Writers in the Storm

by Ellen Buikema

(Part 1 of this series can be found here.)

Begin in the Past

When building the world for your science fiction story, consider creating the backstory, or history.

Whether your world is an advanced space-faring civilization, about to encounter aliens, or if a virus wiped out most of the planet’s peopled population, you need to begin in the past.

How did it happen? Why did your world get to the point it’s at when your story starts?

Work backward to figure it out. What did the world look like a few years ago? Twenty years before? A century? You already know the effects. Now determine the cause.

The cause is critical for writing a well-developed world within your science fiction story. As you delve into the past, occasionally falling into the rabbit holes that we all know and love, you will find other plot points to explore.

Plan Your Civilization

After building your foundation, ponder the details of your story’s societies and their social structures. Spend quality time on this aspect, as the more detail you have, the easier your plot building will be.

This link has a helpful template to use while word-building.

The science has to be believable. Good science makes good science fiction.

William R. Leibowitz, author of Miracle Man and The Austin Paradox, stresses the importance of research as well as keeping a good balance within the story telling.

“If a work of science fiction is to be believable and engrossing, the science in it must be plausible—and the science must be understandable to the reader. Too much detail easily becomes boring and makes the readers think they are back in school being harangued by a tedious teacher. Too little detail, and the author is asking the reader to take giant “leaps of faith,” undermining the credibility of a science fiction story.”

William R. Leibowitz, for Writers’ Digest

Soft sci-fi stories may take place in a dystopian Earth or a futuristic society in space, below the ocean, or floating above the planet. Science still needs to be a guiding force in the world you create to be true science fiction.

Soft SF is more concerned with social aspects. The technical details of the fictional universe aren’t essential. Whereas, hard SF is grounded in scientific laws and understanding, and the elements of natural science form a critical part of the plot.

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games  trilogy, and Frank Herbert’s Dune series are examples of soft sci-fi.

Look here for more information on soft sci-fi vs hard sci-fi in part 1 of Writing Science Fiction.

Invent Your Technology

Developing sci-fi tech can be an enjoyable part of the process. It’s time to turn up your geek gauge and create new toys for your world.

Think about the following as you develop your tech:

• How was the tech created?
• Why is the technology needed?
• What is the tech’s power source?
• Does this technology help or hurt people?
• Who has access to the tech?
• What might go wrong with the technology?
• How does the tech weave into the story themes?

Consider any current, real-world examples that are related to the technology. While pondering these questions, let your imagination run amuck.

Peter von Stackelberg has a fantastic guide to writing sci-fi technology.

Develop Your Characters

Now that you’ve built your world, it’s time to populate it.

Keep your story’s themes in mind when creating your protagonists and antagonists. How will their traits, flaws, and character growth weave into the subject matter?

Characters need motivations and goals that make sense within the world paradigm. They should also have flaws that are relatable to the readers. Those imperfections can contribute lots of tension in the story.

Solve (or Create) a Problem with Science

Something is wrong in your characters’ life. They need to reach their goal, and an object, person, formula, or other impediments are in the way. Therein lie the conflicts.

Your main characters advance toward their goal via the plot. When writing science fiction, the way your characters fail and succeed depends on science. Sometimes it’s in the math.

The science in your story might be causing your characters' problems, keeping them from achieving their goals.

Ian McEwan, who wrote Machines like Me, had this to say,

“There could be an opening of a mental space for novelists to explore this future, not in terms of traveling at 10 times the speed of light in anti-gravity boots, but actually looking at the human dilemmas of being close up to something that you know to be artificial but which thinks like you,” McEwan told an interviewer with The Guardian.

“If a machine seems like a human or you can’t tell the difference, then you’d jolly well start thinking about whether it has responsibilities and rights and all the rest.”

What do we do when the line drawn is fuzzy?

Now that you’ve figured out what role science plays in your character’s development and story arc, you’re ready to roll!

What technology would you invent for a sci-fi story? How would your world be different? Do you prefer stories where the science hinders or when it helps?

* * * * * *

About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works In Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and Crystal Memories, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi.

Find her at https://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon.

Top Image by kalhh from Pixabay

By Kris Maze

Can authors ever really, truly Put-Down-the-Pen? While many dream of spending endless mornings writing the next Great Novel, others eyeball-deep in edits and deadlines count down the days until they can just sleep in.

