The Creative Writer

What genre of story should I write?

Books piled up both horizontally and vertically on shelf with black and silver traditional camera — By Taryn Elliott on Pexels

I backed a kickstarter recently. The kickstarter offered several novels and some pop-up writing workshops.

The books are science fiction stories. If you had asked me, I would not have said that I was into science fiction reading. I have thoroughly enjoyed the books.

My husband has enjoyed some science fiction for years – particularly the Expanse series. He has read all the books and thoroughly enjoyed the TV series too. Because of reading the books, he has known when the stories have deviated from them, been condensed or just plain different. I watched the TV series with him and enjoyed it. I have not yet got into the books.

I have rarely read a science fiction book. However I enjoyed Michael Crichton’s work and have read a lot of his books, I got my husband into Dune and we both enjoy watching Star Trek and the various series that have followed.

Perhaps I am into science fiction after all.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the books that came with the kickstarter.

So what is a genre?

A genre is a way of categorising types of story. Traditionally, agents prefer that a story submitted to them is an identifiable genre because it helps them to sell the book. Genre gives marketing a chance to know where to aim the book.

Fiction genres include:

literary

historical

fairy tale

young adult

children

paranormal romance

thriller

mystery

romance

comedy

horror

fantasy

sci-fi

crime and detective

and genres can be mixed too such as children’s paranormal or mystery romance

Non-fiction genres include:

self-help

history

geography

current affairs

science

cooking

nature

true crime

spirituality

politics

philosophy

Don’t forget poetry which is still enjoyed today.

There are a lot of genres. How do you know which genre your writing fits into? How do you know which kind of genre you want to write?

Is it important to know what type of story you are writing?

I was once passed a manuscript to read. The story was enjoyable, but the thing that struck me was what my friend said when I gave it back. I commented that it was a good science fiction story. She told me that the writer had felt that it did not fit into any genre.

Traditional publishers like to fit novels into a genre, because it helps with marketing. However surely it is more important to write a novel that readers resonate with and want to read? It that author had wanted to find an agent for that story, the agent would have wanted it to fit into a genre for ease of selling it to publishers.

Perhaps you do not want to find an agent. Traditional publishing is not what it was. There are fewer traditional publishing houses, which enable fewer writers to be picked up by them. And writers are expected to do their own marketing.

Independent writers do not necessarily need to worry about genre so much. They are just looking for readers. They already know that they will need to produce or outsource everything themselves and they are willing to learn how to do that. Genre is not as important because the main thing is to appeal to the reader themselves. Everything should still be as professionally produced as possible – attention paid to editing, the cover, the blurb. However the need to place the book in a category is not as imperative.

What do you think about genre? Is it as important as it used to be? Let me know in the comments.

Come along with me on this journey, as I seek to publish short stories, novellas and novels myself. Find out the ups and downs of this indie writer journey along with me.

Subscribe to my newsletter to know when my next blog post is out.

Can you think of any genres I have missed? What is your favourite genre to read? You may find it easier to write in the type of genre that you enjoy reading.

Mistletoe and Crime Book Review

With thanks to Red Dog Press and for the review copy.

Blurb

It’s Christmas!

A year since their last case, and Adam and Colin are called out of semi-retirement when Stonebridge legend and regular town Santa, Gerald Agnew, is found dead in the snow.

The police believe his death to be a drunken accident, but evidence that our amateur detectives uncover points to something more sinister.

When DI Whitelaw dismisses their claims, Adam and Colin must navigate drug dealers, deception, and department store Santas to get to the truth.

Mistletoe and Crime is the fifth in the Stonebridge Mysteries series of cosy crime novellas.

About the series:

Stonebridge is a small town on the north coast of Northern Ireland. Most of its inhabitants are friendly, happy people. Most of them… Because bad things happen even in the happiest of places. It’s a good thing, then, that Adam Whyte and Colin McLaughlin call Stonebridge home.

Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of detective shows, a misplaced sense of confidence and a keen desire to see justice done, these two are the closest thing the town has to saviours. Which isn’t that reassuring…

Book Review

This was my introduction to the Stonebridge series. I found it very enjoyable. Adam and Colin are likeable characters and the cast of Stonebridge are similar to your neighbours you see round the supermarket. I love a Christmassy theme too!

The novel is short and part of a series. It was easy to catch up on the characters with no previous knowledge, although I would like to know more about the problem DI Whitelaw has with Adam and Colin. The mystery is solved satisfactorily amongst the problems of everyday life. If you enjoy cosy crime, then you will enjoy this book.

Sarah Charmley.

The Stonebridge Mysteries #5

Chris McDonald

Hardback ISBN: 978-1-914480-88-1

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-914480-09-6

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-914480-51-5

Publication Date: 07 December 2021

Pre-Order Link:

https://bit.ly/3xD3Hkv

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/mistletoe-and-crime

Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chris_McDonald_Mistletoe_and_Crime?id=pCVOEAAAQBAJ&gl=GB

Also available on Amazon from 07.12.21

About the Author:

Chris McDonald grew up in Northern Ireland before settling in Manchester via Lancaster and London.

He is the author the DI Erika Piper series A Wash of Black, Whispers In The Dark and Roses for the Dead. He has also recently dabbled in writing cosy crimes, in the shape of The Stonebridge Mysteries, as a remedy for the darkness.

He is a full time teacher, husband, father to two beautiful girls and a regular voice on The Blood Brothers Podcast. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs.

Find him on twitter @cmacwritescrime

Help for freelancer writers and bloggers: Blogs to check out

Shelves-of-books-floor-to-ceiling-dimly-lit-by-hanging-lights — Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Freelancing can be lonely business: sitting at a desk, tapping away at a laptop, contact through email. Thank goodness for the internet which means that the company of other freelancers is only a short search away.

There are some fantastic bloggers out there for the freelance community. There is lots of helpful information on just about any topic you can think of. Many of these bloggers have been freelancing for years and their experience matches just about anyone you can think of. I have found some of these people really helpful through the years. Hopefully you will too.

Make a Living Writing

Carol Tice has been working as a freelance writer since 2011 and what she doesn’t know about the subject isn’t worth knowing. Her writers’ community, the Den opens for new people a couple of times a year and is full of courses known as bootcamps. You also have the chance to meet people who are on the same journey and ask their advice. She has a free e-book available to download in return for subscribing and she often offers free training for different aspects of freelance writing. Based in Seattle, Carol still makes a living writing.

Words on the Page

I have been following Lori Widmer for a very long time, and I love her no-nonsense approach to freelance writing. Lori is someone who tells it like it is and she offers great advice through her blog posts. She has a regular feature that warns the reader away from badly paying jobs and her advice is great for anyone serious about making a living through freelance writing.

Jennifer Goforth Gregory

Jennifer’s blog is a goldmine of information about freelance writing. She has some great gems about running a freelance business, finding clients and managing work. She has written a book which is available to buy and also has a very helpful Facebook group. The blog has been running for a number of years and you will find some wonderful information there.

Elna Cain

Elna Cain appears in most searches for information on freelance writing. She has a variety of blog posts with information about the freelance writing life. Elna offers a free 6 day email course to help you learn to write for a living. She also posts YouTube videos.

Alliventures

Ali Luke was making money from blogging in the early days of blogging. She offers a paid-for course on freelance writing which can be bought through her website.

Sian Meades-Williams

If you want to know how a writer website should look then check out Sian’s. Creator of the amazing newsletter Freelance Writing Jobs, Sian’s expertise is in newsletters and writing and editing. She has a new book due soon, The Pyjama Myth for freelancers. If you drop by her site, definitely subscribe to her jobs newsletter – it’s well worth it.

