Craft of Writing: Replace Fuzzy Words
Here’s some advice: “To really improve your writing, your words should be very specific and read maybe something like what you’d find in a story that’s not so loosely written.” Huh? The problem with the advice is it’s riddled with fuzzy words – or words that aren’t precise. READ MORE

The Best Guide to Writing Your Novel!
You dream of being a published author. You don’t have time to write, though … work or school is hectic, the house needs to be cleaned, the kids demand your attention … But we bet you can find just 7 minutes a day to pursue your dream. If you can, 7 Minutes a Day to Your Bestselleris the book for you. This practical, how-to-guide takes you step-by-step from coming up with a great story idea to seeing your pride and joy published – with just 7 minutes of writing a day. You’ll complete short, skillful exercises that allow you to build a short story or novel as you read the book, all the while receiving the encouragement and motivation needed to keep you going. SEE BOOK.

Writing Tip: I Don’t Need Permission to be Called an Author
Authors who haven’t published often like to think of themselves as an “aspiring author,” an “aspiring novelist,” or an “aspiring writer.” They act as if by not being published they are somehow lesser than someone who actually is. The truth is you’re an author the moment you commit ink to paper or keystroke to computer screen. READ MORE

Self-Publishing: Many Famous Books First were Self-Published
A lot of famous, successful authors who self-published because corporate publishing couldn’t recognize the book’s value…or just as bad, their business model for profits didn’t allow for quality books to be printed and distributed. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Generate Book Sales by Offering Webinars
A great way to generate money from your book writing is by offering webinars. You’ve probably heard of and even attended seminars. A webinar is exactly the same, except that’s done over the Internet. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Ensure Your Book’s Website is Navigable
A major factor to consider about constructing your website promoting your book is how visitors will be able move between all of the pages you’ve constructed for them. The ability to do this is called navigation. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “An Island I Don’t Want to Be On: Surviving the Riptide of Bipolar Disorder” by W Hector Rivera
A recent writing client has published the book I edited, An Island I Don’t Want to Be On: Surviving the Riptide of Bipolar Disorder! In this candid and inspiring memoir, W Hector Rivera opens up about his battle with bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, sharing the raw and personal journey of navigating life’s unpredictable riptides. But he refuses to be defined by these labels. With courage and determination, Rivera shows how he learned to live on his own terms, finding strength in the face of adversity and hope where there seemed to be none. Through honest reflections and hard-earned wisdom, Rivera’s story serves as a powerful reminder that no challenge is too great to overcome. His journey is not just about surviving-it’s about thriving, and about refusing to let mental health struggles dictate your life. This uplifting narrative will inspire readers to find their own path through the storm and remind them that they too can live a life of purpose and fulfillment, no matter the challenges they face. 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 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.

Craft of Writing: Murder Your Darlings
To engage your readers – whether writing fiction or nonfiction – you’ll need to be utterly ruthless with your own words. In short, you’ll need to “murder your darlings.” READ MORE

“7 Minutes a Day…” Series Now on Audiobook!
Need to fill up some driving time or need something to listen to when folding laundry? The four books in my “7 Minutes a Day…” series for indie authors are now all available as audiobooks! There’s a book each on writing a novel, the craft of writing, the self-publishing process, and marketing your book. SEE BOOKS

Writing Tip: How to Write Your Story’s Penultimate Scene
In every story, there comes a turning point or an ultimate moment in which the situation has become so intolerable that the main character must take a decisive step and emerge victorious. This scene is known as the climax. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Basic Guidelines for Self-Publishing Ebooks
Developing the paper version of the book first then converting it to ebook form is traditional. This approach need not be followed, though. There is a lot of logic to going with the ebook first, as the paper version requires much more intensive formatting. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Build Your Book into a Business
Rarely can an author make a living solely from book sales. However, authors can achieve their dream of independence by building a business around their books. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Generate Business with an Online Class
One of the best ways for authors to put their book to work for them is to create an online class based on it. For example, if you’ve written a book about how to draw, you could offer an online class on the same topic. Or you might branch out a little; a financial consultant who’s written a book about saving for retirement might deliver an online course on saving for your child’s college education. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Valley of the Bears” by Margaret Piscitelli
Can Queenie the squirrel, Buster the blue jay, and their new pal Bandit the raccoon rescue several brown bears and their cubs after an earthquake leaves them isolated? This is the third children’s book series for second through sixth graders that I edited and helped Margaret self-publish. 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 3, 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.