Whether you are starting out in writing or embarking on your fiftieth publication, it is uncommon for writers to officially retire. At some point authors find an equilibrium with their craft, energy, and ambitions levels, the question is when these tip towards losing their creative passion, should they stop writing?

Is your writing career just ahead of you? Waiting for you begin once life allows you the time, energy, and better focus? When is it a good time to begin a career as an author? Regardless of your writing status, we can look at common considerations people have when making a big career change.

Writing is a career open to anyone with a pen and a desire to continuously improve their craft. When to start is a personal decision.

3 Considerations to begin or end a writing career

Here are 3 considerations when contemplating an entry or exit from the work of being an author.

Age

The muse can strike at any age. Started at late age can make a difference on the longevity of a writer’s career, but it doesn’t have to impact the amount of total writing or influence those words have.  Many writers have started writing later in life and have become very prolific. 

One example is of an older man, who after ending a failed career, wrote one of the world’s most notable books.  Arguably the worlds first published modern novel, a satirical response to the decades of picaresque stories of knights saving damsels in distress flooding the bookshelves his time, this Spanish author wrote a masterpiece from his prison cell while serving time for his incompetence as a military leader.

Miguel de Cervantes published The Man of La Mancha in 1605, when he was 58-years-old.  In the middle ages, a person’s life expectancy was near 35 years. According to the World Atlas, El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, is the world’s most best-selling individual novel ever with around 500 million copies sold. In modern terms, the Harry Potter series is the only set of novels to come close, with the group of books selling near the 500 million mark.

Cervantes didn’t retire when he found success, he continued writing. His second novel in the series was published in 1615. And in 1620 in English. Cervantes wrote in many genres and had his works published in several languages over the next 10 years. In a dedication he bade farewell to the world, and with grace and competence said he was “with a foot already in the stirrup” only 3 days before dying. He passed away with a clear mind in April of 1615, with many posthumous works published after his death.

Some writers wait until they have retired from another line of work, holding off on their dreams of publication and waiting to have time to focus solely on the story that burns within them. They benefit from having a story build over time, working it over in their mind subconsciously, and ideally, making it easier to write down. But what about writers who begin at an earlier age?  Those who started in a different line of work or are considering a change mid-career?

Occupation

Some writers begin their author journeys slowly in piecemeal bites. They may chunk off a writing career between breast feedings and/or budget meetings. They may find their first job a misfit for their creative ambitions, one they need that may simply pay-the-bills.  Or they may have found jobs requiring skills that revolve around words only to yearn for time to craft their own novels. Writers who heed the call of the muse concurrently with another line of work can also find success.

See these famous examples:

• Amy Tan “made-up” astrology for a hotline service, later wrote ad copy, and became a technical writer before becoming a published author. She was 37-years-old when Joy Luck Club was published.
• David Baldacci worked a couple of years as a lawyer even after getting a big contract. He wasn’t sure his career as a writer would pan out.
• JK Rollings was a single mom and financially broke when her career broke loose. After college, she worked at various jobs including working as a bilingual secretary and teaching English in Portugal.  She reportedly wrote her ideas for the iconic novel on scraps of paper while commuting to work via train.

We can all dream of the success these household name branded authors have become, but they all worked in other venues before becoming fully invested in their writing. Deciding to move on to writing is a complex decision that can only be made on a personal basis.  Factors like dependent family members, access to important benefits like health care, lifestyle changes that occur with what is likely to be less income, stability of future retirement options, and current job satisfaction all play a role in deciding whether becoming an author full time is for you.

Calling

Some writers are published in their teens and others start to play with words late in their younger years. These writers have the opportunity to become the established base-of-knowledge that publishing relies upon. Respected resources in the field, with long backlists of publications, able to point to accolades and awards. They not only dream about life as an author, they have lived it.

And sometimes it is easy to glamorize what we don’t know.

Long term authors also can risk seeing what others see as a passion, become a joyless pattern of work. In their later years, they may have loyal followers, but lose the value in publishing one more thing due to burnout or difficulties with the business of publishing. They may be tired, worn, and at risk of losing their writerly faith. They may be those considering retiring from writing.

These writers may have been stuck at the hamster wheel of producing product and could benefit from taking a break.  Giving oneself time to reconnect with the joy of writing can rekindle the desire to write.  There is a possibility that a writer could retire, but that darn muse may have different plans. Being open to changes as a seasoned writer is also healthy to consider. If you are someone else you know is on a potential route to burnout check out these Writers in the Storm blog posts here and here for ideas on keeping your writing life healthy and vibrant.

