Tag Archives: novel writing

THE Guide to Great Storytelling: StoryMasters

Posted on September 2, 2015 | Leave a comment
StoryMasters Cover 2-1-2015xe flat EBook

Yesterday’s Cover

StoryMasters POD Front Cover Black 9-2-2015 X

Today’s Cover

StoryMasters POD Cover Black w-Blue 9-3-2015

Future Cover?

Back Cover

Back Cover

StoryMasters

—the writer’s guide every author should have!

Now available in print and eBook 

StoryMasters for novice to advanced storytellers. It’s a labor of love of over a quarter century writing novels and teaching the craft. An eighth edition of Novel Writing Made Simple, it’s the first major revision since Edition Seven in 2010.

This is one of the most comprehensive reference and resource books on novel writing available, with complex concepts broken down into the most basic of terms.

  • When was the last time you saw subtext discussed in a novel-writing book? It’s in StoryMasters!
  • What about free indirect discourse—have you ever seen that broken down and given in simple terms so that you understood it and could recognize how important FID is to your writing? It’s in the book!
  • Do you even know what psychic distance is? Just sayin’—z’in the book!
  • Need to research a writing concept for the next writers’ meeting? In the book!
  • Having trouble with point of view and need a refresher? It’s in the book!
  • Your characters seem too flat and unreal, and you want to know more about writing 3D characters that will leap off the page? The book is where you’ll find it!
  • Don’t know what direction your story is headed and need help with plotting? Got it right there in the book!
  • Bogged down or completely stuck halfway into your story and in search of a pathway out of the mucky middle (muddle)? Ditto!
  • Want to find out how to make a novel notebook like Storybinder that will keep all your story ideas in one place? Yep—ITB!
  • Want to brainstorm your story in order to develop it more and flesh it out? It’s in the book!
  • NaNoWriMo’s coming up—do you know what StoryStormer is and how it can help you write your story quickly? Check it out in the book!
  • Want to develop emotional subplots to help characterize but don’t know how? Af-firm-a-tive!
  • Want a bang-up opening without a bomb going off? Si-si!
  • Want a comprehensive lexicon of over 500 words to help you understand the craft and business of novel writing? Roger that!
  • Want to read over a hundred quips from bestselling writers and celebrities about writing and entertaining? Of course, it’s in the book!
  • What about Grandma’s recipe for her luscious apple pie—do you think it’s in the book? No, silly! You’ll have to ask Grandma for that … but if you need a clear and effective recipe for writing gripping suspense … you guessed it—it’s in … the … book!
  • What about writing dynamic dialogue, imagery, interactive setting, skillfully shifting tenses, shifting narrative mode and point of view, simple editing techniques, manuscript formatting, an overview of the traditional publishing business and how to query an agent? Uh-huh … need I say more?

Prepare to launch— StoryMasters: Writers, Hone Your Skills! Advanced Notions in Novel Writing.

Find StoryMasters here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014M5Q7S2/

Thank you in advance for taking a look! I’m sure it will help!

—Gordon

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Posted in EBooks & EPublishing, Novel Writing Made Simple, Readers' Interests, Writing

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Book Reviews: John Locke Didn’t Do It This Way!

Posted on April 7, 2013 | 4 comments

I posted this on our Indie Writers Alliance page, then I realized this might be important enough to wave it around on my author site, as well.

To my readers and fans, let me just tell you how very important it is for any author to get good, legitimate reviews for their books. If you give a book a good review, you’ve made the author’s day. On the other hand, if you give it a bad review, there will likely be gnashing of teeth. But even negative reviews are important to readers, if they’re honest–and, ultimately, that’s who reviews are for. Reviews are to help potential readers decide whether or not to buy and read a book. Reviews are good things for the consumers–for readers, the reason we write. Reviews with hurtful language, spoilers, negative because “I don’t read this genre, but I got this book for free”: those are the really lame reviews that no one needs.

Okay, so don’t even compare what I’m about to tell you to John Locke’s, “Hey, I sold over a million books in five months this way!” The following info and link is to help fellow indie authors hook up with potential reviewers in their book(s) genre(s).