Craft of Writing: Erase Subjective Tension
Sometimes when selecting which word to use, our aim is off. Usually, this can be resolved simply by thinking a little bit more about exactly what is meant and then changing that word. When our aim is off on more than a word but a whole passages of text, writers commit the error of “subjective tension.” READ MORE

The Best Guide to Writing Your Novel!
You dream of being a published author. You don’t have time to write, though … work or school is hectic, the house needs to be cleaned, the kids demand your attention … But we bet you can find just 7 minutes a day to pursue your dream. If you can, 7 Minutes a Day to Your Bestseller is the book for you. This practical, how-to-guide takes you step-by-step from coming up with a great story idea to seeing your pride and joy published – with just 7 minutes of writing a day. You’ll complete short, skillful exercises that allow you to build a short story or novel as you read the book, all the while receiving the encouragement and motivation needed to keep you going. SEE BOOK.

Writing Tip: How to Establish Setting in Your Story’s Opening Lines
Setting is the place and time in which the plot unfolds. The setting always must be established in a story’s opening lines. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Use Stock Art to Create Cover Inexpensively
When creating a cover for your self-published book, you’ll probably need a single, striking photograph or illustration that draws in readers. Since you’re a writer, not a photographer or illustrator, this can pose a problem. Where will you get such an image? Purchasing stock art can be a low-cost effective solution. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: What is Point of View in a Story?
Every story has an angle or perspective from which it is told. This perspective is called point of view. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Attract and Keep Readers Via Blogging
Among the best ways to begin a dialogue with readers as well as keep them and the media up-to-date is by creating a blog. A link to your blog should appear on your website among the navigation links. Never underestimate the value of fresh, original content to keep people coming back to your website and interested in your books. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “A Prayer for Judgment” by Dennis Blanco
A recent editing client has published his first novel! A Prayer for Judgment by Dennis Blanco, tells the story of Jeremy and Ray, who are kidnapped on Thanksgiving Eve and taken to a remote cabin in the Virginia mountains. Their mysterious assailant is armed with intimate knowledge of their family. Jeremy’s mother, wife, and sister are compelled to watch a livestream as he and Ray are forced to unearth buried memories. They confess secrets to a gallery of unknown and handpicked spectators, who surreptitiously have come in contact with the family in the recent past. In the crucible that is the mountain cabin, Jeremy battles to find a way of escaping their captor, save his family, and keep the darkest secrets from shattering their world. The book is available in paperback and ebook at Amazon. 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 Feb. 24, 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.

Craft of Writing: Avoid Clever-Author Syndrome
When we’ve mastered some skill – say ball handling in basketball – we often like to show off. So when we’re on the sidewalk with the neighbor kids, we’ll spin the ball on a finger or perform some gravity-defying dribbling trick. While showing off may earn you points as a kid, when writing it’s not a great idea. READ MORE

NOW ON AUDIOBOOK! Storytelling 101 Quick Read Series
Need tips on plotting your novel? Starting your story? Selecting the best point of view? Writing more engaging dialogue? Showing not telling? Formatting your ebook or paperback? Creating a book cover? Setting up an author’s platform? Your author’s website? Arranging and delivering a book reading? Running an Amazon ad campaign for your books? My Storytelling 101 Quick Read series covers these topics and more – and now they’re all available on audiobook, perfect for your commute or when doing chores around the house. SEE AUDIOBOOKS

