Fictionistas Office Hours occur on the last Tuesday of every month, starting at 7am EST and running throughout the day… or night, depending on where you reside on this little globe of ours. Come and go as you please, no need to linger, since it’s more like an open house of ideas.
In case you’re new here, Office Hours on Fictionistas is an opportunity to meet other fiction writers on Substack, ask and answer questions about writing fiction, and share ideas about how to improve the community. Here are a couple discussion starters if you’re feeling shy:
What fiction Substack have you been enjoying lately and why?
What’s one tip that you can share that has really helped your Substack grow?
What advice can you offer for the next generation of writers?
I would add to that to write constantly and build a portfolio by freelancing for cheap to start if you're not going to attend university. A company is not going to hire an 18-year-old with no degree unless they could show tremendous promise with real world samples that had a measurable impact. It might mean an internship, or several, before anything of significance happens.
I just realized that shouting your own Substack AT YOU in a reply may not be the most effective method of shouting you out. Allow me to try this again in a new thread. 😂
I agree that building a website on a platform can be like building a sandcastle, vulnerable to the next wave of changes. But I also wonder if POSE potentially spreads out your audience. Will someone subscribe to your newsletter if they can read your work consistently on Mastadon?
•you get to hear and feel the words as you read them.
•new Ideas and/or edits may emerge as you practice reading the work out loud—preferably in private (or with someone objective) long before the live reading takes place.
•for better worse you get to see and hear audience member's respond to your work objectively. These may be subtle physical responses maybe.
Hint: if there is no immediate response, your audience may be completely blown away. Or, your story may need a lot of revision.
•if there are no readings taking place in your area, start one. Ask a local business owner to host your event in exchange for space. You and you comrades can help the business by making purchases of their goods and services.
•if you're attending a reading, and you've finished reading your work, don't leave the venue. Outside of an emergency—it's impolite. Similarly if you're attending a reading hosted by someone else—and your friend is reading—don't leave the venue after they've finished.
•last but not least: be the attentive audience member you would like to have at your reading (i.e. no phone checking).
Though not exactly the same thing, a number of my growth spikes have come from speaking on panels and participating in virtual events. One cool thing is a virtual event can pop your newsletter link in the chat, so you can quickly see how many new subs your talk inspired.
Actually, I've never been to a reading. I'm not trying to be dismissive, but I stopped enjoying being read to when I was a kid, and readings just seem to me like adult storytime. Maybe there's more to it than that, but it escapes me. I'm genuinely curious why this appeals to adults because I honestly don't get it. But I know it's recommended that authors do readings. I was hoping people who enjoy them could shed some light on their experience. What am I missing?
I don't like being read to, and if a reading is someone spending 30 minutes reading from their book, I'd pass. But I organized some of these in the past for local indie authors. The way we did it, each author read just for a few minutes, and then took questions about their story and/or craft topics. Then everyone got to hang out and eat snacks, buy books and get them signed, and chat with each other. It was all about community building and support for the authors, and giving the authors a chance to try out a reading and signing. Some of the authors, despite having published a number of books, had never done either. And even though I wasn't always interested in the books themselves, it was still cool to hear from the different writers and learn a bit about them, why they chose to write what they did, and so forth.
I've also gone out to new release parties for famous authors who I really like, and there's something cool about hearing your favorite author read a passage from their new book and then listening to them talk about the book and their process for a half hour or so, and then getting to meet them and get a book signed. It's just cool. :)
Hmm, has Fictionistas got anything like this? A regular Ficitonistas slot in which there are a handful of authors (we have a lot to pick from these days!) read a *small* snippet and then do some sort of Q&A/share tips/etc could be fun.
If it's Edoardo Ballerini reading, I'll easily listen for 30 minutes—or more— to anything read by him. (If you're not familiar with him, check out his audiobook work. The man is a pro.) But yeah, I hear you. I was at a reading years ago. It had a ten minute time limit, and the reader announced that ten minutes simply wasn't enough time to read their work.
So they stood there and read an entire chapter from their upcoming book. Probably twenty plus minutes. Not only did they take up everyone elses allotted time, but it was some of the most boring stuff I've ever had to suffer through.
Note to self: don't ever be that person.
I'm pretty much an introvert, so it can be difficult for me to be in social settings with people I don't know—let alone read my work.
