Tell Readers What ‘It’ Is – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for March 10, 2026

Craft of Writing: Tell Readers What ‘It’ Is
Avoid starting sentences – and especially paragraphs – with “it.” By starting a sentence with “it,” you can confuse the reader. After all, what exactly does “it” refer to? READ MORE

How to Master the Craft of Writing
You’ve written a short story or a novel. You keep receiving rejection slips from editors and publishing houses … and now you’re not sure it’s good enough to self-publish. You know the story needs a rewrite, yet you don’t know how to improve it … besides, work or school is hectic, the house needs to be cleaned, and the kids demand your attention, so who has time? … But we bet you can find just 7 minutes a day to achieve your dream of getting that story published. If you can, 7 Minutes a Day to Mastering the Craft of Writing is the book for you. This practical, how-to guide will take you step-by-step through improving your story and fiction writing skills – with just 7 minutes of work required a day. You’ll complete short, skillful exercises that allow you to rewrite your novel or short story as you read this book, all the while getting the encouragement and motivation needed to keep you going. SEE BOOK.

Writing Tip: Pit Story’s Hero Against Society to Create Conflict
Rather than take on another individual, the main character could find himself in conflict with an entire society. When the main character or small group of characters take on the greater culture – who usually are represented by a group of authority figures or “upstanding” citizens – the author is using a man vs. society conflict. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: How to Upload Your Ebook Cover at KindleDP
One you’ve created your ebook cover, the next step is to upload it. Before doing so, save the cover as a .jpg. The cover should be no more than 50 MB in size. Next, go to your Kindle Direct Publishing account. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: How to Come Up with a Great Pen Name
Should you decide that you want to use a pen name, the question then arises as to what you pseudonym should be. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Contemplating Concerns Over Marketing Book
Many writers don’t enjoy promoting, or “marketing” their books. Besides being antithetical to the artistry of writing, promotion is time consuming, reducing the number of hours available to write. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “I’m an E.L.F.” by Rava Watkins
A recent editing client of mine has published her literary fiction novel. In Rava Watkins’ I’m an E.L.F, Chelsea Davis and Seth Calloway are brought together by a tragic accident that sets the stage for their intertwined lives. The story delves into their emotions and highlights themes of love, forgiveness, personal growth, purpose, using gifts to inspire others, and the enduring power of love as they embark on a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery. I’m an E.L.F. is a captivating story that explores the complexities of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit. 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 March 17, 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 425 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.