Writing Tip: Write a Great Narrative Hook for Your Fiction Story
One sign of a good opener is that it makes the reader want to continue with the story. Using a fishing metaphor, a good opener “hooks” the reader. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Tax Forms Self-Published U.S. Authors Must File
As a published author, you’ll have to pay taxes on your earnings from book sales. If a self-published author in the United States, you are a self-proprietor, and that means you’ll need to fill out some additional forms with the IRS. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Include These Pages on Your Business Website
Whenever creating a website for a business that springs from your books, you’ll want to include certain pieces of information on it. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Some Guidelines for Reviewing a Book
Once you’ve asked someone to write a review for your book, you might be peppered with a few questions: How long should it be? What do you want me to say? When do you need it by? READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Adventures in the School Drop-Off Line” by A.S. Huffman
A recent editing client of mine has published her second children’s book! Adventures in the School Drop-Off Line, by A.S. Huffman, tells the story of a school’s morning drop-off line that runs perfectly. Move. Stop. Move. Stop. Move. Stop. Everything in perfect timing. Then one day a family slows the line with antics that get wilder and crazier with each passing morning. Can the principal, Mrs. Tack, get this family to behave so that the line moves again in an orderly, efficient manner? The book is available in paperback at Amazon. 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 Feb. 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.

Craft of Writing: Aim for Best Word Choice
In any story you tell, your choice of words matters. Selecting the wrong word can lead to a number of problems that quickly turns off the reader to your writing. Poor word choice results in three general issues: clarity, vagueness and awkwardness. READ MORE

Storytelling 101 Quick Read Series Released
You’re writing a book…or trying to self-publish it…or maybe attempting to promote it. But something comes up that brings you to a complete stop – maybe you’re telling rather than showing, don’t get how to format an ebook, can’t figure out how to set up an author’s platform, or are struggling with any of a thousand other obstacles that every day keep people from writing, publishing and marketing their books. The Storytelling 101 Quick Read series answers all of those questions in brief, guidebooks that cut to the chase and provide practical, useful information that can be followed step-by-step. SEE THE SERIES

Writing Tip: Heighten Tension with Consistent Point of View
Selecting the best point of view is important because it needs to be consistent throughout the story to establish “unity of effect.” Without a consistent point of view, the reader can lose track of who the story is about, and dramatic tension is weakened. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Costs of Self-Publishing: What You’ll Pay For
Self-publishing always sounds appealing: It’s a quick way to get your book in print, you don’t have to deal with literary agents, editors and publishers who want to rewrite your book so it fits their idea of marketability, and you almost certainly will reap a higher percentage of profits from your book sale. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Repurpose Your Writing to Maximize Revenue
Just because a blog entry has been published doesn’t mean that it never can be used again. Instead, you want to repurpose your writing, meaning reformat and reuse it across multiple books as well as marketing and social media channels. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Tips to Ensure a Successful Book Reading/Signing
The day has finally arrived: Your first book reading and signing! No doubt your stomach is aflutter, not just with excitement but with a little apprehension. What if you mess up in the reading? What if you can’t think of what to say when someone answers a question? What if the crowd finds you boring and starts to leave? READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “A Thing with Feathers” by J. John Nordstrom
When a 40-year-old attorney in Washington DC quits his job because he’s tired of the corruption, he takes a job as a reference librarian in a law library out of financial desperation. There’s just once catch – he has to pretend to be gay. The novel has been a finalist for four different book awards. 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 Feb. 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.

Craft of Writing: Identify Elements of Good Diction
The most interesting character facing a significant moral decision in a fast-paced plot and exotic setting will appear bland if the words used are wrong. The vocabulary choices and ways they are arranged to create a sense of style is known as diction. READ MORE

Free Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Promotion Guides 
I’m offering free pdfs of each book in my Storytelling 101 Quick Read series in exchange for an honest review. The series consists of brief, easy to understand, and practical guides addressing a number of problems authors face when writing, self-publishing and promoting their books. I’d ask that reviews be posted on Amazon or Goodreads. If interested, choose from this LIST OF BOOKS and then EMAIL ME the title for a free copy.

