Write a Salable Story Today, Even If You’re a Terrible Writer

By David Eyk

Would you believe you could write a salable short story today?

 

You don't have to be a good writer, you just need a little guidance. It will only take you a few hours.

 

I'll show you how, step by step, with nitty gritty, matter-of-fact, to-the-point advice.

 

Kick writer's block to the curb and write story after solid story with this proven system.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Worlds Enough Studios
• Release date: Jul 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393655961

David Eyk

I'm a bit of an odd duck, and that’s to your advantage. I studied English Literature in college, taught myself how to program on the side, and I’ve worked in the publishing industry for over a decade as a software engineer. Before my current career, I've worked variously as an editor, researcher, writer, typesetter, and press technician. I love writing. I’ve been writing stories since the first grade. (Thanks Ms. D!) I love publishing. I’ve read most of the Chicago Manual of Style and enjoyed it. 🤓 I love getting systematic about a problem. I enjoy figuring things out and reducing complexity to its simplest components. Neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring, let’s just say I don’t have much use for Two Cultures distinctions. How’s all that to your advantage? I’ve studied the writing process extensively.  I know what it’s like to be a beginner. I know the industry inside and out. When I'm not teaching people how to write, I'm usually spending time with my family, working in the garden, reading a good book, or maybe even writing my own science fiction novel.

Book preview

WRITE A STORY TODAY—EVEN IF YOU'RE A TERRIBLE WRITER

David Eyk

For Susan, who has encouraged me to write.

INTRODUCTION

IN THIS BOOK I’m going to teach you a step-by-step system for writing salable 6,000 word stories. You don’t have to be a good writer yet: that will come with practice. You don’t need talent, you just have to be willing to write, take criticism, and revise. You could have the first draft of a salable story finished by the end of the day.

A story is like a house: it either has good bones, good structure, or it doesn’t. An ugly house with good bones is one or two remodelings away from being the best house on the block. An ugly house with bad bones is a lost cause. You’d be better off burning it to the ground and starting over.

Your first job as a writer, then, is to give your story a good structure. Once you have a good structure, you can write the story quickly and with confidence, then edit and revise until you have a good story. A poorly-written story with good bones is only a few revisions away from being a good story that people will pay good money to read.

The more you do this, the better you’ll get at it. You’re going to start by writing short stories of about 6,000 words. You can write them in a few hours and start getting feedback right away.

You ready? Let’s get started.

GENERATE UNLIMITED STORY CONCEPTS

THE FIRST PROBLEM you have to face as a writer is what to write about.

You may have a book you’ve dreamed of writing for years. I want you to take that golden idea of yours, wrap it up carefully in tissue paper, and put it back in the box. Put the box on the shelf. Somewhere