These days I'm writing and reading 10-15 minute short stories. I plan on requesting constructive feedback from audience members on the breaks, should they feel compelled to do so. How potentially mortifying will that be?
depending on how it’s organized, it could be a really great way to consume fiction in a new way, get to know new authors, and be part of a literary community.
This is actually a great tip, and something I’m now doing. (Though for my St. Louis history Substack rather than my fiction.) There’s a local coffee shop that has evening readings and other events, and the owner was happy to work with me to organize monthly history talks. I think most cities have spaces like this that are open to literary/educational readings and talks, and it’s really just a matter of asking if you can participate.
I'll share two tips on Substack growth. The first is to genuinely engage with your audience, both on your Substack and theirs. It's the only way to get to know people, their interests, writing journey, etc. People want to belong to that kind of community.
The second is to guest post. Have a clearly defined goal and subject, write it and then find a Substack you respect, where the audience could have some crossover, and then offer to post. Not all Substacks are open to guest posts, or they may have more strict acceptance criteria and that's okay.
Hi Cody, I will take a current post that has been sent and then reply to it within my email program. The Substack email is a formula though, so for example, fictionistas@substack.com, or in my case brianreindel@substack.com. You could send directly to that email, and it will likely be forwarded to whatever personal email is on file.
"genuinely engage with your audience"--easier said than done!
What do you do that helps you engage with your audience? I feel like I keep trying to talk and nobody talks back. I'm a very small publication right now so maybe it's a volume thing, but still hoping for that one person to show up and say "hey i liked that" or "hey this story sucks, the characters are all wooden planks."
Start from the outside and move inward. For example, I spent time commenting on other publications, writing guest posts and becoming involved on Fictionistas, and over time the people that subscribed back to my Substack started interacting, became strong commenters and we started talking outside of posts as well. It goes up and down, people get busy, new people come and go, etc., but generally speaking it's a reciprocal relationship.
Also, asking questions about the story - what should x do next? What would you do? I’m on a webinar rn so not especially creative, but asking for engagement in the comments can help too. When I share recommendations, often people drop their own in the comments.
That's a good thought. My writing right now consists of weekly micro-fiction intended to flex my muscles, so there's no real continuity between them; and I am publishing a pre-planned story on Saturdays for the next few weeks. With the former, there's no future to ask about; with the latter, it's already been written and planned.
That's not to say I couldn't integrate what you are talking about, I just can't plug-n-play the lazy way. For my writing exercises, perhaps asking people what should happen next, even if I don't have something planned? Or sharing what I am working on with the exercise and asking if I accomplished that?
I will see--there's room here and I can experiment! Thank you!
Or (I will need to read more of your work to see if this makes sense) pick a key point in the story and ask readers if they’d have done the same thing or something different?
Trying to apply Nicci’s point to the work you’re describing Scoot, you could ask readers what they think of a specific aspect of the story or ask them what they like or don’t like about the story.
What advice does anyone have for someone who wants to have a career as a writer but currently works full-time in nothing to do with writing and has too many financial obligations to quit?
Find a way out of those financial obligations first. Shed whatever you can. If you're talking about making a living writing fiction the odds are slim. I know of people who consistently pump out non-fiction " how tos" and do eLearning courses who can quit their 9-5,but fiction is more of a crapshoot. I'm the 3rd or 4th ranked fiction author on this platform and I'm stagnant at just over 300 subscribers. It's not a living, it's a very time consuming side hustle.
If you're trying to write a novel, set aside all the time you can and get it out there.
This is me. I am working full time to make my living, but I am hoping the seeds I have planted here at substack will eventually grow into a big money-tree and I can buy a yacht and retire to the bahamas and write all day.
Still waiting for those first sprouts though.
It's definitely not going to be an overnight thing, and as Jimmy Doom said, it will never not be a hustle. The key is to polish your writing to the shiniest it can possibly be, and keep writing. Engage with your audience and find out what they like. Solicit constructive criticism.
What you are doing now is building a body of work so that when you publish your magnum opus people will investigate you and see all this other great stuff you've written. Ray Bradbury famously was rejected from publications thousands of times before he ever got published, but once published there was more interest in everything he ever wrote.
