Maintain the Reader’s Illusion – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Sept. 8, 2026

Craft of Writing: Maintain the Reader’s Illusion
When writing any story, your goal ought to be to create and maintain a fictional dream, or an “illusion that there is no filter between reader and events that the reader is actually experiencing what he is reading,” as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. defines it. READ MORE

Marketing Tip: How to Sell Your Book with Amazon Ads
Most indie authors are nervous about buying ads for their books and for good reason. They wonder if the ads really will work or if it’s just dumping money into a bottomless hole. They even have been told not to buy them. I used to think that way too. Then I began to hear from a small number of authors that they actually were having good luck with Amazon ads. A lot of tweaking was necessary, but eventually they figured out a formula that worked. So I gave it a try. Within weeks, I was earning twice as much as I spent on ads, and my sales tripled. My new book Sell Your Book with Amazon Ads is all about how the ad system works, how to build an ad, how to read Amazon’s ad reports, how to optimize your ad, and more. SEE BOOK

Writing Tip: Avoid Small Talk in Your Story’s Dialogue
There’s little room in a novel or a short story for small talk. Small talk doesn’t move the story forward, as it rarely ever shows a character attempting to achieve a goal. Because of that, small talk makes for mind-numbingly dull writing. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Wait to Format Text Until Editing is Done
One rookie mistake made by many self-publishing authors is that they start formatting their manuscript before it is completed. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Consider Using Parallel Plot Structure in Novel
Rather than subordinating one plot to other – that is, rather than make one a subplot – why not treat them with equal importance? When two dramatic plots occur at the same time in a story, usually involving different characters but the same theme, you are employing a parallel plot structure. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Marketing Tip: Offer a Discount Price
When self-publishing, you typically can change the price of your books at will, and with social media such as X, Facebook, LinkedIn, your blog, and more, you can quickly spread the word about your sale to thousands of people. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Lost Boy” by Michael Combs
A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of editing this romantic comedy/coming of age novel. Michael Combs’ Lost Boy examines the question “What if the love you lost was all the love you will ever know?” This realization drives Mike, a massage therapist who masks his sorrow with humor, women and alcohol. While searching for love, he and his best friend Keith traverse many hilarious relationship faux pas. Then he meets Gabi and must decide if he can open his heart or stay lost in the past. When given a second chance, will he be able to find himself and love again or will he remain lost forever? 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 Sept. 15, 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.