Coax Readers to Eat Story’s Veggies by Promising Cookies – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Nov. 3, 2026

Craft of Writing: Coax Readers to Eat Story’s Veggies by Promising Cookies
If you want to impress readers, give them a cookie. A term coined by CSFW’s David Smith, a cookie is some item in the text that rewards readers paying close attention to the story. READ MORE

200+ Writing Prompts That Lead To Stories
You’re stuck on what to write so check out some writing prompts to spur your creativity. But they don’t help you out of your writing rut…sure, there are some neat ideas, but none of them actually lead to a story. That’s because writing prompts all too often miss a key element: conflict. Conflict is the heart of every story, and without it you’re just writing a journal entry. My book Storystarters presents more than 200 writing prompts centered on exciting and interesting conflicts for your protagonist to solve. The prompts are divided among more than 50 topics and pit your story’s hero against nature, another person, society, God and himself in various scenarios. Don’t settle for prompts that at best make interesting writing exercises for middle school students – instead opt for prompts that will get you writing something publishable! SEE BOOK

Writing Tip: Avoid Using ALL CAPS in Your Writing
When trying to show that a character is speaking louder than before or to emphasize a point, writers sometimes capitalize each letter of a word, creating what is typographically known as ALL CAPS. The writer may want to reconsider capitalizing all of those letters, however. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: What are the Start-up Costs when Self-Publishing?
When self-publishing a book, you’ll likely need to purchase materials so you can write. These start-up costs are the expenses you incur before you actually begin business operations. So what are those costs for self-publishing? READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Use Subplot to Give Story More Depth
One way to give your story depth is to include a subplot, which is a secondary plot line. This sometimes is referred to as the B story, a term from screenwriting. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Market Your Book by Wearing Your Book Title
You’ve spent a lot of time coming up with a snappy book title, and if it’s a series you may even have a logo for it. So why not sell T-shirts, coffee mugs, ink pens and other products – with your title and logo on it? READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “The Desperate Summer” by Sean Connors
A few summers ago, I had the pleasure of editing Sean Connors’ debut novel. Part historical fiction, part spy thriller, Sean’s The Desperate Summer weaves a tale of love, courage and betrayal during the long, hot summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain. Tense, twisting and turning, the novel follows Hatfield Watkins’ journey from innocent Kansas farm boy to deadly ace, aging Luftwaffe fighter pilot Erwin Eichmann’s fight against the arrogance of the Third Reich, and the dark struggles of a conflicted Rachel Towning, a beautiful but deadly spy. As they fight a battle that they did not ask for but desperately need to win, they are forced to face the truth about themselves…and each other. 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 Nov. 10, 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.