It depends on what you mean by "career as a writer." If you mean making a living as a freelance essayist or novelists, that is going to be very tough. Many are called, but very few are chosen. If you mean being paid a regular salary to write, though, there are several options. Technical communications is probably to most reliable of these. You can make a tech company salary writing the manuals that come with products and services. Most people only see the tip of the ice burg when it come to technical communication -- the manuals that come with the products they buy. But a far greater part of the business is in the realm of business products and tools that get sold company to company. The amount of documentation they require is vast. It's interesting work and it pays well. And if you save and invest sensibly, you can then retire early and spend down your nest egg trying to become an essayist and novelist.
That’s good advice. I went to school for journalism and have been trying to get a full-time job in communications since 2019. It’s tough to get in the door, but I’m trying!
There is a fair amount of contract technical writing work available, which will help you build a portfolio and beef up your resume. Try looking at the tech focused recruiting and staffing firms.
Don't quit your day job. It will help you see things the way non-writers (probably non-creatives too) think. These are the people who will buy your stuff someday. Also it will focus your writing time into that which is most valuable. A win-win-win.
Is anyone subscribed to BBC Maestro? Is it worth trying?
I've never paid for any writing courses before. So many focus on plot, character and structure - all important (and things I need to improve on!) but what I'm more interested in learning is how to write engaging prose. I found out that Alan Moore has some videos on BBC Maestro on rhythm and inventive language, and Carol Ann Duffy has some on poetry. Are there other online courses/videos/etc which focus on imaginative prose?
Chuck Palahniuk's book Consider This should be all anyone needs to push their writing in the right direction. Elmore Leonard's short list of " rules" for writers helps too.
Find your own voice. If you create characters who you care about so deeply- honest, real, flawed human characters- that they make you laugh or cry, your audience will feel that and engage as well.
I have really been enjoying DuVay Knox's THE BLACK PULP FICTIONADO.
His writing slaps you in the face. Raw and eloquent. Funny and dead serious. Always look forward to his posts.
I originally started my Substack for myself. A place to tone my voice, get more comfortable with my writing. That took a lot of pressure off as far as getting more subscribers so when I do a get new subscription it bouys because it is unexpected and feels more organic? But when I do feel the urge, I will post a link to a certain group on Twitter or Instagram. So I guess I would say just plant your seed where you want a flower to grow? (I guess I am doing that here. Ha!)
My advice for the next generation is to write, write, write. Stay true to your craft, your form, but pay attention to it, and learn how to be flexible, to grow. I started out with writing poetry in my teens. Of course over the years, decades, my style changed, the quality improved, but I found myself writing longer pieces and having to edit, edit, edit, to make them readable. Figured out I was more of story than a moment teller. And now finally I finally found Flash which is the form for me for now. I still write poetry if a poem is in me though.
all of my short fiction and articles are on one of my Substacks. I was serializing my novels and I’ll probably continue to do that as well. For me, it’s all about finding and building an audience that will hopefully then travel with me when I publish my books.
I submit to traditional speculative outlets about once a month. Some of those stories ended up on my Substack if they weren't published, or ended up in the book of short stories I published through Amazon. I'm trying to funnel everyone back to my Substack one way or another, but I've struggled to get readers outside the Substack ecosystem. Our community tends to be a community of writers who are also readers. I love that, but I would like more readers from a broader audience. The only way I know to do that is by publishing in traditional outlets.
Ha, yes, same here. I've reached readers for BookFunnel promos, using a sample opening of the story I'm serialising, but the engagement there is quite light. The best readers I have at the moment are definitely other writers.
I've finished writing two out of three books in the Managed Paranoia Series. The first book will be totally Substacked in 49 weeks, (I'm posting one chapter a week, 12 are available so far). My main goal is to hook readers who love near-future thrillers and just can't wait to get their hands on them. And the characters in the book have already attracted many followers who are totally into it. Right now, I'm thinking of Substack as a magnet that pulls people into Hank Gunn's world, but I'm still playing around with things. So far, so good!
Volleying my shout out to Justin Deming at Along the Hudson. Justin has a gift for writing thought-provoking fiction with just the right number of words. And his twice monthly "Fifties" challenges are an awesome way to engage with your fellow fiction writers.
Lately I have really enjoyed reading Justin Deming- Along The Hudson, Mark Starlin Writes, Mark Cutts and Gibberish by Scoot. Even though all of them have their own writing styles each one's writing seems to pull me in and keep me interested. Thanks guys.
