Tag: Jane Friedman.com

Fiction in a Flash: The Basics of Writing Flash Fiction

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

There seems to be two types of writers in this world. One enjoys taking their time telling their story, introducing characters, unveiling the plot, creating tension until they arrive at a (hopefully) satisfying ending. The second takes the shorter route, where there are minimal characters and backstory, words used thoughtfully and expediently, and an ending that is often unexpected and profound..

As you may have guessed, the first type is a novelist, while the second excels at flash fiction. While their approaches to storytelling are wildly different, they both try to accomplish the same thing—entertain readers.

According to Writers.com, flash fiction “delivers a complete narrative with plot, characters and setting, in fewer than 1,500 words. It relies on efficient use of language and storytelling without inhibiting the story’s flow and impact.”

Writing flash fiction is the equivalent of writing one scene from a novel. But even that one scene must be complete with an inciting incident, conflict and resolution.

There are several types of flash fiction, depending on the length of the story. Traditional flash fiction is a maximum of 1,500 words while the shortest type is a six-word story. There are other types and lengths in between.  

Some writers might be put off by the idea of writing a story in less than 1500 words, believing that it can’t possibly be done—or be done well. Much like other writers are overwhelmed by the idea of writing a 90,000-word novel. If you have a short attention span or dread the thought of spending weeks or months writing a full-length novel, flash fiction might be worth experimenting with. It can also provide another creative outlet to complement your other writing projects.

What makes flash fiction unique and challenging is the restrictive nature of storytelling. Since you are limited by the length, you don’t have the luxury of expounding on details or characters. You really have to think carefully about how to develop your plot and the role of your characters. The key to writing flash fiction, suggest writing experts, is to plan your plot first to create the skeleton of your story, then fill in with the most critical descriptive details.  

Jericho Writers offers the following tips for writing flash fiction:

* Limit the number of characters to one or two people (sometimes three). Again, you don’t have the luxury of length and space to introduce a myriad of characters. If you’re used to writing novels, think of the flash fiction as the same length as a single scene that contains only a few characters.

* Deal with a single conflict. Focusing on one single conflict moves the story along at a brisker pace without going off on different tangents.

* Focus on one genre. Because you’re working with a limited word count, stick to one genre that will be easier to write a story that readers will be able to follow.

* Limit world building and scene setting. In a 1,500-word story, you may only have one or two scenes where the story takes place. Likewise, you won’t have time or space to have heavy descriptions of your world. You may have to limit the world-building to a couple of sentences.

* Make every word and sentence count. Avoid passive voice, which tends to add unnecessary words. Be succinct, and choose the best words that tell your story. Use descriptive, concise language.

* Start in the middle of the story. You won’t have the luxury of a long, introductory narrative filled with backstory, detailed setting and interior narration of your protagonist.

That seems like an awful lot to think about for a simple, 1500-word story, but as you can see, flash fiction is deceptively complex. Writers.com offers several more tips for writing flash fiction.

  1. Begin by plotting the story first. That creates the spine of the story. Then go back and fill in with description and figurative language to make the story more complete.
  2. End the story with a bang. Conclude with an unexpected and surprising ending that makes the reader think about the story long after they’ve finished reading it.
  3. Be a ruthless editor. Start with a draft, just as you would with any manuscript, then go back and cut, cut, and cut some more. Don’t be shy about axing entire paragraphs that read well but don’t move the story along.

Writing flash fiction can be more challenging with its numerous restrictions, but all that planning, plotting and editing you have to do can help you become a better writer when you’re ready to tackle larger projects.

For more information about flash fiction, check out these other sources:

Flash Fiction magazine
Flash Fiction Online
Writing flash fiction: a complete guide, Jericho Writers
The Benefits of Writing Flash Fiction, Jane Friedman.com

Tips for Designing a Compelling Book Cover for Your Novel

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Dids on Pexels.com

Have you ever bought a book solely because you were drawn to its cover? Or are you planning to self-publish and are struggling to find the right balance of imagery and text?

Let’s face it. Some book covers are more interesting than others. But just because it looks good doesn’t mean it will do what it’s supposed to do, which is to sell books.

When produced well, the cover design should not only grab readers’ attention, it should communicate several things to readers, such as:

* show an intriguing focal point
* provide a subtle preview of the plot
* introduce the protagonist
* establish the book’s genre and tone

I’ll tackle each one of these in detail.

An intriguing focal point
When you first look at a book cover, where does your eye automatically go? It might to an image, like the drawing on the cover of Lessons in Chemistry. If the author is well-known, their name might appear larger than the book title. In many cases, it might be the book title itself that in larger print to draw your attention. This may be especially true for newer writers who haven’t earned the name cache of a Stephen King or a Nora Roberts. Comb your shelves for examples. Notice the ones that stand out and which ones don’t. Then experiment by replicating a focal point suitable for your work in progress.

A subtle preview of the plot
The combination of imagery and title should hint at the plot. For example, the cover of The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick features a background image of a closed door surrounded by shelves of books, hinting at the story of a house cleaner tasked with finishing her employer’s last novel behind closed doors. Think about the key point of your story, then select images that present the clearest representation of that point.

An introduction to the protagonist
In addition to hinting at the plot, the cover design should also hint at the protagonist in some way. The image could reflect the person’s face, such as the ghostly image of Coralie Sardie whose story is at the heart of The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman. It could also hint at their occupation or where they live. In The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais, for example, the image of someone slicing the skin off a piece of fruit with the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower behind it hints at a young man’s journey as a chef in Paris. As with the plot, think of your protagonist’s character and their journey, then choose an image that reflects their story.

The book’s genre and tone
Make sure the cover design is suitable for the book’s genre and establish the right tone. You want readers to recognize the type of story it is at first glance. For a light-hearted rom-com, for example, you might use lighter colors or pastels for the background with some humorous or playful image. On the other hand, mysteries and thrillers are likely to have darker backgrounds with equally darker images, like dripping blood or a bottle of poison.

More tips for book cover designs

1. Keep it simple, almost minimalistic. Covers that are overly complicated and cluttered have difficulty reaching readers. Give the cover some space to allow any images and text to breathe. “Using space wisely draws attention to the elements that you want potential readers to focus on, writes Jessica Bell at Jane Friedman.com.

2. Be unique and distinctive. You don’t want your book to look like every other one on display. Referring to Lessons in Chemistry again, the cover is simple with a single image and bright orange-salmon color that captures the eye. The color stands out because you rarely see it on book covers. If the cover’s goal is to sell the book, think of ways to make the cover stand out while still staying true to the story.

3. Create strong composition. The experts at Self-Publishing School suggests following the rule of thirds. Imagine breaking up the cover into three sections, allowing enough space for the book title, author name and image. Again, check your book shelf for examples. Add patterns and texture in subtle ways so they don’t distract readers.

4. Don’t overlook the back cover or spine. According to the design experts at Ingram Spark, the back cover usually includes a brief book summary, book reviews, an author bio, the ISBN number and bar code. Make sure the book title is clearly marked on the spine so readers can see it when standing upright on a shelf.

Whether you design the cover yourself or work with a professional designer, it’s helpful to keep these tips in mind. When conceived and designed well, your book cover can go far to market your book.