The Write Life: Freelancing

The Write Life contains articles on a number of freelancing topics. This link leads to the freelancing category. There are articles on a wide range of topics so pick one and enjoy.

About Freelance Writing

Anne Wayman starts again. Anne was one of the first bloggers that I ever followed. Her posts were always full of wonderful advice. In 2019, Anne lost her websites and all the knowledge it contained. Since then she has been writing in Medium, but her website is back. She is beginning again, and although it does not have a lot of information on it yet, it will definitely be one to watch and return to.

The International Freelancer

Natasha Khullar-Relph, formerly known as Mridu Khullar-Relph lives in London and freelances internationally. Her website is full of great resources for freelance writers, including writing Letters of Introduction (LOI) and secrets of six figure freelance writers. Well worth a read.

Blogging

Blogging is an art form in itself. Blogs offer information, content, experiences and opinions and can help to draw an audience in. Here are some websites for bloggers:

Problogger

One of the original blogging websites, Problogger offers a jobs board and blog posts about blogging. You can also find a podcast here. Darren Rowse owns the website which is full of information about how to successfully blog. There are some great courses on blogging to be found here, some of which are free and others which are paid but not so expensive. If you want to learn all about blogging, you could do worse than start here.

Be a freelance blogger

Sophie Lizard shares lots of tips and tricks on being a freelance blogger. Lots of information on finding specific paid gigs in different niches.

The Write Life – blogging

The Write Life has information on all things writing. It also offers a list of resources to check out. If you are looking for information on a particular topic on blogging then do check it out.

Alliventures

Ali Luke has been writing, blogging and freelancing for a very long time. And I have been following her for a very long time. Her blog contains information on blogging, being a writer and being an author. She offers self-study courses and access to regular newsletters. Ali is a UK freelance writer who is always able to offer an interesting take on writing.

These are some of my go-to writers and bloggers when I am looking for information on freelance writing. Check them out and subscribe to their newsletters. Enjoy.

Who do you recommend that other freelance writers follow? Let me know in the comments below.

Beach Cat Blues Blog Tour

Beach Cat Blues by Alison O’Leary

With thanks to Red Dog Press and Alison O’Leary for the preview copy of Beach Cat Blues.

Synopsis:

Aubrey does love to be beside the seaside. All those rock pools to muck about in, the caves to explore, endless food opportunities from the beach huts. Life is good. And it’s even better now that his best mate Vincent has joined the Goodman household.

But the sun slips behind a cloud when a body is found near Lilac Tree Lodge, the care home for the elderly in which Molly Goodman works. Suddenly it doesn’t all seem quite so jolly…

Beach Cat Blues is the third book in the series and the second book that I have reviewed. You can read my review of the second book, Country Cat Blues and an interview with the author here.

Book Review

Aubrey, a cat with a habit of being in the wrong place at the right time and a murder by the sea, this book is perfect holiday reading.

In Beach Cat Blues, Aubrey and his family, Jeremy, Molly and Carlos have moved to the seaside. Once again there is a mystery for Aubrey to solve. Aubrey, the detective cat is back in his third cosy mystery and it was a very enjoyable read. These characters have become friends to me and it is good to know the next instalment in their journey. Beach Cat Blues includes the same ingredients that I enjoyed about the last book: interesting characters, some good, some bad and an element of a twist at the end. The story flows well, the action is page-turningly good and the ending is satisfying. Thank you, Alison, I look forward to reading about more of Aubrey’s adventures!

Buy Beach Cat Blues

or paste this link into your browser:

https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/beach-cat-blues

Published 3^rd August, 2021

About the Author:

woman-sitting-in-high-backed-chair-author — Alison O’ Leary

I was born in London and spent my teenage years in Hertfordshire where I spent large amounts of time reading novels, watching daytime television and avoiding school. Failing to gain any qualifications in science whatsoever, the dream of being a forensic scientist collided with reality when a careers teacher suggested that I might like to work in a shop. I don’t think she meant Harrods. Later studying law, I decided to teach rather than go into practice and have spent many years teaching mainly criminal law and criminology to young people and adults.