Next month, which starts tomorrow, is going to be my one year anniversary of starting my substack. Getting comments on my fiction still seems as rare as it was when I started (thankfully I consistently get non-fiction comments), and I've followed all the advice about what to do. Looks like the part of the equation I'm missing is interested readers, so I'm going to try and do more cross promotion stuff.
Don't think I'm in a state to give advice, but I'll say to be flexible. Don't be afraid to change course and try out new things.
I have a whole list of fiction substacks I've been enjoying. To avoid spamming a whole list I'll just say that I've stuck by Metanoia for some time and wish it got more recognition. (https://kerryjane.substack.com/)
I've posted my serialized fiction once a week and I have two monthly series for non-fiction. Going forward the plan is to slow down the serialized fiction to every other week because I worry the weekly uploads were too fast for people. I don't think of it in terms of the ratio of fiction vs non-fiction, just what kind of schedule would work best for each.
And yeah, I think non-fiction will generally get more attention than fiction.
In my experience , getting comments on fiction, especially serialized fiction, is not as common as non-fiction where people love to share their opinions. I put “Thank you for reading and commenting. You make it fun.” At the end of my newsletters. I personally don’t like “pushy” call to actions like “Be sure to comment.” So I just thank readers in advance, which lets them know I want comments without being demanding. But I mainly think I just have a lot of writers who read my newsletter and appreciate comments themselves, so they comment.
I also respond to every comment. And I comment on most of the stories I read in other newsletters.
I try to be good about commenting but it can be a little hard to come up with something. I've been ending most chapters with a note on the lines of 'I'd appreciate feedback' and tried including optional discussion prompts.
I already have experience with the difficulty of getting comments through fanfiction websites, but I feel like substack has an environment even less prone to commenting than fanfiction websites.
A little paranoid that because I couldn't think of anything to respond to some comments with I'm not going to get any more. Though unless it's hate comments I always like each comment I get to show I've read it before writing up a response, so it's not like they went unacknowledged.
A simple “Thank you, their name.” Goes a long way. My wife taught me that using a person’s name is a great way to connect. People like being acknowledged. I figure if they take the time to comment, I can take the time to respond. 🤓
Elissa Altman's thoughts resonate deeply with me. poormansfeast@substack.com. Not fiction, but so rich and varied that often I find new themes there to develop in my fiction. In fact, one piece of advice I'd give to new fiction writers is to read contemporary essays and derive ideas for stories from them.
I would add to that to write constantly and build a portfolio by freelancing for cheap to start if you're not going to attend university. A company is not going to hire an 18-year-old with no degree unless they could show tremendous promise with real world samples that had a measurable impact. It might mean an internship, or several, before anything of significance happens.
🫰🫰
I’ve been enjoying everything Meg Oolders has been sending out over at Stock Fiction. She’s hilarious, and her writing even more so.
https://stockfiction.substack.com/
I recently discovered Jim Cummings, as well, and he is one hell of a storyteller!
https://jimcummings5251.substack.com/
Two great recommendations! Thanks, Justin.
Agreed!
Thanks for the shout-out Justin!
We should all be reading each others stuff.
You’re very welcome!
Thank you, Justin! Right back at you! 👍🙂💛 https://alongthehudson.substack.com/
I just realized that shouting your own Substack AT YOU in a reply may not be the most effective method of shouting you out. Allow me to try this again in a new thread. 😂
Hahaha! Thanks, Meg. And no worries at all - I really appreciate it! 😀
I made a new one. 😉
I thought this was interesting and probably pertinent to all of us: https://writingcoop.substack.com/p/the-platform-era-is-ending (I have thoughts)
I agree that building a website on a platform can be like building a sandcastle, vulnerable to the next wave of changes. But I also wonder if POSE potentially spreads out your audience. Will someone subscribe to your newsletter if they can read your work consistently on Mastadon?
My tip: read your work at live events.
•it puts your mouth where your money is.
•you get to hear and feel the words as you read them.
•new Ideas and/or edits may emerge as you practice reading the work out loud—preferably in private (or with someone objective) long before the live reading takes place.
•for better worse you get to see and hear audience member's respond to your work objectively. These may be subtle physical responses maybe.
Hint: if there is no immediate response, your audience may be completely blown away. Or, your story may need a lot of revision.
•if there are no readings taking place in your area, start one. Ask a local business owner to host your event in exchange for space. You and you comrades can help the business by making purchases of their goods and services.
