Stages of a Fiction Writer by Dean Wesley Smith

Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.

I’ve told you how busy Dean Wesley Smith keeps himself. And this month is no different. But this time, I’m talking about nonfiction (yeah, he writes that, too). He has two new nonfiction books coming out—one tomorrow and one as part of the NaNoWriMo Storybundle on October 28—and hasn’t slowed down yet.

In the first book, Stages of a Fiction Writer, Dean shares his vast experience and observations on the various phases a fiction writer goes through as he or she evolves in the craft.

Here’s the synopsis:

With more than a hundred published novels and more than seventeen million copies of his books in print, USA Todaybestselling author Dean Wesley Smith knows how to write fiction. And he has traversed every stage of writing along the way.

In this WMG Writer’s Guide, Dean takes you step-by-step through the stages most fiction writers go through and how not to lose hope along the way.

Want to enjoy your writing more and let your storytelling evolve in its own time? Then learn from Dean’s experience and discover what to expect at each stage of a fiction writer’s career.

In the second book, How to Write Fiction Sales Copy, Dean takes all those blurbs from the 32 stories he wrote for Stories from July and analyzes what approach he took to creating the blurb as well as what makes for good sales copy writing.

Here’s the synopsis:

USA Today bestselling author and former publisher Dean Wesley Smith knows how to navigate the complicated world of publishing. And now, he shares his experience to help writers tackle the most challenging writing of all: Fiction Sales Copy.

In this WMG Writer’s Guide, Dean addresses the major challenges that lead to bad sales copy—including using passive voice and too much plot—and offers 32 examples from his own stories to illustrate his points.

Want to make your books stand out from the pack and grab the reader’s attention? Then learn from Dean’s experience and discover how to write copy that best sells your stories.

Dean offers a unique perspective in the world of writing how-to, and his blog draws thousands of visitors weekly. Erin M. Hartshorn, of Vision: A Resource for Writers, says: “Dean Wesley Smith’s blog gives both a slightly different view of the publishing world than I’d seen before and detailed hands-on ‘here’s how to get from A to B’ instruction.”

So, if you want to improve your fiction writing or just understand the process writers go through a little better, check out these books.

Happy writing.

Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.