Fiction is the highest form of writing.

Recently, I finished my first fiction book, Letters from Jasper. And boy, oh boy, was it ever a slog.

I’m someone who didn’t start off writing fiction. Frankly, it was too intimidating for me. You know, the whole creating an entire world thing? It’s a tall order and one I didn’t think I could stomach. But the thing is, for me, the highest form of entertainment is a book that you can get lost in and it’s what I wanted to accomplish. So I wrote the book. 

You know the feeling where you can see your character’s world and live in it? That’s the magic of fiction and what we want to accomplish. 

But how do you do it? Well, here are the tips I would give myself if I were starting over.

The Golden Compass

When writing fiction, follow your golden compass – entertainment. People read fiction for one reason and one reason alone – to be entertained. So always optimize for entertainment and engagement, as there’s nothing worse than reading a book where you don’t want to turn the page. This is what’s most important in fiction. 

Make Progress

I spent one month writing and rewriting my first chapter. I couldn’t get the phrases right, and I couldn’t get a sense of direction for the story. Instead, I wrote three different beginnings and finally decided on one with a head filled with doubt. If I had to do it all over again, I would have focused on one thing and one thing only: making progress.

The reality is that your first draft is always going to get rewritten. As a writer, I’m a pantser – meaning I write stories not knowing where they will go – so I had to make a lot of progress to even see where the story was going.

For me, writing is like walking in the woods at night with a fading flashlight; I can only see so far in front of me. So, instead of focusing on being perfect and limiting my sight, I should have focused on making progress and charting the course. When you make progress, you can see how the story plays out and get a sense of completion.

Stay in Scene

During one of my reviews, a beta reader commented on my ability to stay in scene. Truthfully, I didn’t even know what that meant. But looking back, it just means staying in the moment. In practice, it means focusing on the details.

As a writer, I know what the story looks like in my head. However, if I’m not careful, I won’t properly convey that scene on paper. So, I need to stay in the scene to bring my vision to life. The glances, the head nods, and the feelings of impending doom all need to be on paper. For me, I try to give just enough detail so people understand what I’m trying to convey but leave things a little ambiguous so the reader can connect the dots in their own mind.

The Balance

Building off of that, the balance I aim for is to paint the picture but let the reader color it in. If you give too much detail, it’ll slow the reading down. If you don’t give enough detail, you won’t properly convey your points. Find the balance and trust the reader.

Listen

I’m a big believer in listening to your writing out loud. Only by listening can you notice a reader’s experience. It allows you to find the cadence, the flow, and the rythem of the work. For me, I copy and paste everything into TTSReader.com and listen and relisten to the chapters to make sure everything flows.

It’s Okay Not to Know Where You Want to Go

For more than half of the book, I had no idea what would happen next, and I would rack my brain worrying about how the story would go. If I had to do it again, I would tell myself it’s okay not to know where the story is going. You can always edit later. This would have saved me from needless stress.

If you’re stuck on a scene, just loosely write what you want to accomplish and come back to it. Believe me, with time and fresh eyes, you’ll find what you’re trying to say.

Show Emotion

Great writing is the transfer of emotions, so don’t be afraid to show your emotions. For me, this was actually pretty hard because I’m often guarded in real life. But the truth remains that emotions make for a better story, so don’t be afraid of external judgment – you’re getting it whether you like it or not.

Show and Tell

Often, writers get the advice to “show, and don’t tell” their work.  I think you should do both, as it conveys clarity.

Take anime, for example. Anime shows will typically have a narrator who flat-out states what the character is thinking, and for me as a viewer, I actually appreciate that… it helps me connect with the character. So I do both. When it makes sense to show, show. When it makes sense to tell, tell. There are no rules besides the golden rule – be entertaining.

It’s Okay to Skip Around

Writing the book, I had some ideas in mind but I didn’t know where they would go. So I just simply wrote them down and came back to them. You don’t have to write your book in order; you just have to write the damn thing.

Write a Story You Like

My book, Letters from Jasper, is based on the types of stories I like. Call it a mix of A Man Called Ove, and Everything Is Illuminated. These stories follow a curmudgeon of an old man who you grow to like, and then something tragic happens.  So I used that as my jumping-off point. For me, if I’m going to go through the trouble of writing a book, it better damn well be one I like. Otherwise, it’s a lot of time to work on something that doesn’t bring you joy.

Start Small

I never really considered myself a fiction writer… until I did. Writing short stories was my way of testing out fiction. This allowed me to practice in public and get a feel for it. So, I recommend starting small and working your way up. It’s a great way to learn the craft.

Word Count Doesn’t Matter

Word count doesn’t matter – telling a good story does. Know the difference.

You’ll Often Not Feel Like Writing

You’ll often not feel like working on your book. And you’ll spend the first 20 minutes trying to distract yourself from doing the work. But after the first 20 minutes, you’ll settle into a groove. Trust me.

Set Small Goals

It’s overwhelming to think about writing 150 pages. It’s underwhelming to think, “I’m only going to work for 30 minutes.” For me, I have a sweet spot where I’m dialed in that lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. It’s only during that time that I work on my book.

Have Fun

This should be fun! Remember, you’re doing this to have fun and tell a story. Think of this when things get tough.

Trust Your Gut

Ask ten people one question, and you’ll likely get ten different answers. That’s why you should always trust your gut. Things my editor told me wouldn’t work ended up being some of the most commented aspects of my work. That’s why I’m happy I followed my gut and kept it in.

Get Feedback

Always get feedback on your work. It’s the only way to know if it’s working or not—a HUGE thank you to everyone at Tony’s Bologna. Seriously, I couldn’t have done this without you. You mean the world to me – honestly.

Writing is Rewriting

Writing should really be called rewriting because that’s 90 percent of what you do. I must have read and rewrote chapters honestly 30 times. Take all the time you need to get it where you want it to be; there’s no rush.

Your Characters are Colored in Shades of Gray

No person is truly good. No person is truly bad. There’s good and bad in every person, therefore make sure your characters are colored with all shades of the human experience.

Observe Life

Say the quiet part out loud. The way people talk. The way people nod their heads. The way they scratch themselves when they’re nervous. The best teacher of writing is to be a wallflower and observe life.

Get the Story First, Edit for Grammar Second

To me, I’d rather worry about having a good story than every last grammar rule. You can pay someone to edit for grammar, but you can’t pay someone to write your story. Focus on getting the story right first, then worry about crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s second.

Back to the Golden Rule

When in doubt, focus on being entertaining. And entertaining isn’t always just fun and games. It can be conveying a lesson, sharing a deep emotion, or just funny commentary on the trivial. People read fiction to be entertained; never forget that.

The bottom line: Remember the reader, and more likely than not, the reader will remember you.

 Please like, comment, share, and tell me what you think. What would you add? What tips stood out?