•if you're attending a reading, and you've finished reading your work, don't leave the venue. Outside of an emergency—it's impolite. Similarly if you're attending a reading hosted by someone else—and your friend is reading—don't leave the venue after they've finished.
•last but not least: be the attentive audience member you would like to have at your reading (i.e. no phone checking).
Though not exactly the same thing, a number of my growth spikes have come from speaking on panels and participating in virtual events. One cool thing is a virtual event can pop your newsletter link in the chat, so you can quickly see how many new subs your talk inspired.
This is something I really need to look into doing. Promotion outside of my little bubble is something I haven't managed to find time for yet.
I’m curious, what’s the appeal of going to readings? This is one of those literary rituals that has never made sense to me.
It sounds as if you've attended some readings. If so, what was your experience?
Actually, I've never been to a reading. I'm not trying to be dismissive, but I stopped enjoying being read to when I was a kid, and readings just seem to me like adult storytime. Maybe there's more to it than that, but it escapes me. I'm genuinely curious why this appeals to adults because I honestly don't get it. But I know it's recommended that authors do readings. I was hoping people who enjoy them could shed some light on their experience. What am I missing?
What are you missing? It's different for everyone.
You may find your answer after attending at least a few readings. Or not.
I don't like being read to, and if a reading is someone spending 30 minutes reading from their book, I'd pass. But I organized some of these in the past for local indie authors. The way we did it, each author read just for a few minutes, and then took questions about their story and/or craft topics. Then everyone got to hang out and eat snacks, buy books and get them signed, and chat with each other. It was all about community building and support for the authors, and giving the authors a chance to try out a reading and signing. Some of the authors, despite having published a number of books, had never done either. And even though I wasn't always interested in the books themselves, it was still cool to hear from the different writers and learn a bit about them, why they chose to write what they did, and so forth.
I've also gone out to new release parties for famous authors who I really like, and there's something cool about hearing your favorite author read a passage from their new book and then listening to them talk about the book and their process for a half hour or so, and then getting to meet them and get a book signed. It's just cool. :)
This does sound fun and now I want to know how I can find out if any of these are going on in my area!?!
One resource: https://www.pw.org/calendar
Hmm, has Fictionistas got anything like this? A regular Ficitonistas slot in which there are a handful of authors (we have a lot to pick from these days!) read a *small* snippet and then do some sort of Q&A/share tips/etc could be fun.
If it's Edoardo Ballerini reading, I'll easily listen for 30 minutes—or more— to anything read by him. (If you're not familiar with him, check out his audiobook work. The man is a pro.) But yeah, I hear you. I was at a reading years ago. It had a ten minute time limit, and the reader announced that ten minutes simply wasn't enough time to read their work.
So they stood there and read an entire chapter from their upcoming book. Probably twenty plus minutes. Not only did they take up everyone elses allotted time, but it was some of the most boring stuff I've ever had to suffer through.
Note to self: don't ever be that person.
I'm pretty much an introvert, so it can be difficult for me to be in social settings with people I don't know—let alone read my work.
These days I'm writing and reading 10-15 minute short stories. I plan on requesting constructive feedback from audience members on the breaks, should they feel compelled to do so. How potentially mortifying will that be?
Thanks, that's really helpful and I think that sounds like a fun and friendly way to do a book event :-)
the right reading can be captivating, saw Simon Armitage read once, amazing.
depending on how it’s organized, it could be a really great way to consume fiction in a new way, get to know new authors, and be part of a literary community.
I agree. Organization is key.
I learn a lot about my own work—and the work of others.
So, it's more of a social event? Do you think a discussion or Q & A would serve the save purpose as a reading?
This is actually a great tip, and something I’m now doing. (Though for my St. Louis history Substack rather than my fiction.) There’s a local coffee shop that has evening readings and other events, and the owner was happy to work with me to organize monthly history talks. I think most cities have spaces like this that are open to literary/educational readings and talks, and it’s really just a matter of asking if you can participate.
Glad you find it helpful, Jackie.
nice!
I'll share two tips on Substack growth. The first is to genuinely engage with your audience, both on your Substack and theirs. It's the only way to get to know people, their interests, writing journey, etc. People want to belong to that kind of community.
The second is to guest post. Have a clearly defined goal and subject, write it and then find a Substack you respect, where the audience could have some crossover, and then offer to post. Not all Substacks are open to guest posts, or they may have more strict acceptance criteria and that's okay.
