the 35K point in that one.

But I'm in.

I'll try (ugh, I'm really really really gonna try this month) to finish off Part I, then I can take a little break from firing up Part II and do this. I actually have a fantasy serial in mind, a little epic, a little tongue-in-cheek, maybe along the lines of Princess Bride in tone. We'll see if I can pull it off, but heck, if not then it'll be something different in tone and a good way to get back into writing every day.

Damn you

Spoiler

with these great ideas

, H.Pro!

Spoiler

jk love ya!!!

Schweet. You know you want to give it another spin. Besides! It's a New Years Resolution Challenge and just sitting down and writing daily will be a boon whatever we put out. Plus, as I said to zulu, sometimes we get mired in our big projects and could use a little diversion to refuel the creative engine. Maybe this is the break you need to get inspired for Ahvarra again! I really like your idea for it too. Let's making dumb books again!

Even though I haven't published anything since April I'm still making over $100 a month on what's up there. That's with no promotions or anything so I'm happy with that. I do have the books uploaded on Kobo, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, etc but you really have to promote heavy to make any traction there.

Word count wise it's really going to depend on your genre. I agree with Sirap, for a romance 35k is fine, but I probably wouldn't recommend having cliffhangers with romance. At least not with the romantic interests. I've got a Sci-Fi romance series that has stuff going on in the world that's not resolved but the couples are together and their story done by the end of the book.

The challenge sounds fun and I'd love to do it, not sure if I'll be able to write though because of the baby. We'll see.

If anyone is looking for ideas on genres that might sell I recommend reading Write to Market by Chris Fox. He gives suggestions on ways to write what you want to write but still make it marketable and it's only $2.99

Wow. That's so awesome, seriously. I'm even more excited now to see if something doesn't come out of this for one of us. I made ~$50ish off that silly 3hr erotica before, so thinking of all the bottles of wine I can get with these is tantalizing.

Word count-wise, I defer to you and sirap and will do the 35k-40k as the goal. As for doing it with a baby, I'm in the same boat so I totally empathize. I'm also working part time from home now, but I've found that if I apply her first nap to writing, I'm actually able to plug away at it day by day and still get all my work-work done. Maybe that would work for you? Not sure of your sit, but it's a no pressure challenge, just goals and chat as we go along, so don't worry if stuff comes up. And thanks for the market book suggestion. Might look into that.

 

[Dolla Dolla]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.





It was definitely tough to work in sometimes, but at the end it did make me put something out there. Plus, it got me into the habit of writing daily, which was kind of cool, not to mention the hours of amusement spent making a cover for it.

I'm interested in giving this a spin. Been wanting to test the Amazon waters for awhile now under a pen name with a genre I'm not used to writing on, like romance.

 

[mu cephei]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.

I'm seriously considering it. I gave up on the erotica challenge really early, but romance might be possible. Or something else maybe.

 

[Jintor]

oooh.

i'd be okay with that. Though I've earmarked the two weeks from 23 dec to 9 jan to write something down. i guess 20k - 25k words would be an okay goal for 2 weeks.

 

[H.Protagonist]

Cool. The New Years Resolution Challenge is a go, then! I'll work up an outline for it and prob post it just after Christmas so people can start brainstorming in earnest before the 1st.

I'm interested in giving this a spin. Been wanting to test the Amazon waters for awhile now under a pen name with a genre I'm not used to writing on, like romance.

Perfect. That'll suit this just fine. A three month spread of 3 releases will, hopefully, give us a bit of a feel for how the slightly bigger novella format works on Amazon. Curious how the payouts will go. Sub 20k was definitely, um, lackluster once they changed the system.

I'm seriously considering it. I gave up on the erotica challenge really early, but romance might be possible. Or something else maybe.

Do it! All writers probably have some kind of resolution to write more in the new year, so I think this fulfills that goal pretty nicely. And don't feel stuck on romance if it doesn't interest you at all. While it's a commercial challenge, writing something that bores you to tears will probably reflect in the story and hurt your sales, so pick something where there's a little personal spark.

oooh.

i'd be okay with that. Though I've earmarked the two weeks from 23 dec to 9 jan to write something down. i guess 20k - 25k words would be an okay goal for 2 weeks.

Yup. That could work. I'm setting the target for 35-40k, but if you reach the goal (i.e., a full story to publish) and it's only 20-25k, that's fine too. If you'll hold off putting it up on Amazon until the publish date for the challenge (submit night of Jan 31 so that it goes up Feb 1), that would be great, though. I'd like to see everyone leave the starting line there at the same time.

 

[Jintor]

i mean there's no way in fuck i'd be able to do 3 novellas, but maybe 1 is doable and that's all the confidence boost i need right now.

I also read that Writing to Market book just yesterday, good quick read. I liked it, but as usualy, the real problem will be sitting down to actually write.

 

[Jintor]

Just to maybe canvass some opinions while I'm here... I've been thinking about this Fantasy Homicide Precinct idea for like three years now (I actually wrote a nano and a half on it so far), but maybe I should just try and get something out there and make a novella focusing on a single case? That seems like a good idea to me...

