What is “The Craft of Writing”? – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Jan. 6, 2026

Craft of Writing: What is “The Craft of Writing”?
In comedy, delivery is just as important as the words of the joke. Arguably, it’s a good portion of what makes the joke funny. Likewise with storytelling, craft is as important as the plot or characters. For 2026, each issue of our newsletter will explore how to improve your writing craftsmanship. READ MORE

Marketing Tips: How to Build Your Author’s Platform
An author’s platform is absolutely vital to your success as an indie writer. Consisting of your website, social media, and outreach efforts, the platform gives you the tools to reach others who might buy your book. It also is a way for potential readers to stumble upon your book. My book Create Your Author’s Platform helps you build those tools to promote your books. Using practical, easy-to-understand explanations, it covers constructing a website, blogging, mailing lists, newsletters, social media, press releases, and book readings/signings. The tips come from a professional author and editor who has built a platform for his own books and has advised hundreds of other writers about how to do so. SEE BOOK

Writing Tip: Destage Dramatic Action that Slows Your Story
If your story seems to be moving slowly, you may need to destage some of the action. A term borrowed from theater, destaging occurs when the author moves what has been shown “onstage” to “offstage,” that is he doesn’t write a scene focusing on it. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Obtain DBA if Creating Your Own Imprint
If creating your own imprint (i.e. publishing company) when self-publishing a book, one of the first actions you’ll have to take is registering your company’s name. Because the author and publishing company are essentially the same, you don’t need to set up a full-blown company but can simply file a DBA – or Doing Business As – statement with the appropriate local officials. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Select Your Viewpoint Character with Care
Every story is told from someone’s perspective. This someone is known as the viewpoint character. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Bundle Ebooks to Boost Your Online Sales
One of the tried-and-true ways to move retail goods is to give a “2 for 1” or a “Buy 1 get 1 free” deal. People can’t resist a bargain, and the same strategy can work for your ebooks. This ploy in self-publishing is known as bundling. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “The Furbidden Voyd: The Gate of Nyandor, Book One: A Transdimensional Feline Saga” by Patrick Christell
A recent editing client of mine has published his first book! Patrick Christell’s “The Furbidden Voyd: The Gate of Nyandor, Book One: A Transdimensional Feline Saga” tells the story of Sory’n, who driven into the Forest Primeval, discovers a clowder of feline outcasts led by the enigmatic Mother Ertree—cats who guard ancient secrets the Guild has killed to suppress. Forbidden knowledge that’s been preserved in the shadows for three thousand years. Hunted by those who were once her own, Sory’n must navigate a world of ancient mysteries and buried lies. To survive, she will have to confront the terrifying obsession consuming her father and master a power no cat was ever meant to wield. The book is available in paperback or ebook. 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 Jan. 13, 2026. 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.