Plotting Your Book: Consider Using The Journey for a Mythic Plot
One of the most common plot forms in modern fantasy and science fiction novels is the mythic structure. Often called a quest, in the mythic structure the protagonist undertakes an expedition that carries some moral significance or deeper meaning. Typically our hero seeks some definitive object, which usually is symbolic of some abstract moral ideal; this object sometimes is referred to as a grail, a treasure or an elixir and in modern stories often is called a grail substitute. READ MORE
Writing Advice: Using a Writing Process When Writing Nonfiction
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring authors make is denying that they’re following a process when writing a book. These writers often say they write “from the seat of their pants.” Yet, every writer goes through five basic steps if they finish and publish their nonfiction book. Understanding those five basic steps can help authors identify why they’re having trouble writing. Maybe their book idea isn’t very good. Possibly they haven’t thought through it enough. Maybe they’re not revising it efficiently. My book Following a Writing Process for Nonfiction takes you through the five steps of the writing process. Among the many topics covered include brainstorming story ideas, outlining the book, drafting it, revising, and formatting. SEE BOOK
Writing Tip: Different Levels, Kinds of Editing Exist
Not all edits done by an editor are equal. Depending on your ability as a writer and the number of drafts you’ve taken a manuscript through, you will require a different type of edit. Knowing the four general kinds of edits can help you better determine and then communicate to an editor the type of service you need. READ MORE
Self-Publishing Tip: Add Social Sharing Links to Your Ebook
One great way to generate ebook sales is word of mouth. You can get readers who liked your title to spread the word via social media simply by including a few social media links at the back of your ebook. READ MORE
This Week’s Podcast: Improve Story’s Pacing by Deleting Authorisms
Sometimes when writers just can’t think of what to put on the page, they resort to an inappropriate technique known as an authorism. An authorism – coined by American writer Thomas M. Disch – occurs when the writer places his or her physical environment, mannerisms and prejudices into the story. LISTEN TO PODCAST
Book Marketing Tip: Why You Want Reviews Written About Your Book
By getting the word out about your book, hopefully people will then talk and write about it. This largely will occur when reviews of your title begin to appear. Such reviews might run on blogs about your genre or subject matter (hence the importance of sending such media a press release to make them aware of your book), on the Amazon.com or Goodreads pages for your book, or even in published periodicals. READ MORE
Client Spotlight: “Castooli County to DC: Monster Hunt” by Mark Policinski
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of editing this political thriller story, which would make for a perfect election year read. Mark Policinski’s Castooli County to DC: Monster Hunt tells the story of two different worlds. One is the hard life of Capitol Hill, where Joe Hickcock, top aide to the next President of the United States, is dogged by an evil that is with him every day and who he knows excruciatingly well. The other world is a bucolic county in Michigan where Sheriff Arthur Bract must confront and solve a most hideous murder. The two worlds are not disconnected. CHECK IT OUT
$25 Off Your Next Edit!
For being a newsletter subscriber, please take $25 off your next edit with Inventing Reality Editing Service. When scheduling your edit, be sure to mention you’re a subscriber and give the email where you received this newsletter. Minimum order of $200. Offer expires Oct. 21, 2025. SCHEDULE EDIT
My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of both aspiring and published writers and offers a variety of self-publishing services. During the past 15 years, I’ve helped more than 400 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of a novel, the Storytelling 101 Quick Read series, four children’s books, more than 25 bestselling hiking guidebooks, and even a book of poetry. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.
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