How to Write a Bestselling Fantasy Fiction Novel

Write a Bestselling Fantasy Fiction Novel

Fantasy fiction is a genre that has captivated audiences for centuries. From J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” to George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” fantasy novels have proven to be some of the most successful and beloved books of all time. If you’re an aspiring fantasy author looking to write a bestselling novel, there are a few key things to keep in mind as you craft your story.

1. Develop a rich and detailed world. One of the hallmarks of fantasy fiction is the creation of a fully-realized, alternate world. This world should have its own history, culture, and rules. Therefore, it’s essential to take the time to build a rich and detailed world in which readers can fully immerse themselves. This includes creating unique and believable characters and developing a complex political and social landscape.
   
   
2. Create a compelling and relatable protagonist. In order for readers to connect with your story, they need to be able to identify with the main character. This means creating a relatable protagonist with a clear goal or motivation. It’s also vital to ensure that the character has a clear arc throughout the story, growing and changing as they face challenges and overcome obstacles.
   
   
3. Incorporate conflict and tension. A good story needs conflict and tension to keep readers engaged. This can be achieved through a variety of means, including a powerful and menacing villain, a life-or-death situation, or a political struggle. The key is to create a sense of danger and uncertainty that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
   
   
4. Use magic and mythology. Fantasy fiction often relies on magic and mythology to create a sense of wonder and imagination. This can take many forms, from a powerful sorcerer to a magical creature, to a powerful artifact. However, it’s important to make sure that any magic or mythology you incorporate into your story is consistent and believable within the world you’ve created.
   
   
5. Pay attention to pacing. The pacing of a fantasy novel is crucial to keeping readers engaged. A slow-moving story can quickly become tedious, while a fast-paced story can be overwhelming. Therefore, it’s critical to find a balance between the two, introducing new elements and twists to keep the story moving forward.
   
   
6. Edit, revise, and polish. Writing a bestselling fantasy novel is not a one-time effort. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience. It’s important to take the time to edit, revise, and polish your story to make sure it’s the best it can be. You should seek feedback from beta readers and consider hiring a professional editor to help you refine your manuscript.

In conclusion, writing a bestselling fantasy fiction novel is a challenging task. However, with hard work, dedication, and a clear vision, you can create a story that will captivate readers for future generations. Remember to develop a rich and detailed world, create a compelling and relatable protagonist, incorporate conflict and tension, use magic and mythology, pay attention to pacing, and edit, revise, and polish your manuscript. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to writing a fantasy novel that will be loved by readers around the world.

Note: Bestselling independent fantasy fiction novelist P.L. Stuart will release his third book, Lord and King, in The Drowned Kingdom Saga later this spring! I can tell you that it is the best volume in the series so far, and he is a world-builder extraordinaire!

What to Do When Writing Book Reviews

How to Write a Book Review

Writing a book review can be a great way to share your thoughts on a book you’ve read and help others decide if they want to read it too. But where do you start?

First, make sure you’ve read the book. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people write reviews without finishing the book. The author gave their blood, sweat, and tears to write and publish it, so consider that and give them the respect of reading it in its entirety before writing your honest review.

Next, think about what you liked and didn’t like about the book. Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat, or was it predictable? Did the characters feel natural to you, or were they one-dimensional? Did the writing style enhance the story or take away from it? Finally, did you learn something valuable from a nonfiction book, and if so, what? Be precise.

It’s also important to consider the book’s genre and target audience. For example, if you’re reviewing a children’s book, your standards will differ from those of a literary novel.

When you start writing your review, briefly overview the book’s plot, but avoid giving away spoilers. You can also mention the book’s setting and any themes that were present.

Then, give your opinion on the book. Use specific examples from the book to back up your points. If you liked the book, explain why and if you didn’t, explain why not.

Next, include a recommendation. Let your readers know if you would recommend this book to a friend or if you think it’s one they should skip. I often forget this because I assume the reader will understand that I would recommend the book if I gave it a four or five-star rating. (I use the five-star rating system.) I hope what I say about a book adds to a recommendation.

Finally, post your review on Amazon.com (or Amazon.ca with as catchy a title as you can write) and on Goodreads and share it with your friends and followers. You could also go the extra mile and share your review on your social media accounts. Authors will love you for this and may be willing to do the same for you!

I recently discovered a book marketing tool called Pubby that a colleague referred me to. You can sign up as a reader (click on the link to be referred) and get free books to read and review, or get them on Kindle Unlimited or purchase them for 99 cents up to $4.99. Alternatively, you can upload your books to Pubby and earn book reviews for your book(s) on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca. Here is my author referral link.

Pubby offers a free ten-day trial, and then you can keep earning reviews and reading books for as little as $17.00 per month. I have only been using this service for thirteen days, and I have read and reviewed six books and earned four book reviews for one of my books. Many of the books are short, so it’s easy to read them in a day or two, and so far, I’ve been fortunate with my choices as they all received four or five-star reviews, except for one.

Writing a book review can be a fun and rewarding experience. (I know because I have written two books and am writing a third.) It allows you to share your thoughts on a book and help others decide whether to read it. So, grab a book and give it a try!

You can read my reviews at Bodacious Book Reviews – My Bodacious Blog (wordpress.com).

Best Self-Editing Tips to Help You Improve Your Writing

Editing Tips

Self-editing is a crucial step in the writing process, as it allows you to refine your work and make it the best it can be. Whether you’re writing a novel, a research paper, or a blog post, self-editing will help you identify and fix mistakes, improve the flow and structure of your writing, and ensure that your work is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Here are some of the best self-editing tips to help you improve your writing:

1. Read your work out loud. It is one of the most effective ways to identify mistakes and awkward sentences in your writing. Reading your work out loud will help you catch grammatical errors, typos, and other mistakes you might miss when reading silently. It will also help you identify sentences that are hard to understand or don’t flow well.
   
