I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Can I modify and turn my published short stories into a novel?

You can’t plagiarize yourself. It’s actually pretty common for writers to turn a short story (or several) into a novel. Your only issues are about copyright. If you self-publish the stories, you of course retain the copyright.

How do you change a short story into a novel?

How to Turn Your Story Into a Book in 7 Steps

  1. Reexamine your story. Do your main characters feel like they could exist in real life? …
  2. Search through your basic idea. …
  3. Develop new characters. …
  4. Expand your setting. …
  5. Include more subplots. …
  6. Go beyond the ending. …
  7. Try a first draft.


Should you publish short stories before a novel?

So don’t feel hemmed in by short stories. If you’re ready for that novel, by all means get started. You will learn a lot about fiction, much of which can only come from writing a novel. But you might find the shorter form a comfortable way to develop your skills if you’re feeling unsure with the basics.

Can you edit an already published book?

yes, you can absolutely edit something you’ve already published. I do this frequently with blog posts, and I’ve done it with non-fiction ebooks and courses that I’ve published; it’s also something I’m strongly thinking of for my fiction in the future, though not until I’ve got some new novels written and out there.

Do novellas sell?

Excepting digitized romance and sci-fi/fantasy novellas, novellas are a hard commercial sell even if you bundle two to three of them or include your novella in a short story collection (story collections typically don’t sell either).

Is it hard to get a short story published?

Getting a short story published is surprisingly not that difficult—as long as you have a good story and put some effort into your submission process. Even mediocre stories have a decent chance of getting published with the right submission strategy.

Where should I submit my short story?

Where to Publish Short Stories: Legitimate First Publications

  • Apparition Lit. Apparition Lit is a themed quarterly journal. …
  • LampLight Magazine. LampLight Magazine is a quarterly journal of dark fiction and horror. …
  • SmokeLong Quarterly. …
  • Write City Magazine. …
  • Genuine Gold. …
  • Dark Magazine. …
  • Typishly. …
  • SAND Journal.

Do authors edit their own work?

A writer can’t edit his own work.

How expensive is a book editor?

How much an editor costs, as with any self-publishing service, depends on a lot of factors. That said, for copyediting/proofreading, you’re generally looking at $1,000-$3,000 per book. For developmental editing — the higher level stuff — you’ll be looking at $5,000-$10,000 per book.

How do you self edit a short story?

Follow these 10 commandments of self-editing and start impressing literary agents and editors with crisp, clean writing.

  1. Presentation.
  2. Start strong.
  3. Show vs. tell.
  4. Read it aloud.
  5. Trust “Said.”
  6. Avoid stage directions.
  7. Avoid adverbs.
  8. Choose active versus passive voice.

Do publishers accept novellas?

The novella (generally defined as between 20,000 to 40,000 words give or take) is a tricky beast. Most commercial publishers won’t touch them unless they’re by already famous authors.

Do literary agents want novellas?

Many agents won’t look at novellas for representation because there are just not enough places to pitch them. There are some smaller indie publishers that have novella lines such as Entangled. These places often do not require agents. You don’t have to jump to self-publishing, try an indie press.

How many pages is considered a short story?

At around 10 to 25 pages, that makes short stories much shorter than novels, with only a few approaching novella length.



Should I write short stories first?

However, if you do dive in with the long one, you must be prepared to get to the end and re-write almost everything. If you think short-stories will make you feel satisfied, by all means, do so first. It may give you ideas to improve the concept for your novel.

Do publishers like short stories?

For many writers, short stories provide entrance into the publishing world, as well as a path to representation by a literary agent. Although a short story collection is unlikely to be a big commercial hit, it can help you get on the publishing map, garnering reviews and solidifying you as a “writer to watch.”

Are short stories worth publishing?

Short stories are fun to write, but can you make money from publishing them? The quick answer is: maybe. But it’s almost certainly harder than you think, and the path to success with short stories can be circuitous.

Do literary agents take short stories?

It’s difficult finding agents who represent short story collections, because there’s not much money in short stories. But I’ve uncovered half a dozen agents who are seeking short stories and who are currently accepting submissions: Chad Luibl of Janklow and Nesbit. This is a large firm with many well-known authors.

Should I finish my book before finding an agent?

Finish Writing Your Book



Please do not attempt to find a literary agent until you’ve finished writing your book. You’d be surprised how many writers send out a query with an incomplete manuscript and a bucket full of dreams. Many agents will ask for a sample from your manuscript.



How much does it cost to hire a literary agent?

While there are a few exceptions, the most common commission for a literary agent is 15%. If an agent places a book with a publisher and negotiates a $25,000 advance, that agent will take out their 15% (or $3,750) and send the rest (or $21,250) to their client.