Best products from r/KeepWriting

We found 22 comments on r/KeepWriting discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 22 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

Top comments mentioning products on r/KeepWriting:

u/Becauseisaidsotoo · 12 pointsr/KeepWriting

Writers and readers, can I get your thoughts on these two cover options?

I’ve recently published a novella called Little People: A Fantasy Story About Fathers, Sons, and Monsters. It’s a 20,000 word dark fantasy novella. It’s geared towards YA readers, but it has some over-arching elements that will appeal to older readers as well.

I created it’s current cover—it’s a combination digital painting and photo montage that illustrates a scene in the second chapter when the protagonist is first exposed to the basement world. The cover I’m using reflects the genre, and hints at some of the elements in the story—the knight, for example, plays an important role, the monster isn’t what it appears to be, and there is violence and gore in the story—hence the blood splatters. I feel like the current cover creates a sense of foreboding and looks like the cover of a YA fantasy horror novella.

A talented buddy of mine created a mock-up of an alternate cover. It takes a very different approach. He created a stylish design based off of some of the elements and events that occurred in the first chapter. (I shared the first chapter with him.) His version with the broken train is really cool. It’s more subtle than my approach, but a broken toy alludes to a childhood trauma, and an envelope hints at an important message with life altering ramifications. Both of those are important elements in the first chapter of the story. There is a sense of mystery here too, and the simple cover looks pretty stylish. I like what he’s created, and am considering creating a design based off of his. But, I like my current cover too. :)

I’d love to get your thoughts on both of these cover options. Which do you think is more eye-catching, and why? For those of you that may have read the novella, or at least the first chapter, which cover do you think best reflects the material? Which type of cover do you think would have the widest appeal?

Here’s a link to the e-book.

Below is the plot description:
Five days after his estranged father’s funeral, a young man is visited in his apartment by two tiny figurines from the father’s basement model train diorama.

They are desperate for help and claim that their world is in terrible danger. Their sun has been out for a week, the train has stopped running, and an unstoppable monster from the outside world has gotten into the basement.

This is a wild adventure that may or may not be true about a son’s discovery of and quest to save the hidden world his mysterious father left behind.

u/Scodo · 3 pointsr/KeepWriting

I had the exact same thought a year ago, and followed through by committing to a novel. In July I decided it was close enough to complete and released it though KDP.

The only success I've met with was that of completing my original goal. My novel is not popular by any sense of the word (though has received fervent support by those who have read and enjoyed it). I will almost certainly never make a living off writing and I'm OK with that. It's a hobby. My book has almost 1,000 downloads (most from the free promotion days). I enjoy what has come from it so far.

That being said, if an agent/publisher solicited me I would probably take a deal. I just don't have it in me to send letters to 30 different people in hopes that one takes an interest in my work. I have no stomach for self-promotion.

Here is a link to the book.

u/Kerrima · 2 pointsr/KeepWriting

I read something not too similar but definitely had something in common:

http://www.amazon.com/Before-Poison-Novel-Peter-Robinson/dp/B00DPNZQYO

This guy buys a house, and starts unravelling the story of the previous owners. Told through his investigation and "journal" entries that are pretty much flashbacks the way it's written.

So your idea sounds great, but would need a lot of research and planning I think. You want to make sure your WW2 is convincing and realistic.

Also you have a whole week to start planning for /r/NaNoWriMo ! Smash out that first draft! (Disclamer: This sentance is lighthearted.)

u/writingpal · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

I'm currently en route to self-publish and the short answer is that it's not the "easy" route. It is the Oregon Trail of writing.

Everything that your publisher and agent would have done for you, you have to figure out yourself to stand out above the pile of crap.

Feedback? Figure it out.

Editing? Figure it out. It's anywhere from 200 - 1500 dollars.

Copy Editing? Figure it out. It's anywhere from 200 - 1500 dollars.

Advertising/Marketing? Figure it out. It's anywhere from 0 - your wildest imaginations.

Financial Support? Hopefully you have a decent bank account or have loved ones who can support you.

Emotional Support? Steak, diet coke, and cake with coffee helps me a lot. Also this

Guidance? Unless you have a mentor in the field, internet will be your best friend.

OH right and Cover Art? Books are judged by their cover-especially in the world of ebooks. This can be anywhere from 0 - 600 dollars.

Even after all that, your precious book will just be a glint in the pile of poop that you desperately hope people will notice (unless you had lot of marketing money/success).

And unless you sell enough copies to be noticed by a traditional publisher, you'll have to deal with the social stigma of being the lowly 'self-published' author.

If you end up becoming the 99% of the ebook authors (I should say 'non-erotica' authors), you'll be mostly doing it for self-gratification as your wallet wouldn't be able to justify you doing this as a career (unless you really don't mind living off of about 500 dollars per book).

My choice to self-publish was based on personal circumstances and because I liked the challenge of doing it all on my own. It was a hard choice to make and it's been very, very difficult choice to deliver. There are many times I wonder if I should just make traditional publishing work (though given the nature of my book, I've been told it might be too much of a gamble for traditional publishers).

And with increasing number of people self-publishing these days it's only going to get tougher.

So the point of my long reply to you is to not discourage you from self-publishing but to sort of give you the sense of reality behind the decision of self-publishing.

It's definitely not the easy route and most writers don't like the idea of self-publishing because you have to spend so much of your time and effort on things that has nothing to do with writing. You have to be a businessman and a writer at the same time and you have to be able to look at your book as a product and a novel.

If you're interested, I started a blog detailing the impact the choice of writing as a career had in my life and the things I've learned about the craft and business of writing: Aramiru.Wordpress.Com

It's working its way up to more of the "business" side of things that I've discovered behind wriitng and my choice to self-publish. In fact, that should be my next-next-next post.

u/silvergill · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

I just read through all the episodes in order again thanks to the handy link you posted. I'm amazed at how far this series has matured. Now it's becoming very creepy indeed, and I'll be really interested in what happens (I do love some nosleep style stuff now and then). You might consider posting the completed story to /r/nosleep if it continues along the "scary" route.