I enjoy reading crime novels, doing crosswords, and drinking wine. Not necessarily in that order.

Book Review: The Accidental Gatekeeper by Carla Rehse

The Story:

Everly Poppa is a 45 year old woman with a sassy teen daughter and a husband in jail. With no one else to turn to, she heads home to her Mom, despite having left her home town, years before, vowing never to return. Home is a small town in America that happens to be one of the Gates to Hell. Angels and demons govern the town which is in a state of flux. The old Gatekeeper has died and their successor has disappeared. A hellhound bites Everly. The town is locked down. Everly must find her daughter and the new Gatekeeper, battle the demons, support the angels and find a snarky witch. Oh – and deal with her old high school boyfriend just for good measure. Then perhaps she can deal with her real world issues: the FBI wanting her to testify against her husband and his drug-dealing friends who don’t.

This is a delight of a book. Everly Poppa is the the new premenopausal heroine of women everywhere. Anyone who is a daughter or a mother will love it.

Review

The Accidental Gatekeeper is a joy of a story that keeps you reading right to the end. Everly is very relatable and the relationship with her daughter and her mother very real. The fact is that we never grow up and humans can keep making the same mistakes over and over again. The paranormal element is well-drawn: the demons are annoying until things get messy and the angels are grand and judgemental until the chips are down. There are also shapeshifters, werewolves, ghosts and poltergeists and witches. Carla Rehse has painted an enjoyable world. I would recommend this story for people who enjoy paranormal stories. There will be two more books about Everly coming in the future and I am looking forward to reading more about her adventures.

Book Review: Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic

Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic

Thanks to Netgalley for proof copy

The book cover has been changed since publication.

This book is a rollercoaster of dark emotions, young romance, abuse and fierce ambition which makes for a gripping read.

Horse Book

I was drawn to this book because I loved horse books as a child but this is not a book for young children. The central character, Roan Montgomery, is a grown-up 15 year old who is strong and fierce and who does not back down. Roan is training for the Olympics as a three day eventer in the disciplines of eventing, dressage and show jumping. She has to balance this tough life with the pressures of school and a less than harmonious home life. Added to the mix: her coach is her father, a former Olympic competitor and strong disciplinarian with the stirrings of first love and you have an amazing concoction of a book that keeps you engrossed from start to finish.

Strong Female Character

Roan, herself, is a strong female character: she has to be in order to keep winning but there is more to her life than outsiders see and the way she is able to deal with it is impressive in one so young.

There are some strong scenes in this book which might be triggering for some. Characters are well-drawn and believable. Will and Roan’s romance is tender and provides some counterbalance to the strong forces that rule her life. The novel is very dark in places and there are points where it is very tense. The reader definitely understands what pressure there might be for people who wish to succeed in their chosen sport.

I would recommend Dark Horses with the caveat that if you have had some trauma in your life that you might want to approach with care.

Sarah Charmley.

If you have a book blog, you might like to join Netgalley.co.uk that has proof copies available for reading and reviewing. You can sign up on the website.

Topically Challenged Volume 1 Out Now

I am published in an anthology!

In a previous blog post, I mentioned that I enjoyed doing writing challenges. At the beginning of the year, I took part in two such challenges on Chris Fielden’s website and have now been published as part of a flash fiction anthology.

I chose to take part for a couple of reasons: I liked the idea of limiting the number of words to tell a story and this was for charity. Both of the challenges I took part in were nearing their end and in fact both finished within a couple of weeks of my submitting my entry.

The first book, Topically Challenged has been published today.

Where did Topically Challenged start?

Alice Trump submitted the idea which was to write a fictional story based on a news headline. Stories submitted had to show a strong theme. The limit was 180 words max. Once the challenge had received 100 stories, then it would close. Not all the challenges are published as books, some are simply published on the website. The ones that are chosen to be published will have any profits donated to charity.

