Since August is all about fiction, and as part of that, I want to help you find ways to make money with the fiction that you write. So, during the next few weeks, I’ll be posting a series called “niche markets.” Each will focus on one kind of fiction and include links to writer’s guidelines for places that publish short fiction and novels. You can see all of the niche market posts here, in case today’s niche isn’t your cup of tea!
Today, I’ve got markets for people who enjoy writing Christian fiction.

Lighthouse Christian Publishing

They don’t have tons of information online, …read more

I’ve heard many successful writers say that the “book wrote itself.” Of course, that doesn’t mean that the novel wasn’t difficult to write. It just means that the story flowed easily, with the characters being so strong that their decisions in the novel were natural. Really great characters will do that for ya…but be warned. Sometimes, you have to confront your characters and reign them in.
Don’t get so attached to your characters that they become “too real,” making the story contrived or, worse, boring. Sometimes your characters need a kick in the behind. Don’t we all? Sit down with your …read more

You hear successful fiction writers say it again and again: write what you know. But if writing what you know is your key to fiction that sells, then why are the sci-fi and fantasy genres so successful, while few publishers are interested in memoirs unless you’re famous? Obviously, a book about vampires or unicorns isn’t real. Well, here’s my take on the “write what you know” conflict, and it boils down to a single idea:
Write what you know, but don’t write your story.
At the end of the day, few people have a life interesting enough to sell memoirs or …read more

We all have out little pet peeves. For me, topping the list are people not taking the shopping cart back to the grocery store porch or cart return (how lazy are you if you can’t walk 10 feet with your cart?) and people throwing garbage out of the window while driving (seriously…you can’t keep a napkin in your car until you get home?). Both frustrate me like no other. When it comes to fiction, I have pet peeves as well. I think it is important to analyze what you like as a reader in order to make your own fiction …read more

Not every character in every book has a name, and that’s ok. The majority of your characters, however, need a name. That can be one of the hardest parts of writing fiction. I’ve easily spent over an hour trying to come up with the perfect name for a character. And don’t even get me started on surnames (last names) and pets names!
Something that has helped me save at least a little time: creating a character list. I actually have mine in an Excell spreadsheet, but when I was in high school, I had an old recipe box and a box …read more

Writing believable dialogue isn’t easy. However, it is even harder to write an entire story with no dialogue at all. Characters talk; that’s just a fact of life. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to create a conversation that isn’t boring, long-winded, or too dramatic. Here are some tips that I use to create good dialogue:
1. Make your main character “you.”

You don’t have to put yourself in the story if you don’t want to, but whoever talks the most should have your voice, at least, if you want to make the dialogue writing as simple as possible. In fiction, it …read more

I recommend reading Part 1 of Rejection: Why Publishers Say No first! We covered a number of reasons why publishers could be rejecting you. Here are some more:

There’s no market for your fiction.

You could write something very interesting…to you…but that doesn’t mean that it will also be relevant to other people. Now, in most cases, there will always be a market for well-written fiction, but if you’re writing in a very narrow niche, publishers may shy away from your fiction. You don’t have to totally compromise what you want to write, but remember that you should have a broad enough …read more

Most fiction-writing “jobs” aren’t the same as online non-fiction jobs. Instead of being hired to write a specific piece, you’ll take the initiative to write what you like, and then you’ll submit it to publishers for consideration. It’s not the best way to provide for your family, to be honest, since you don’t control when or if you’ll receive money for your work. Some fiction writers are very successful, though, so don’t let that get you down!
If you’re rejected again and again, you can start to get discouraged. You don’t want your work to go to waste. You love your …read more

Since August is all about fiction, and as part of that, I want to help you find ways to make money with the fiction that you write. So, during the next few weeks, I’ll be posting a series called “niche markets.” Each will focus on one kind of fiction and include links to writer’s guidelines for places that publish short fiction and novels. You can see all of the niche market posts here, in case today’s niche isn’t your cup of tea!
Today’s markets are all for mystery and detective fiction writers.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine

This magazine buys almost every kind of …read more

I’m the queen of cheap. When it comes to a great deal, I’m not too proud to dumpster dive. I’ve gotten some great items from others’ discard piles, including a bed frame, a desk, and a dresser. With a little elbow grease, you can polish these items, apply a new coat of paint, and add them to your home without anyone knowing the difference.
Today, I want to encourage you to take a similar approach to fiction. If you’re anything like me, you have a folder (or folders) full of unfinished projects that you have touched in years. They may not …read more