Just a side note: Your story reminds me a little bit of a book I read a long time ago in a similar vein (some humans are launched toward another galaxy containing new species in which good things do not happen): http://www.amazon.com/His-Majestys-Starship-Ben-Jeapes/dp/143571282X

u/strange_steps · 3 pointsr/KeepWriting

PLEASE read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott it will give you some insight into writing as well as life in general. Please, please read it I promise you won't regret it! It is one of my absolute favorite books and it's helped me through some rough spots when nothing else seems to help.

u/quilladdiction · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

I'm gonna take a different route here and recommend books that cover a lot of styles as opposed to books that are actually about writing. I kept this one from my Intro to Fiction class, just because it shows how many new stories you can make out of ones you already know (in this case, classic fairy tales). Collections like that can give you some pretty good ideas for developing your own style :)

Edit: Long day. I no do words good.

u/Echoux · 1 pointr/KeepWriting
  • On Writing by Stephen King
  • Invisible Ink by Brian McDonald

    These two are the most basic, they're books to read through and soak in the information. The following two are more like reference books, still highly recommend:

  • The elements of style, fourth edition
  • The curious Writer: Concise Edition

    Pick them all up if you can, they are invaluable and go over basics like format, grammar, sentence structure and other fundamentals of writing. Invisible Ink in particular will go over what makes a story impact, how to build armatures for your novel/short story and how to effectively communicate emotions through the written word. Good luck my friend!

    EDIT: The Curious writer has a new edition of their book but why pay four times the amount to get virtually the same book? Stick with the fourth edition.
u/lifeandall · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

You hit the nail on the head. I have a friend that has practically given up submitting to agents; her writting is beautiful, but dated. Looking at her goodreads history, I can see why: she loves literature written in the 1800s.

A writing book that seems to echo your exact sentiment is Paula LaRocque's The Book on Writing. Her first chapter is, "Keep Sentences Short, Varied, and to One Main Idea". Stephen Wilber's Keys to Writing also starts the first chapter on Economy. Being concise seems to be an ongoing and important theme in most writing books.

u/thespicyfoxx · 2 pointsr/KeepWriting

Thank you everyone for the congratulations and the well wishes! I’m so happy some of you have shown interest in it, so here’s a link to the ebook since the paperback isn’t currently in print:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YF4VMXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=the+ink+in+my+bones+book&qid=1569589785&sr=8-3

u/bkendig · 6 pointsr/KeepWriting

I looked up a few sample pages of this book on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Story-Edgar-Sawtelle-Novel-P-S/dp/0061374237) - looks like it treats sign language as speech, only it doesn't use quotation marks:

>Edgar looked at the old man lying there, so small and frail. The same man who'd summoned the strength to lift him out of the snow by the back of his shirt.
>
>He wasn't so innocent. I heard them talking.
>
>His mother put her face in her hands. "How are we going to tell Glen?" she said. "I don't understand what's happened with you. We're going to have to . . . have to . . ."
>
>She looked at him. "Wait," she said. "I need to think for a minute. Page fell down the stairs."
>
>She dropped into sign. You need to go.
>
>I'm not going anywhere.
>
>Yes, you are. I want you to run, get out into the field. Find a place to hide until tomorrow.
>
>Why?
>
>Just go!

I like this approach. It makes the sign language easy to understand, but at the same time it makes it something alien, something unusual. Also, it looks like the book weaves in parallels with Kipling's The Jungle Book.

I've added this book to my list. Thank you for the recommendation!

u/Stenciledin · 2 pointsr/KeepWriting

I don't know if it will help you write a memoir, but The 3 A.M. Epiphany has helped me re-approach writing fiction. It's writing exercises to help get your creative juices flowing.

u/laceandhoney · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is often considered a 'school shooting' story and got widespread positive reviews.

Also, not a book, but the Foster The People song Pumped Up Kicks is a recently popular song that is centered around a kid daydreaming about shooting people.

u/thisisgarrett · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

Great idea, it's similar to Darth Bane's rise to power in the Star Wars universe. You need to check this out before you start writing, as it may give you some ideas.

http://www.amazon.com/Path-Destruction-Novel-Republic-Darth/dp/0345477367

Drew K. is an awesome writer by the way.

u/Leviss · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

I self published my book on Amazon, it's actually free for 48 hours so if you want to download it fee free! I published a link on the main keepwriting page, but here is a link in case mine gets spammed out.

Here

u/thesewordz · 2 pointsr/KeepWriting

The War of Art is a great read. Take an hour or two to read it.

u/joethulhuz · 3 pointsr/KeepWriting

http://www.amazon.com/H-P-Lovecraft-Library-America/dp/1931082723/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396570805&sr=8-1

One of the best volumes of horror writing you will ever find, and the vast majority of respected horror writers since have been crediting him as an influence.

u/jwcobb13 · 1 pointr/KeepWriting

I suppose seeking validation after every chapter is one way to do it, but you'll never get anything written if you're seeking validation from Internet randoms. Internet randoms are kinda assholes.

The secret to writing for me is to outline a story I want to read, then attempt to write every line slightly more clever than then last and to come back after I'm done and edit out the grammar and the crazy. So I look at you all puckered up and afraid to get past your one chapter without seeking validation from strangers and I worry. Then I see your username and I worry a little more.

My unsolicited advice is read this (I recommend zooming in with CTRL-mousewheel or CTRL-+) and then go get this at your local library and read it and then write every single day you're alive until you die so that you can live forever!