Writing Tip: Use Worldbuilding to Create Your Story’s Setting
As creating your story’s setting, you might use the technique of worldbuilding. Worldbuilding occurs when you construct an imaginary place and time in detail. Such a setting could be as small as a single room or as large as the multiverse with alternative timelines. Usually it is a single planet or region of a world, however. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: How to Set Up a Home Office Space
Once you’ve decided to use your home for your business, setting up an office space comes next. That shouldn’t be too difficult for most authors, as they already work from home. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: To Write, I Quash the Perfectionist Impulse
Writers who are perfectionists usually procrastinate, waiting for inspiration to magically strike so they can create the perfect work. Unfortunately nothing ever gets written, or at least finished, because they’re rarely in that inspired state to create a perfect manuscript, let alone a perfect paragraph or sentence. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Pages Needed for Website Promoting Your Book
Once you’ve determined the appearance of your website, the next step is to plan how it’ll be organized. This is called the site architecture. You’ll decide what pages will be on your website and the order in which they will be arranged. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Fortune Favors the Bold” by Dupree Gray
A long-time editing of mine recently published his latest book. If you’ve just gotten out of the military or are a minority out of high school and find that you don’t have a lot of money in your bank account. Worse, your job’s low wages prevent you from earning the money to support the lifestyle you desire. What can you do about it? Get financially literate. Longtime serviceman Dupree Gray tells how in “Fortune Favors the Bold.” After explaining how the system historically worked against minorities, he points out what you must do: Build generational wealth. 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 Feb. 3, 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.

Craft of Writing: Recognize Mood and Tone
Two ideas closely related to voice are mood and tone. What’s the difference between voice, mood and tone, and how will knowing this make you a better writing? 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: Describe Setting from Characters’ Perspectives
Novice writers often possess a good understanding of how to write a great description of a story’s setting and of how to present evocative details. Indeed, the ability to create beautiful imagery through words often is a skill that encouraged many aspiring writers to aspire to write a book in the first place. Unfortunately, sometimes novice writers present great descriptions that don’t really advance the story. The use of such wording, while pretty and emotive in its own right, actually can slow the story and feel superfluous. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: What You Need to Self-Publish Your Book
Once you’ve decided to self-publish, you’ll need to make sure that you have all the materials necessary to get through the process. Unless you’re living off the grid, you probably have everything. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Hint at Protagonist’s Intentions on Opening Page
The opening page of your story always should include your protagonist’s intentions, meaning the step he plans to take to deal with the story’s main problem. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Sell Books by Identifying Your Target Reader
Perhaps the biggest mistake authors can make is misidentifying their readers. This occurs when authors market primarily to other writers or when every person, simply because they are able to read, is considered a potential customer. A much more successful approach is to identify the most likely readers of your book and to target them with your promotional efforts. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Mikey’s Absolution” by Sammy Juliano
A long-time editing client has published his third book in a series about a fictional suburban New Jersey family. The darkest of the three novels in the northern New Jersey-set series of an Italian-Irish family growing up in the 1960s to 1980s, Mikey’s Absolution explores gender identity and how hormonal, psychological, and cultural influences impact self-perception. The novel argues that one needs to experience what it is like on the other side and how corruption is a prerequisite to self-fulfillment. The novel suggests that fate determines how lives play out. 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. 27, 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.

Craft of Writing: Develop a Sense of Voice
All authors who master their craft write in a certain style or “voice.” So how can you do that in your writing? READ MORE

Marketing Tips: How to Build Your Author’s Website
You need a website if you’re a serious author. A website is the hub where readers can go to find out about your books, a little about you, where to find you on social media, how to contact you, and more. Fortunately, you can construct a website for very little cost right in the comfort of your own home. My book Build Your Author’s Website explains how, using easy to understand, practical explanations. It covers such diverse topics as finding a Website host, deciding what your website will look like, pages needed for your website, share buttons, pictures, your website text’s readability, and driving traffic to your website. The tips here come from an author and professional editor who began building websites more than two decades ago and has advised hundreds of his writing clients about the process. SEE BOOK

