Handy Tips and Useful Information Welcome to the Good Guy Handy Tips Section: We will, from time to time, post up handy tips we have found helpful in our writing in the hope that they can help others in theirs. Likewise if you have any tips etc that you've found useful in your writing and would like to share them with others do or indeed if you've tried our handy tips - do let us know. Did You Know: You don't need an actual Kindle device to read electronic books. You can read them on your phone, on your ipad, on your computer (PC or Mac) and even on your Android using a reading app available FREE on Amazon by Clicking Here. Flash Fiction We think any story told within 500 words or under, constitutes a work of Flash Fiction, which is also known (to name but a few) as: a short short - meaning a short, short story postcard fiction - in which the whole story fits neatly on a postcard from start to finish microfiction micro-story Sudden Fiction In our opinion, hovers somewhere between being a slightly longer version of flash fiction and a shorter than traditional, short story, usually not exceeding a maximum of 1000 words. Short Story The beloved Short Story for us, is any story with a minimum of 1000 words to a maximum of somewhere around 10,000 words. Novelette We think a Novelette fits snugly between the Short Story and the Novella, weighing in at around 10,000 - 17,500 words. Novella The Novella overlaps the Short Story picking up the reins from somewhere around the 15,000 - 17,500 word minimum mark, up to a maximum of 30,000 - 40,000 words. Novel The Novel overlaps the Novella, starting at somewhere around 35,000 - 40,000 minimum, up to a maximum of about 150,000 words (in general). Please note though, this is just our opinion and it will vary from publisher to publisher, depending on content. Tips From The Authors: Keep at it. No-one is going to knock on your door and ask you to write – you need to do it. Victoria Watson - (Author of 'Letting Go'). Having a portable notebook is a great tool for jotting down those gems you think of on the move. I also think that forcing yourself to write as often as possible is very important, though I am guilty of not practicing what I preach on that front. Mark Gatto - (Author of 'Metro'). Read the genre you want to write in and then write critical reviews of the books. This will teach you to subconsciously analyse as you read and then when you come to write you will have a better understanding of what works. Graham Smith - (Author of 'Eleven The Hardest Way'). Write. It’s all you can do. Write and write until your fingers hurt, your eyes are bleeding, and the backs of your knees have grown dirty great sweat-sores. Callum Gibson - (Author of 'Buckle'). Develop a thick skin – sometimes people will not like what you’re writing but take constructive criticism on board. Victoria Watson - (Author of 'Letting Go'). Work to deadlines - set yourself short, achievable goals. Entering competitions are perfect for this, as they often dangle a carrot in front of us aspiring writers (metaphorically speaking, unless you're writing for Gardener's Weekly). Graham Taylor - (Author of 'The Vino Kid' & 'Smile'). Try and meet up with other writers so you can meet some on Facebook or Twitter, or your local library might have writing groups. Likewise a lot of reading groups may contain wannabe writers. Victoria Watson - (Author of 'Letting Go'). Take a notebook everywhere you go; train journey, doctor's waiting room. Watch people, animals, traffic and write what you see, hear, feel, smell, touch etc. Inspiration comes from every day life. Natalie Glenister - (Author of 'Duck-egg Blue'). Read a lot – there is no substitute for understanding what makes good and bad writers. Victoria Watson - (Author of 'Letting Go'). Don't get bogged down with the polishing of a story - finish the first draft before you start the editing process. Graham Taylor - (Author of 'The Vino Kid' & 'Smile'). Set yourself small, achievable goals to reach – for example a couple of thousand words a day. Victoria Watson - (Author of 'Letting Go'). | 