Try new things and experiment!
What’s the best way to get in touch with writers to offer a guest post?
I’m not aware of a messaging function on Substack, and a lot of writers only allow paid subscribers to comment.
Hi Cody, I will take a current post that has been sent and then reply to it within my email program. The Substack email is a formula though, so for example, fictionistas@substack.com, or in my case brianreindel@substack.com. You could send directly to that email, and it will likely be forwarded to whatever personal email is on file.
Brilliant.
"genuinely engage with your audience"--easier said than done!
What do you do that helps you engage with your audience? I feel like I keep trying to talk and nobody talks back. I'm a very small publication right now so maybe it's a volume thing, but still hoping for that one person to show up and say "hey i liked that" or "hey this story sucks, the characters are all wooden planks."
Start from the outside and move inward. For example, I spent time commenting on other publications, writing guest posts and becoming involved on Fictionistas, and over time the people that subscribed back to my Substack started interacting, became strong commenters and we started talking outside of posts as well. It goes up and down, people get busy, new people come and go, etc., but generally speaking it's a reciprocal relationship.
Also, asking questions about the story - what should x do next? What would you do? I’m on a webinar rn so not especially creative, but asking for engagement in the comments can help too. When I share recommendations, often people drop their own in the comments.
That's a good thought. My writing right now consists of weekly micro-fiction intended to flex my muscles, so there's no real continuity between them; and I am publishing a pre-planned story on Saturdays for the next few weeks. With the former, there's no future to ask about; with the latter, it's already been written and planned.
That's not to say I couldn't integrate what you are talking about, I just can't plug-n-play the lazy way. For my writing exercises, perhaps asking people what should happen next, even if I don't have something planned? Or sharing what I am working on with the exercise and asking if I accomplished that?
I will see--there's room here and I can experiment! Thank you!
Or (I will need to read more of your work to see if this makes sense) pick a key point in the story and ask readers if they’d have done the same thing or something different?
Trying to apply Nicci’s point to the work you’re describing Scoot, you could ask readers what they think of a specific aspect of the story or ask them what they like or don’t like about the story.
Alex Dobrenko does this really well. He puts some kind of book clubby questions in his newsletters.
Subscribing now to investigate. Thank you!
Oh you’re going to thoroughly enjoy it!
Indeed good sir; indeed 💯💯
What advice does anyone have for someone who wants to have a career as a writer but currently works full-time in nothing to do with writing and has too many financial obligations to quit?
Find a way out of those financial obligations first. Shed whatever you can. If you're talking about making a living writing fiction the odds are slim. I know of people who consistently pump out non-fiction " how tos" and do eLearning courses who can quit their 9-5,but fiction is more of a crapshoot. I'm the 3rd or 4th ranked fiction author on this platform and I'm stagnant at just over 300 subscribers. It's not a living, it's a very time consuming side hustle.
If you're trying to write a novel, set aside all the time you can and get it out there.
This is me. I am working full time to make my living, but I am hoping the seeds I have planted here at substack will eventually grow into a big money-tree and I can buy a yacht and retire to the bahamas and write all day.
Still waiting for those first sprouts though.
It's definitely not going to be an overnight thing, and as Jimmy Doom said, it will never not be a hustle. The key is to polish your writing to the shiniest it can possibly be, and keep writing. Engage with your audience and find out what they like. Solicit constructive criticism.
What you are doing now is building a body of work so that when you publish your magnum opus people will investigate you and see all this other great stuff you've written. Ray Bradbury famously was rejected from publications thousands of times before he ever got published, but once published there was more interest in everything he ever wrote.
Keep planting! It's Spring.
It depends on what you mean by "career as a writer." If you mean making a living as a freelance essayist or novelists, that is going to be very tough. Many are called, but very few are chosen. If you mean being paid a regular salary to write, though, there are several options. Technical communications is probably to most reliable of these. You can make a tech company salary writing the manuals that come with products and services. Most people only see the tip of the ice burg when it come to technical communication -- the manuals that come with the products they buy. But a far greater part of the business is in the realm of business products and tools that get sold company to company. The amount of documentation they require is vast. It's interesting work and it pays well. And if you save and invest sensibly, you can then retire early and spend down your nest egg trying to become an essayist and novelist.