What’s different? Locke said nothing about the main and now obviously secret ingredient in his plan: buying reviews! I’m not saying it’s wrong to buy reviews. I’d say it’s wrong if you’re buying positive reviews, fabricated reviews from folks who didn’t even read your book, left out the fact that you bought reviews when you go around bragging to other writers how you became so successful and left this very critical piece of the puzzle out. And then Mr. Locke sells us indies a guide-book about how we can do what he did with the most important part–the real key to his success–never mentioned! That’s ri-ight! He paid over $6,000 for 300 reviews. Now think of it, authors: paying three hundred people to go “buy” your book on Amazon over a few days’ time–the increased sales alone would shoot your title near the top of the rankings. Don’t you think if you’re giving these reviewer folks pretty good money to give a review, and there’s no real control over whether they really read the book or not, that they’ll likely give your book a good review? Especially since, if they give it a bad review, they might not be considered favorably for a chance to get paid to write review again!

Click the Image!

Click the Image!

Anyway, check this out, fellow indies! For $67.00 BookRooster will distribute your book to a genre-targeted portion of their 3,000 plus reviewers, and they’ll keep working at it until you get ten reviews. They don’t promise those reviews will be positive. What are you paying for, then? Distribution of your book to reviewers. The reviewers themselves don’t get paid, but they do get to download your book for free. If you need reviews, this might just be a way to go.

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Posted in EBooks & EPublishing, Personal Views, Pet Peeves, Readers' Interests, Uncategorized, Writing

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EPublishing Radio Interview

Posted on March 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

I was just interviewed about my writing career as well as ePublishing by nationally known radio personality and voice talent, Mike Lamb. The half-hour segment will air Sunday, March 31, between 1:00 and 2pm ET on WJML radio:  http://www.WJML.com

Listen to the interview here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/moneyroom/033013-moneyroomshow-hour2.mp3

The actual interview starts at 7:10 into the audio recording.

Check it out!

But, if you don’t get a chance, you can catch it anytime afterwards on a podcast on Mike’s Internet radio website, at: www.MoneyRoom.com, and later I’ll post it right here!

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Posted in EBooks & EPublishing, Interviews, Personal Views, Readers' Interests, Seminars & Appearances, Writing

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EBOOK ***Coming Attractions*** Contest!

Posted on January 21, 2013 | 2 comments

 The

EBOOK

***Coming Attractions***

Contest!

IS NOW OVER: Winners to be announced soon!

The BEST Indie EBook Novels Coming Soon To an EReader Near You!

A Writers’ Contest for Future Indie Writers!

The First Three Pages (750 words) of Fantastic Fiction

No Entry Fee!

Any genre (category)!

Simple rules! Submit:

  1. Up to the first 750 words of your novel
    1. Formatted in MS Word, with one-inch margins, double spaced, and in any very readable font;
    2. No title page is necessary, and the author’s name may appear on the submission.
  2. A synopsis/description of the work of no more than 250 words. We suggest including:
    1. A brief pitch (perhaps up to fifty words—this is your grabber or elevator pitch);
    2. A brief summary (this is the synopsis that you hope will sell your book and help it to become a bestseller—check out examples on Amazon)
  3. Ensure your entry email includes author’s name and story genre (category).

*Entries cannot be presently published as eBooks on Amazon.

Entries will be judged on the author’s storytelling ability, ability to follow the contest submission’s very simple guidelines, and the judges’ opinions of marketability (sales potential).

What do you win?

The First Place entry:

  1. Will be showcased on not only the Indie Writers Alliance blog /website but on Gordon Kessler’s author’s site, as well;
  2. Will be linked to Amazon book page once ePublished.

The First Place entry will also receive:

  1. Free eBook formatting for winning entry for Kindle & Nook (when ready, but must be requested within six months of contest deadline);
  2. Free ePublishing phone consultation for uploading eBook to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, (when ready, but must be requested within six months of contest deadline);
  3. Choice of print or eBook version of Novel Writing Made Simple or EBook Writing Made Simple!
  4. Full, line-by-line edit of entry.

The First Place entry and five Runners Up:

1. Will be linked from Gordon’s and IWA’s sites to authors’ sites;

2. Will be listed on both Gordon’s and IWA’s sites with the stories’ synopses/books submitted for the contest;

3. Will have the books’ cover images or authors’ photos, if available, posted on IWA and Gordon Kessler’s blog/websites.

First 100 entries:

  1. Will receive a free PDF version of Novel Writing Made Simple or EBook Writing Made Simple!
  2. Will receive a single-paragraph summary including strengths and weaknesses of the entry as well as suggestions on how to improve the work (feedback will be sent in the format of an email by March 31, 2013).