   
2. Take a break before editing. Giving yourself time away from your writing is essential before you begin editing. This will help you approach your work with a fresh perspective and make identifying mistakes and areas needing improvement easier. Try to take at least a few hours, or even a day, away from your writing before you begin editing.
   
   
3. Check for consistency. Consistency is vital in any piece of writing, and self-editing is a great time to check for inconsistencies in your work. Make sure that your writing is consistent in terms of tone, voice, and style. Also, check for consistency in terms of grammar and punctuation.
   
   
4. Focus on one thing at a time. Self-editing can be overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to fix everything at once. So instead of tackling everything at once, focus on one thing at a time. For example, start by focusing on grammar and punctuation, then move on to sentence structure and flow, and finally, focus on your work’s overall structure and organization.
   
   
5. Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases. Concise writing is more effective than wordy writing. You can improve your writing by eliminating unnecessary words and phrases. Avoid using filler words, such as “very,” “that,” and “just.” Also, avoid using overly formal or complex language.
   
   
6. Use a thesaurus and a dictionary. A thesaurus and a dictionary can be invaluable tools when self-editing. For example, use a thesaurus to find synonyms for overused words, and use a dictionary to make sure that you’re using words correctly. I love using Word Hippo as a thesaurus, and it also has a rhyming tool.
   
   
7. Get feedback from others. It is helpful to get input from others when self-editing. Ask friends, family members, or colleagues to read your work and give you feedback. Make sure to ask for specific feedback, such as feedback on grammar, punctuation, and overall structure.
   
   
8. Proofread. Proofreading is the final step in the self-editing process. Make sure to proofread your work for spelling and grammar errors—multiple times—and use a spell checker to catch any mistakes you might have missed.

Self-editing is an essential step in the writing process, and by following these tips, you’ll be able to improve your writing and make it the best it can be. Remember to take your time, be consistent, and focus on one thing at a time. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from others and proofread your work multiple times. With practice and patience, you’ll be able to master the art of self-editing and produce clear, concise, and compelling writing.

If you have any self-editing tips to add to this list, please leave me a comment on this post, and I will add them.

How to Write a Compelling Memoir

Writing Tips

Memoirs are a potent tool for sharing personal experiences and lessons with others. They can be used to tell a wide range of stories, from overcoming adversity to learning valuable lessons to achieving great success. But if you want your memoir to be read and appreciated by others, it must be compelling and engaging. In this article, I will describe how to write a compelling memoir that people will want to read.

• Start with a clear theme or purpose.

The most compelling memoirs have a clear theme or purpose that ties everything together. This theme should be meaningful and relatable to your readers. For example, if your memoir is about overcoming a difficult childhood, your theme might be resilience or the power of perseverance. On the other hand, if your memoir is about achieving success in your career, your theme might be hard work or determination.

When you have a clear theme or purpose, it will be easier to focus your story and ensure everything you write is relevant and captivating to your readers.

• Use descriptive language.

Use descriptive language to make your memoir more engaging and appealing. This means using words and phrases that paint a picture in the reader’s mind. For example, instead of saying, “I was frightened,” you might say, “my heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel sweat beading on my forehead.” This descriptive language will help your readers feel like they are right there with you, experiencing what you experienced.

• Share your emotions.

Memoirs are often personal and emotional. Your readers will be more invested in your story if they can appreciate your emotions. This means being honest and vulnerable about how you felt during different parts of your story. Don’t be afraid to share your fears, doubts, and struggles. This will make your story more relatable and help readers connect with you more profoundly.

• Use dialogue.

Dialogue is an effective tool for bringing your story to life and making it more engaging. It can help break up long blocks of text and allow your readers to feel like they are in the room with you when reading your story. When you use dialogue, make sure to use quotation marks and to indicate who is speaking. (Also, always put punctuation inside the quotation marks when writing dialogue.)

• Show, don’t tell.

One of the most essential rules of writing is to “show, don’t tell.” This means you should show your readers what something is like instead of showing them. For example, instead of saying, “I was furious,” you might say, “I slammed my fist on the table and shouted at my boss.” This will help your readers to see and feel what it was like rather than just reading about it.

• Use flashbacks and flash-forwards.

Memoirs often cover a lot of time, and keeping the story flowing smoothly can be difficult. To help with this, you can use flashbacks and flash-forwards. Flashbacks are when you go back in time to recount a tale from the past, and flash-forwards are when you jump ahead to give an account of the future. This can help to keep your story interesting and to give your readers a sense of how things have changed over time.

• Edit and revise.

Once you have written your memoir, it’s crucial to take the time to edit and revise it. This means reading through your story and making changes to make it more precise, engaging, and absorbing. You should also have other people read your memoir and give you feedback. This will help you see where your story might be confusing or boring and allow you to make changes before publishing.

To sum up, writing a compelling memoir takes time, effort, and dedication. It’s essential to start with a clear theme or purpose, use descriptive language, share your emotions, use dialogue, show, don’t tell, use flashbacks and flash-forwards, and take the time to edit and revise your story. By following these tips, you can create an engaging, relatable, and meaningful memoir for your readers. Remember, your story is unique and valuable, and by sharing it with others, you can inspire, educate, and entertain them. So go ahead and start writing your memoir, and be proud of the journey you’ve taken.