That’s good advice. I went to school for journalism and have been trying to get a full-time job in communications since 2019. It’s tough to get in the door, but I’m trying!
There is a fair amount of contract technical writing work available, which will help you build a portfolio and beef up your resume. Try looking at the tech focused recruiting and staffing firms.
Like Mark said, it can be really challenging to make your living as a fiction writer. But freelancing is definitely an option. I have a piece about this on Story Cauldron: https://open.substack.com/pub/storycauldron/p/how-to-become-a-freelance-writer
Don't quit your day job. It will help you see things the way non-writers (probably non-creatives too) think. These are the people who will buy your stuff someday. Also it will focus your writing time into that which is most valuable. A win-win-win.
Is anyone subscribed to BBC Maestro? Is it worth trying?
I've never paid for any writing courses before. So many focus on plot, character and structure - all important (and things I need to improve on!) but what I'm more interested in learning is how to write engaging prose. I found out that Alan Moore has some videos on BBC Maestro on rhythm and inventive language, and Carol Ann Duffy has some on poetry. Are there other online courses/videos/etc which focus on imaginative prose?
Chuck Palahniuk's book Consider This should be all anyone needs to push their writing in the right direction. Elmore Leonard's short list of " rules" for writers helps too.
Find your own voice. If you create characters who you care about so deeply- honest, real, flawed human characters- that they make you laugh or cry, your audience will feel that and engage as well.
Hello, hello everyone. A little after 9am here.
I have really been enjoying DuVay Knox's THE BLACK PULP FICTIONADO.
His writing slaps you in the face. Raw and eloquent. Funny and dead serious. Always look forward to his posts.
I originally started my Substack for myself. A place to tone my voice, get more comfortable with my writing. That took a lot of pressure off as far as getting more subscribers so when I do a get new subscription it bouys because it is unexpected and feels more organic? But when I do feel the urge, I will post a link to a certain group on Twitter or Instagram. So I guess I would say just plant your seed where you want a flower to grow? (I guess I am doing that here. Ha!)
My advice for the next generation is to write, write, write. Stay true to your craft, your form, but pay attention to it, and learn how to be flexible, to grow. I started out with writing poetry in my teens. Of course over the years, decades, my style changed, the quality improved, but I found myself writing longer pieces and having to edit, edit, edit, to make them readable. Figured out I was more of story than a moment teller. And now finally I finally found Flash which is the form for me for now. I still write poetry if a poem is in me though.
How much of your publishing is done on Substack? Do you post everything you write to Substack, or do you leave some stuff for a website or blog?
If you don’t post everything on Substack, how do you use Substack to bring an audience to your website?
I put 100% of my writing on Substack.
all of my short fiction and articles are on one of my Substacks. I was serializing my novels and I’ll probably continue to do that as well. For me, it’s all about finding and building an audience that will hopefully then travel with me when I publish my books.
I submit to traditional speculative outlets about once a month. Some of those stories ended up on my Substack if they weren't published, or ended up in the book of short stories I published through Amazon. I'm trying to funnel everyone back to my Substack one way or another, but I've struggled to get readers outside the Substack ecosystem. Our community tends to be a community of writers who are also readers. I love that, but I would like more readers from a broader audience. The only way I know to do that is by publishing in traditional outlets.
This. Reaching readers instead of writers is the most challenging part for me.
It's a puzzle I haven't been able solve just yet, but if I do I'll be sure to let the community know.
Same. Working on it every day.
Ha, yes, same here. I've reached readers for BookFunnel promos, using a sample opening of the story I'm serialising, but the engagement there is quite light. The best readers I have at the moment are definitely other writers.
I have a few regular readers. When they like my stuff, they really like it. But it is a small segment, I think Old fashioned social SciFi and noir.
I've finished writing two out of three books in the Managed Paranoia Series. The first book will be totally Substacked in 49 weeks, (I'm posting one chapter a week, 12 are available so far). My main goal is to hook readers who love near-future thrillers and just can't wait to get their hands on them. And the characters in the book have already attracted many followers who are totally into it. Right now, I'm thinking of Substack as a magnet that pulls people into Hank Gunn's world, but I'm still playing around with things. So far, so good!
I put 100% on Substack at the moment. I also cross-post fiction to Royal Road and Wattpad (although this doesn't seem to be doing much).