 

[Ashes]

I'm in. Just so I make it a habit to keep writing regularly.

 

[MilkBeard]

A New Years Resolution Challenge w/ a commercial theme might be a thing, then. Anyone else interested?

I'm thinking a 3 month period (start Jan - end March), write one 20-35k (or 35-40k?) novella per month, each to be published on Amazon(?) at the end of each month with the goal of have a small stable of commercial works by the end. No set genre except what you think will sell.





It was definitely tough to work in sometimes, but at the end it did make me put something out there. Plus, it got me into the habit of writing daily, which was kind of cool, not to mention the hours of amusement spent making a cover for it.




That bad, huh? Things definitely slowed down after they made that change, but their system is so easy and familiar/their audience so wide that it's hard to know where to go instead. Did you find an alternative place to sell your books? Do you think 35-40k is a better number than 20-35k to shoot for?

And, I can't deny that the challenge was silly fun. At the very least, it encourages writing more frequently.




Congrats again, A! Definitely inspiring stuff.




I was considering trying romance for the challenge if I did it since that seems to be an evergreen market. You think 35k is the sweet spot? And series, not serials?

That's an interesting idea. I would also join this event, but I've decided to focus entirely on finishing my NaNoWriMo novel. So, I will be doing that along side you all. I am aiming to have it complete lengthwise in a few months, and then start the full editing process.

 

[FlowersisBritish]

To this day, I always did wish I went ahead and wrote that trilogy of Vikki, the Victorian Era Velociraptor.

 

[Dolla Dolla]

Yup, 35-40k is long enough to make KU payouts profitable, and easy to pump out at a consistent pace.

The problem with serials is that they typically have cliffhangers to sell readers on the next one. Mixing that in with a HEA (happily ever after) usually weakens your ending.

I've tried it before and the complaints were endless. It's easier to end your book on a good note and upgrade a side character into the protagonist for the next one (best friend, ex-lover, villain).

Good to see you back, strap. Always interested in your expertise in the kindle market. Do you outline / snowflake all your novels before starting? I know you have a high output.

 

[sirap]

Good to see you back, strap. Always interested in your expertise in the kindle market. Do you outline / snowflake all your novels before starting? I know you have a high output.

I do. I hate doing revisions so pantsing isn't an option for me. I'm on a pretty tight schedule so having everything planned beforehand means I don't waste time figuring out the story. Plus its so easy for word counts to grow out of control with pantsing. I try to optimize my workflow as much as possible and never write more than I need to.

The snowflake method helped a lot when I started but at this point in my career I've read and written so many romance stories the structure has become second nature. I use Jami Gold's beat sheets for all my outlining now.

 

[RustyNails]

I finally pushed myself to start writing something thats been bubbling in my head for years. Thanks to this thread and others made by Cyan. I wrote two paragraphs, and after a few revisions this is what it looks like:

Hassan AlBadri reached the outskirts of Bjahukt with the flag bearers beside him carrying the banner of the mighty Caliphate. A small, sleepy town caught in the bloody fight between the Caliphate and the Hungarian kingdom that refuses to submit. The blood from his vanquished enemies glistened on his shoulder plate in the bluish, cold hue of the Wallachian dusk. His helmet in his left arm, the horse's rope in his other. The sword fully sheathed on his left, and the long halbred tucked away on his back, protruding into the air. His remaining force of the Sultan's handpicked corps, the feared musket weilding Janisarries followed with the light infantry behind him. The towndwellers make way for the Sultan's army's brisk march through the town's street, the clank of the metals and the hoofs of the horses piercing through the silence of the town. The bannermen proudly proclaim the town as belonging to the Sultan once again as they reached the square, as whispers of "Hassan the Traitor" are heard within the onlookers. AlBadri's dispatch to the frontline by the Caliph was swift. Hassan has never lost a battle, and the Caliph couldn't bear the loss of his most experienced army men, one after the another, on the Hungarian-Caliphate territory. Not while the rest of the Caliphate was enjoying a strong continued military progress against other kingdoms and territories.

Had it been any other general, the battle would have been lost, as the Frankish irregulars, known as haiwaan - predators - by Turks, were berserkers with their hammers designed to sever spines, instil fear and break ribcages. But Hassan's battlefield stratagem was legendary. The enemy's strength was used against them, combined with the lightning speed of his cavalry, the Frankish irregulars walked into a deathtrap. After the berserkers ranks felled in half, the Hungarian Cavalry speared toward the battleline, led by Carpo Kinizsi, the trusted general of the rebel king Corvinus. General Kiniszsi estimated the Irregulars breaking the form of Caliphate's battallion, yet Albadri's lightning maneauvers quickly turned the anger, strength and bloodthirst of the haiwaan into that of confusion and tiredness.

I know everyone wants to write the next Game of Thrones but I dont, even though it might read like one. I want to focus on a horror themed, alternate universe but start with quasi-historical reality, and focus on a few main characters.