You can buy Topically Challenged as either an e-book or a published book. It contains 100 stories based on topical news headlines. The idea was chosen because news headlines can be a great place for writers to find inspiration for their stories. Some of the stories have been left online so that people can see what kind of stories have been written. There has been a great variety of stories submitted to the anthology and it is going to be an interesting read.

Where to buy Topically Challenged Volume 1

Topically Challenged Volume 1 is available from Amazon in print and Kindle eBook formats.

Proceeds from book sales will be donated to BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. They transform lives by getting children and families reading.

The book can be found on all of Amazon’s websites by searching for the book by name or searching for the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN):

B08Z8JG2CR

Chris Fielden’s website has direct links to buy the book and you can find out more information such as who designed the cover.

Book Review – Burying the Newspaper Man by Curtis Ippolito

With thanks to Red Dog Press and Curtis Ippolito for the advance copy

Welcome to my part of the Book Tour!

Burying the Newspaper Man is not the type of book I read very often. It is not a genre that I would normally choose to read, but as part of a Book Club, we have sometimes had books that are similar and I have previously enjoyed them.

Buy Links:

Amazon: mybook.to/BTNM

The Red Dog Shop:

Paperback https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/burying-the-newspaper-man

Hardback https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/burying-the-newspaper-man-limited-hardback-edition

Synopsis:

A dead body. A dark past. An ordinary man with everything to lose.

Marcus Kemp is a regular beat cop living a normal life in San Diego, California. Until the day he makes a shocking discovery: a dead body in the trunk of a stolen car. Worse, the victim turns out to be the man who abused him as a child.

Marcus instinctively wants to help the killer get away with murder and, disregarding his police oath, will stop at nothing to make it happen. With both his job and freedom in jeopardy, his investigation leads him to an unexpected killer, and Marcus is soon faced with an impossible decision.

Can he finally bury the past before it drags him under?

Review

The book began quite slowly for me and I found it a little hard to get into the writing style at first. A warning: it does contain a description of an adult’s abuse of a child and this could awaken some unwanted feelings in some readers. By about halfway through, I was getting into the rhythm of the writing and enjoying the book.

Marcus is a damaged character through his childhood experience and this affects everything in his life particularly his relationship with his girlfriend, Megan. The reader does not see Marcus in his normal day to day life. We only see him as reacting to this unexpected event in his life and everything he does after that is affected by that event. The character of Marcus makes the premise quite believable in the steps that he chooses to take and when events take control, he finds that training takes over.

As the book reached its zenith, I found it genuinely exciting. I enjoyed the last three or four chapters immensely and I would recommend sticking with it as the ending is really good. I would recommend this book and I suggest you give it a try, particularly if you normally like this kind of book.

About the Author:

Curtis Ippolito lives in San Diego, California, with his wife. He is a communications writer for a nonprofit biological research facility. He has previously been a writer in the health care industry and is a former newspaper reporter. Follow him on Twitter @curtis9980.

Book Review: Self-Publish and Succeed

Self-Publish and Succeed: The ‘No boring books’ way to write a non-fiction book that sells by Julie Broad

Thanks to Netgalley for my preview copy of this book

When reading a self-help book, it is always gratifying to see that the author has taken their own advice in the production of their book. Julie Broad is that author.

Whether it’s making the chapter titles interesting (tick), knowing your hook (tick) or even the important subject of choosing the right title and subtitle (tick, tick) Julie Broad has an opinion on all of these matters, and more importantly, she uses her own self-help book to prove why they are important.

Follows her own advice

Every chapter has something of value to the reader. Every chapter contains interesting nuggets of information and every chapter helps to build a full picture relating to the subject of the book. Julie shares stories of her first self-publishing venture and her second. By the third, she has learned a great deal and is able to share her wisdom to the benefit of non-fiction authors everywhere.