Writing books from the grave. 

While some famous writers have ‘written’ books from the grave, it is more likely that they simply fade off into the publication horizon. See if you can recognize these famous examples.

• V. C. Andrews - Andrew Neiderman has written many gothic horror and thriller novels in his own name but is also known for his ghostwritten novels as V.C. Andrews, who died in 1986. The publisher, Pocket Books, has released 33 more Andrews books with more to come.  They have a small disclaimer saying that the author of the Flowers in the Attic series has passed away. He has been writing works under the Andrews name for 26 years.
• Robert Ludlum – The Bourne Identity fame had a manuscript remaining when he died in 2001. This was sold to another publishing company after his death and at that time the executive editor, Matthew Sheer stated that a ghostwriter would start writing as him in the future. The literary executor, Henry Morrison claims the material is Ludlum’s saying, “He’d been working very industriously since 1997. If something happened to him, he wanted enough books coming out over the next few years to provide for his grandchildren.”
• Louis L’Amour – The long standing westerns writer died in 1988, but his wife and literary manager released material for 13 new books since then.  She is quoted, “My main focus has been keeping Louis’ work alive. I don’t feel the need to put his name on something that isn’t his.”

These writers were prolific through their lives and kept their writing going after they passed. This may seem like a grim consideration, but it does present the question of how do authors handle their creative work?  How can they ensure their hard work goes into further creative venues, and ones that will follow their wishes?  Watch for part 2 of my mini-blog series for thoughts on how writers keep producing works for readers, even if they retire or pass away.

Final Thoughts

Writing is a gamble.  Any investment of time and energy can improve your skills as a writer, but doesn’t ensure a readership, recognition, or a financial reward. It has no guarantee of success. To some writers that is worth the chase. Writing as a career is creative venture and they are willing to take the risks. Others need time to transition their lives into their creative selves.  Still others took the jump into the world of publishing from their first career steps.

Where are you in your writing career?  Just starting to dabble in publishing? Are you shopping around your first manuscript?  Or ready to dive into the world of indie publishing? Do you have a coveted backlist of titles and followers and loving it? Or can’t wait to get out of the grind of publish edit polish promote, repeat-repeat-repeat?

What changes you have gone through or plan to make in your work as an author? What tips or pitfalls do you have to share regarding making decisions to write as a career or to slow down the grind?  

About Kris

Kris Maze is an author, writing coach, and teacher. She has worked in education for many years and writes for various publications, including Practical Advice for Teachers of Heritage Learners of Spanish and the award-winning blog Writers in the Storm where she is also a host. You can find her horror stories and young adult writing on her website. Keep up with future projects and events by subscribing to her newsletter.

A recovering grammarian and hopeless wanderer, Kris enjoys reading, playing violin and piano, and spending time outdoors.

And occasionally, she plays in snow.

by Lisa Norman

Authors know they need a website. But did you know there are different types of websites?

From years of working with authors, I’ve identified 3 basic types of websites, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

The Basic Business Card

A simple online presence for authors to showcase their professional profile. It contains an author bio, a list of their books, and some social media links. These websites are often hosted on platforms like WordPress.com and may feature ads to cover some of the cost. However, due to limited traffic, they may not generate much income from ads or affiliate links.

Good for:

• Very successful authors who already have a platform and who don’t want to interact with fans
• Authors who don’t want to be bothered with maintaining a website, but who want to be able to say they have one

Pros:

• Cheap
• Easy to maintain
• Can be ignored for long periods of time

Cons:

• Lacks the content that helps search engines discover an unknown writer
• Can lead to a false sense of security (I have a website. I’m good.)

These websites cover the basics and little else. There are three mistakes I see made with this type of website:

1. New authors sometimes think that this is all they need to do to build a platform. “I mean, if it is good enough for (insert name of successful author who already has a platform) then it should work for me!” No. Big Name Author can get away with it because they are already a Big Name Author. People are going online searching for their name. They don’t need to convince people to buy their books. If you are just starting out, no one knows you exist, so no one is searching for you.
2. Knowing that they need a bigger website, but building on a platform that can’t expand. “Since I only need this for now, I will just put something together on (insert easy drag-and-drop website builder).” This isn’t wrong, but it is shortsighted. When they get time to work on their website, they discover that they have to start over from scratch. I’ve watched the sheer frustration of needing to start over delay an author’s growth.
3. Authors pay for a hosting platform that would run a stronger website, but only use it for a business card. Wasted money, and they come to believe that having a website is just throwing money away.