Have a story opening? With nothing to lose, it’s a no-brainer: dust it off and send it in today!

Deadline: midnight PST, February 3, 2013 (by email date and time confirmation)

First round judging will be completed and finalists notified by February 11, 2013.

The EBook ***Coming Attractions*** Contest winners will be selected and posted on  http://gordonkessler.com and http://writersmatrix.com/wordpress/ (Indie Writers Alliance’s blog/website).

The EBook ***Coming Attractions*** Contest is sponsored by Gordon A Kessler and the Indie Writers Alliance.

Send entries by email as a single attachment (synopsis and story opening), with “coming attractions” in the subject line, to:

Gordon@gordonkessler.com

Questions? Email Gordon with “question” in the subject line.

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Posted in Contests, EBooks & EPublishing, Novel Writing Made Simple, Writing

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EBook Writing Made Simple! only $2.99 for Kindle on Amazon

Posted on July 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

EBook Writing Made Simple! is only $2.99 for Kindle on Amazon

Come and get ’em while the supply lasts!
(okay–got me–it’s an eBook, there’s an endless supply. But you need it NOW!)

EBooks vs. Print (paper):
even the stories are different

NOTE: Among the many books published concerning eBooks, none are about the actual writing of an eBook novel–until now!

THIS EBOOK FOCUSES SOLEY ON THE ACTUAL WRITING OF NOVELS INTENDED FOR THE EBOOK-READING PUBLIC. It does not deal with the ePublishing or marketing of such work–there are literally dozens of great eBooks out there already to help you with that.

IS WRITING AN EBOOK NOVEL the same as writing a novel intended for the traditional publishing industry? It doesn’t have to be–it can be much better. Why? When writing an eBook novel, you’re writing for the reader and not the uptight, rutted, NYC publishing industry. Find out how, and have fun writing again!

This eBook is especially designed for the beginning eBook writer, but it is also a great guide for the novelist who wants to think out of the box. With the huge new market writers have discovered in writing eBooks, opportunities abound for authors who take a different tack and understand this new venue from a clearer perspective. Writing for reader entertainment by bending and even breaking the uptight traditional publishing industry’s stiff and restrictive guidelines frees the author’s creativity.

Come take a look at the fiction-writing craft from a whole new angle and discover the innovative and effective ways to reach your readers.

From the basics of fiction writing and the strict unbudging conventions of a steadfast traditional publishing industry to how to break the rules for pure entertainment value, this book encompasses it all. A 500+ word lexicon of terms every writer should know is included.

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Posted in Book Covers, Books on Sale, EBooks & EPublishing, Novel Writing Made Simple, Uncategorized, Writing

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EBook Writing Made Simple!–is now available!

Posted on July 23, 2012 | 7 comments

Hot off the virtual press–it’s here! EBook Writing Made Simple!

NOTE: Among the many books published concerning eBooks, none are about the actual writing of an eBook novel–until now!

THIS EBOOK FOCUSES SOLEY ON THE ACTUAL WRITING OF NOVELS INTENDED FOR THE EBOOK-READING PUBLIC. It does not deal with the ePublishing or marketing of such work–there are literally dozens of great eBooks out there already to help you with that.

IS WRITING AN EBOOK NOVEL the same as writing a novel intended for the traditional publishing industry? It doesn’t have to be–it can be much better. Why? When writing an eBook novel, you’re writing for the reader and not the uptight, rutted, NYC publishing industry. Find out how, and have fun writing again!

This eBook is especially designed for the beginning eBook writer, but it is also a great guide for the novelist who wants to think out of the box. With the huge new market writers have discovered in writing eBooks, opportunities abound for authors who take a different tack and understand this new venue from a clearer perspective. Writing for reader entertainment by bending and even breaking the uptight traditional publishing industry’s stiff and restrictive guidelines frees the author’s creativity.

Come take a look at the fiction-writing craft from a whole new angle and discover the innovative and effective ways to reach your readers.

From the basics of fiction writing and the strict unbudging conventions of a steadfast traditional publishing industry to how to break the rules for pure entertainment value, this book encompasses it all. A 500+ word lexicon of terms every writer should know is included.

7 Comments

Posted in Book Covers, Books on Sale, EBooks & EPublishing, Novel Writing Made Simple, Seminars & Appearances, Uncategorized, Writing

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