Not only did I find this book readable, helpful and interesting, but I found that what it had to say about self-publishing would also apply to fiction books in a lot of ways. Fiction books also need a good hook to keep the reader reading, an intriguing title and a ‘try me’ front cover. Any aspiring author will learn a great deal from picking up this book and reading it from cover to cover. The book also links with Julie’s website and business, so it helps to plug her business while demonstrating her knowledge of the subject matter.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, yes, I would. More importantly I would actually consider buying my own copy, I found it that helpful. Highly commended. Thank you, Julie.

Writer – do you plan or fly by the seat of your pants?

For whatever reason you write, there are usually at least two broad ways to do it. Either you are a planner – someone who plans what they are going to write or you are a pantser. This means someone who is flying by the seat of their pants, or someone who has no plan, they just sit down and write.

Many writers can be both, but many have a preferred method.

I came across this term at the beginning of Nanowrimo in November 2020 and I immediately got it. As someone who frequently just takes a writing prompt and launches herself with it, I get that sometimes it can feel a bit scary, but it is also exhilarating. So, how can you tell which you are? And does it really matter?

-pink-pad-paper-To-Do-list — Do you plan before you write?

If you are a planner:

You like to have an outline.

You might like to have an idea of where the story might end

You might like to plan out a book, chapter by chapter

You might have a special notebook where you plan things out

You might like collecting tools that help you plan such as apps

You might think on a story for a long time before starting to write it

Pros of being a planner:

Easier to begin your writing. You usually have something to write when you start up because you are working to a plan

You know where you are going, so can find interesting ways of getting there

You might have key points in mind for a longer project, such as a novel which will help keep you on track

It is easier to keep going with something when you know the way

Pantser

Or Someone who likes to fly by the Seat of their Pants

It’s exciting, not knowing where you are going

Some people like to just see where the muse takes them

If you can’t think of something to write, sometimes it is easier just to launch out

You are totally open as to where this thing is going to go

Cons of being a Pantser

It can be hard to start writing on a blank page and even harder if you have no idea what you are going to write

It can make the story uncoordinated or mean that it does not flow as easily

Once you have finished your story it may mean that you need a complete revision of it

You may forget characters’ names or events in the novel and find yourself reinventing the wheel

Which are you?

In the end, it all comes down to personal choice and what works for you. I have tried to start planning my work more but have found that it does not always make for a satisfying story straight away and that it may have needed more work. The stories that I have just sat and written are sometimes more complete stories. That may mean that I prefer more flying by the seat of my pants than planning, but there are times when I have felt that planning is a must.

I first joined Nanowrimo quite a while ago. I had had an idea for a novel for about a year and I managed to write it all during the month. I got the free proof of it, cringed mightily on reading it and shoved it in a drawer, never to see the light of day again.

When I joined Nanowrimo last November, it was a different story: I had no idea what I was going to write. I had spent a few months writing short stories and some had been good, some bad, but I had no idea for a novel, yet here I was, wanting to take part in the novel writing month.

The idea I came up with was spur of the moment, based on a film I had recently seen and in an era I knew very little about. I decided that I would learn on the way. I started the story and managed to write most days, but I did not make the 50,000-word target. I managed around 25,000 words that month. I am now 40,000 words in and I hope to finish this novel soon.

The best of both worlds

Although I began this novel as a pantser, I have, many times, sat down and tried to work out what is happening next. I have kept lists of characters and tried to keep a rough timeline, so I have really had the best of both worlds. I know that the book is going to need some serious rewriting, but I have got to the point when I am enjoying writing it and I know that I am going to finish it. I am then likely to rework it a little before rewriting.

There are other Nanowriting challenges throughout the year. In April and July, they run another two month-long challenges, but this time you set the challenge of how many words you wish to reach. If you are trying to get your writing project off the ground, then this could be a good idea. Check them out and see what you think.