Writing Tip: Employ Lock-in to Ensure You Have a Story
To pump up the suspense in your story – nay, to even have a story – you will want to ensure your character experiences a “lock in.” A lock-in occurs when a character cannot escape a situation because the stakes are high and doing nothing carries such dire consequences that trying to resolve the problem is the best option. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: What is Self-Publishing and Should I Try It?
Thanks to computer technology, anyone now can get their book printed, and it’s fairly instant at that. But not that many new writers really understand self-publishing or how to get it done all on their own at virtually no cost. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Types of Lists You can Create for Your Nonfiction Book
Among the best ways to convey information in your nonfiction book is through a list. Lists are easy for readers to scan, and later when needing to recall key takeaways, they can be found quickly. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Generate Income from Book via Teleseminar
Especially if you’ve penned nonfiction, a great way to use your book to generate additional income is a teleseminar. This involves using a teleconference line or a live audio link via the Internet; it also is known as a teleclass. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “The Hunter” by Albert York
An editing client of mine has released his first book! Albert York’s “The Hunter” tells the story of K9 search-and-rescue handler Dannie Bauer and her loyal bloodhound, Forrest. When they are called in to track a missing teammate, she finds herself chasing not only lost persons but a deadly predator who is always one step ahead. As another teenage girl vanishes, Dannie realizes that the disappearances are linked to a sadistic serial rapist and murderer and zeroes in on a suspect. Faced with the prospect of more deaths from the killer, she has to answer the question, “How far can you cross the line before the monster you hunt is no longer the one in front of you?” The thriller is available in paperback and Kindle 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. 20, 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.

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.

Plotting Your Book: Your Story Isn’t Its Plot or Structure
When discussing fiction, sometimes the terms “story” and “structure” are used interchangeably with “plot.” But a story is not a plot or the story’ structure. While this misuse of terminology may seem trifling, it unfortunately mangles many beginning writers’ conception of what plot is, ultimately harming their manuscripts. READ MORE

The Best Guide to Promoting Your Book!
My book 7 Minutes a Day to Promoting Your Book is a practical, how-to guide that takes you step-by-step through implementing a simple but effective marketing plan for your book – with just 7 minutes of work required a day. You’ll complete short, skillful exercises that allow you to publicize and sell your novel or nonfiction title as you read the book, all the while getting the encouragement and motivation needed to keep you going. SEE BOOK

Writing Tip: Allow Main Character to Experience Crisis of Faith
A man vs. himself conflict often elevates a story’s suspense and depth. When a character must face a confrontation with himself, most readers can relate to him. External conflicts that affect a character – such as eluding international assassins or stopping an alien invasion – are great escapism but (mostly) outside the reader’s realm of experience. Because of that, the action often feels contrived, and the reader knows the hero will prevail, reducing the tension. Because of this, many writers introduce a crisis of faith into their story. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: Guidelines for Creating an Ebook Cover
Despite the old adage, people will judge your book by its cover. As humans are visually-oriented, the first thing a potential buyer of your book will spot on a web page is your cover; almost always the words come later. In addition, that cover typically will just be a thumbnail. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: Strengthen Story with Man vs. Himself Conflict
Perhaps the most profound conflict a character can face is coming into conflict with himself. Conflicts in which the protagonist faces off against other individuals or society often result in characters that represent ideals and concepts. But the character that first must deal with his own foibles to overcome a villain or oppressive values has learned something. He has grown as a character and become a better human being. Ideally, your readers will grow with this character, making his triumph more lasting in the readers’ minds. LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: DRM…To Enable or Not to Enable
When self-publishing your ebook on Kindle, you’ll be asked if you want to enable “Digital Rights Management” or DRM. If you enable it, the Kindle version of the book will include coding that makes the copying of it more difficult. With Kindle’s announcement that in January 2026 those who purchase your book will have the option to download your ebook as a pdf or epub file, new questions have arisen about whether or not to enable DRM when uploading your book to Kindle Direct Publishing for sale as an ebook. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Numbers Add Up To Nothing” by Roger Blackburn
A recent self-publishing client of mine has published his first novel. Roger Blackburn’s “Numbers Add Up To Nothing” tells the story of Carlton, who after waking up from a coma and seeing his lovely wife Ann at his side, decides he needs to seek out a safer line of work than being a police detective – so he becomes a private eye. His first adventure as a P.I. turns out to be even more dangerous than his old job. 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. 6, 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.