I have no interest in bringing an audience to my website - my website points to my Substack, so it's the other way around. :)
Thought some of you might to see my new ranked list of my favorite 45 novels of all time:
https://mikegoodenowweber.substack.com/p/my-45-favorite-novels-of-all-time
Mark Starlin Writes https://markstarlinwrites.substack.com/
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Buy and read Print Books. Limit AI to less than 5% of your "writing." And take a walk every day.
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Thanks, Finlay. I am glad you are a reader, and “commenter!” 🤓
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Volleying my shout out to Justin Deming at Along the Hudson. Justin has a gift for writing thought-provoking fiction with just the right number of words. And his twice monthly "Fifties" challenges are an awesome way to engage with your fellow fiction writers.
https://alongthehudson.substack.com/
https://alongthehudson.substack.com/p/fifties-by-the-fire-blue-valentine
Very much appreciated, Meg, thank you! 🙏😊
Lately I have really enjoyed reading Justin Deming- Along The Hudson, Mark Starlin Writes, Mark Cutts and Gibberish by Scoot. Even though all of them have their own writing styles each one's writing seems to pull me in and keep me interested. Thanks guys.
Thank you so much, Pennie!
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Thank you, Pennie! 🤓
Next month, which starts tomorrow, is going to be my one year anniversary of starting my substack. Getting comments on my fiction still seems as rare as it was when I started (thankfully I consistently get non-fiction comments), and I've followed all the advice about what to do. Looks like the part of the equation I'm missing is interested readers, so I'm going to try and do more cross promotion stuff.
Don't think I'm in a state to give advice, but I'll say to be flexible. Don't be afraid to change course and try out new things.
I have a whole list of fiction substacks I've been enjoying. To avoid spamming a whole list I'll just say that I've stuck by Metanoia for some time and wish it got more recognition. (https://kerryjane.substack.com/)
I've posted my serialized fiction once a week and I have two monthly series for non-fiction. Going forward the plan is to slow down the serialized fiction to every other week because I worry the weekly uploads were too fast for people. I don't think of it in terms of the ratio of fiction vs non-fiction, just what kind of schedule would work best for each.
And yeah, I think non-fiction will generally get more attention than fiction.
Happy Substack Anniversary, William!
In my experience , getting comments on fiction, especially serialized fiction, is not as common as non-fiction where people love to share their opinions. I put “Thank you for reading and commenting. You make it fun.” At the end of my newsletters. I personally don’t like “pushy” call to actions like “Be sure to comment.” So I just thank readers in advance, which lets them know I want comments without being demanding. But I mainly think I just have a lot of writers who read my newsletter and appreciate comments themselves, so they comment.
I also respond to every comment. And I comment on most of the stories I read in other newsletters.
I try to be good about commenting but it can be a little hard to come up with something. I've been ending most chapters with a note on the lines of 'I'd appreciate feedback' and tried including optional discussion prompts.
I already have experience with the difficulty of getting comments through fanfiction websites, but I feel like substack has an environment even less prone to commenting than fanfiction websites.
A little paranoid that because I couldn't think of anything to respond to some comments with I'm not going to get any more. Though unless it's hate comments I always like each comment I get to show I've read it before writing up a response, so it's not like they went unacknowledged.
A simple “Thank you, their name.” Goes a long way. My wife taught me that using a person’s name is a great way to connect. People like being acknowledged. I figure if they take the time to comment, I can take the time to respond. 🤓
Thank you, Mark. And yeah, I usually do respond, just had an off-post.
This is my experience as well 👍
Elissa Altman's thoughts resonate deeply with me. poormansfeast@substack.com. Not fiction, but so rich and varied that often I find new themes there to develop in my fiction. In fact, one piece of advice I'd give to new fiction writers is to read contemporary essays and derive ideas for stories from them.
That's a wonderful suggestion. Thank you, Miriam
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Some writers may find this helpful (there’s more on editing on the stack as well): https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/why-you-should-edit-your-substack
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
I will throw out a couple of recommendations. I enjoy Bill Alder’s often fantastical fiction. https://billadler.substack.com
And Justin Deming’s bite-sized fiction. https://alongthehudson.substack.com
Looking for autobiographical fiction?: https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/the-heart-of-the-emerald-green
If anyone's interested in long-form auto-fiction, just posted a piece about friendship, youth and nostalgia: https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/cool-kids-long-form-autobiographical