The Blogging Platform

A more comprehensive author website that includes a blog or news section to keep fans updated on the author's latest news and projects. These websites aim to build up the author's fan base and promote their books through affiliate links and marketing efforts. However, its success depends on the author's dedication to using the website as a marketing tool. It also depends on the author's understanding of their ideal fans.

Good for:

• Most entry-level authors who want to build their fan base
• Successful authors who still want to keep in touch with their fans

Pros:

• As a middle ground, this type of website is easy to expand or contract. There’s a lot of creativity in how you can put it together.
• Fun, once you get the hang of it. This type of website is dynamic and allows you the most freedom to experiment.
• Entertaining for fans.

Cons:

• It only works if you use it.
• Costs more than a smaller website.
• Can take several years of consistent effort before you see a return. Not always, but often.

Biggest mistakes I see authors make with this type of website:

1. Not using it. They build it, they learn how to use it, and then they get distracted. Or they get writer’s blogging block. Some will use it diligently for 6 months and then give up. This type takes time. I’ve seen many authors give up just as the site was starting to grow. They see a small growth and think that’s all they are going to get, not realizing that website growth exponential: growing very slowly at first, but once it gets going, it can have periods of dramatic growth.
2. Not knowing their fans. Authors often build this type of website for themselves. They think about what they want from the website, what they want it to do, but they forget about what their fans want.
3. Trying to build it on unstable hosting or a hosting plan that is better suited for a business card website. Cut corners too tight, and it becomes a hassle.

The Pro Business

An author website that not only showcases their profile and books, but also offers additional products and services to generate income. This type of website requires a higher level of investment in terms of hosting power and speed to accommodate the increase in traffic and sales. When optimized correctly, this type of website has the potential to pay for itself and beyond.

Good for:

• Authors with products to sell, whether books, merchandise, coaching, or other products. This only makes sense if you will use the tools.
• This is great for indie authors with multiple books and a strong following.

Pros:

• This site should cover its cost and bring in income.
• High-powered — the industry is constantly changing. Owning a site like this lets you pivot quickly.

Cons:

• Cost
• Time required to maintain and run it

Biggest mistakes I see authors make with this type of website:

1. Building it before they have products to sell. This can become overwhelming, and if the site can’t pay for itself, you’re spending a lot of money for something that is being used like a business card website.
2. Building on a platform that can’t handle growth or pivots. Some platforms seem like a really good deal, but when you want to add a classroom, a wiki for your fans, or other power-tool that you’ve just realized your fans want, you realize that you can’t do that on this platform. Then you must decide if you want to disappoint the fans or rebuild your website. No one wins.
3. Doing it because someone told them to without considering the costs involved. “(Insert name of marketing pro who is making money through affiliate links) recommended it!”

Questions to consider when deciding what you need:

• How much time do you want to spend on your website?
• What do your fans want?
• Look at the marketing wheel in this post (https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/07/5-reasons-why-authors-need-a-website/). What areas do you need your website to handle for you?
• How much money do you have to spend comfortably?
• Where are you in your career? Do people already know who you are? Or do you need to charm the search engines so that new readers can find you?

Websites can change and grow. I recommend building on platforms that give you the freedom to move and change, but even dead-end pre-made websites can often be converted or restructured with effort. Knowing what you want is the first step in deciding what type of website you want to build.

Don’t compare your website to the websites of others in different categories. If your website meets your needs and the needs of your fans, then it is earning its keep!

What type of website do you have? Are you happy with it? Is it meeting your needs? Feel free to vent about your website woes!

About Lisa

Lisa Norman's passion has been writing since she could hold a pencil. While that is a cliché, she is unique in that she wrote her first novel on gum wrappers. As a young woman, she learned to program and discovered she has a talent for helping people and computers learn to work together and play nice. When she's not playing with her daughter, writing, or designing for the web, you can find her wandering the local beaches.

Lisa writes as Deleyna Marr and is the owner of Deleyna's Dynamic Designs, a web development company focused on helping writers, and Heart Ally Books, LLC, an indie publishing firm. She teaches for Lawson Writer's Academy. Her next class is "Crazy Easy Awesome-Author Websites" in March.

Interested in learning more from Lisa? Sign up for her newsletter to see upcoming classes!

Top image by Deleyna via Midjourney