On this page, in order:
— Writing a Novel in Seven Days
— Heinlein’s Rules
— How to Write Fiction Sales Copy
— Stages of a Fiction Writer
— Writing into the Dark
— Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing
— Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing
— How to Write a Novel in Ten Days
— Think Like a Publisher
— The First Tee Panic
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Writing a Novel in Seven Days
A Hands-On Example
First, USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith shattered the myth that writing fast equals writing badly—or, conversely, writing well equals writing slowly—with his book How to Write a Novel in Ten Days.
Now, Smith raises the stakes with this latest book, Writing a Novel in Seven Days.
Chapter by chapter, Smith chronicles his process toward writing a 43,000-word novel in just seven days. He writes about his progress, his feelings about the project, and how he approaches and overcomes obstacles.
This WMG Writer’s Guide demonstrates that setting an aggressive writing goal, and accomplishing that goal, can prove successful with the right attitude and tools.
Available in:
ebook, $4.99
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Heinlein’s Rules
Five Simple Business Rules for Writing
With more than a hundred published novels and more than seventeen million copies of his books in print, USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith follows five simple business rules for writing fiction. And now, he shares how those rules helped shape his successful career.
In this WMG Writer’s Guide, Dean takes you step-by-step through Heinlein’s Rules and shows how following those rules can change your writing—and career—for the better.
Simple rules, yet deceptively hard to follow. Do you have the courage to take a hard look at your writing process and follow Heinlein’s Rules? Dean shows you how.
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ISBN 978-1561467525
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How to Write Fiction Sales Copy
With 32 Covers and Examples to Study
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.
Available in:
ebook, $5.99
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ISBN 978-1-56146-647-4
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Stages of a Fiction Writer
Know Where You Stand on the Path to Writing
With more than a hundred published novels and more than seventeen million copies of his books in print, USA Today bestselling 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.
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ISBN 978-1-56146-646-7
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Writing into the Dark
How to Write a Novel without an Outline
With more than a hundred published novels and more than seventeen million copies of his books in print, USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith knows how to outline.
And he knows how to write a novel without an outline.
In this WMG Writer’s Guide, Dean takes you step-by-step through the process of writing without an outline and explains why not having an outline boosts your creative voice and keeps you more interested in your writing.
Want to enjoy your writing more and entertain yourself? Then toss away your outline and Write into the Dark.
Available in:
ebook, $5.99
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ISBN 978-1561466337
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Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing
The publishing world continues to evolve, but myths about who can make a living as a fiction writer maintain a life of their own.
Whether you pursue traditional or indie publishing success, you need to know the pitfalls and traps that undermine many writers’ careers.
In this WMG Writer’s Guide, USA Today bestselling author and former publisher Dean Wesley Smith addresses the ten most damaging myths that writers believe in modern publishing.
Topics Include:
Right vs. Wrong
Writing Speed
Rewriting
Agents
Books as Events
Quality
Writing to Trends
Making Money
Writing is Hard
Career Killers
Available in:
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ISBN 978-0615959511
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Killing the Top 10 Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing
As indie publishing flourishes, many, many myths form around this new booming area of publishing.
USA Today bestselling author and major indie blogger Dean Wesley Smith takes a cut at killing some of the myths before they can take root.
From the myth that indie writers can’t get books into bookstores (they can) to the idea that indie publishing must be easy (it is and it isn’t), Dean knocks ten myths down one after another and might just save you years of wasted time.
Author of the acclaimed Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, this companion WMG Writer’s Guide for indie writers and publishers will become a necessity for your reference shelf.
Available in:
ebook, $5.99
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ISBN 978-1561466122
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How to Write a Novel in Ten Days
Even in today’s fast-paced world, the myth that writing fast equals writing badly—or, conversely, writing well equals writing slowly—persists.
Now, USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith aims to shatter this myth once and for all with this latest WMG Writer’s Guide.
In a series of blog posts, Smith chronicled his process toward ghost writing a 70,000-word novel for a traditional publisher in just ten days. He wrote about his progress, his feelings about the writing, and how he approached and overcame obstacles.
This book takes readers on a journey that demonstrates that writing fast, and writing well, comes from motivation and practice.
USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith published more than a hundred novels in thirty years and hundreds and hundreds of short stories across many genres.
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ISBN 978-1561466030
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Think Like a Publisher
A Step-By-Step Guide to Being an Indie Publisher.
Written by Dean Wesley Smith, USA Today Bestselling writer and former publisher of Pulphouse Publishing.
Point-by-point, Dean tells you what you need to start up a publishing house and sell your books both electronically, but also to bookstores.
If thinking about going indie, this book sets the foundation on the business for you.
Available in:
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ISBN 978-1463698225
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The First Tee Panic:
And Other Very Real Golf Stories
Former PGA Golf Professional and USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith walks you step-by-step, club-by-club from your car to the first tee and beyond in a laugh-out-loud style that not only teaches, but entertains.
Any golfer recognizes the fears, the patterns, the downright horrors of the first shot of a round. Ever topped that first shot just off the front edge of the tee box? Or worse yet, whiffed it completely? Come on, admit it. It happened. Remember?
The problems with that first shot don’t start with the swing. Nope, the problems start in the parking lot. And this book will get you flawlessly from the parking lot, through the clubhouse, onto the driving range, over the putting green, and finally successfully off the first tee with a smile.
Available in:
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ISBN 978-0615935294
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I’m a fiend for fiction craft books. I’ve been reading any one I can get my hands on since I was 11 and that was over 25 years ago. WRITING INTO THE DARK is the DEFINITIVE book on writing for pantsers. Plotting and revising to death have always been a drag for me and blockade to getting anything done. Reading this book changed my writing life. It’s a must-read.
Wow, thanks, Philip. Glad it helped.
I am very interested in the book “Writing into the Dark”. Seems like a good idea for an obsessive man like me. BUT, I am living in Iran (well I’m Iranian, so…) and cause of those sanction and stuff I can’t order it or download it from those stores you’ve mentioned. Well not without paying a good amount of more money. So, what can I do? Is there any way for me to read it?
Keivan, I honestly don’t know what to tell you. Let me see what I can do. Write me directly.
Some of the nonfiction books I wrote here as posts, but can’t seem to spot Writing into the Dark back in the older posts. So e-mail me if you can.
Interesting stuff. Glad I came across your site. Only because I have an extremely limited budget I have accidently found myself following many of your principles. My 3 books are all modestly selling n a consistent bases. The subjects are historical so I know there is select audience. Seeing there is a regular pattern now, I know my achievements will only grow as I continue to write. Word is getting out and I am having more people and publishers come to me rather than me go to them. It seems my story is a simple case of strait business progression. You keep at it it will naturally grow on its own.
Hope this helps.
Is Magic Bakery ever going to be released as a stand alone paperback book to buy? I loved reading it online, but would like a paperback. I have your other books – Sacred Cows, Think Like Publisher, Writing Into Dark, Heinlein’s Rules. Good stuff.
Raymond, thanks for asking and yes, it is out in all forms, including paperback. You can find it at https://www.wmgpublishinginc.com/project/the-magic-bakery/
Which will get you to any store you want to buy it. Glad you like the books. Much appreciated.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to encouraging writers. I have read Writing Into the Dark twice now and am going through it a third time. M.L. Ronn (Author Level Up) recommended your video series. Can you tell me how the content of the Teachable video series differs from the information in your book? Are there suggested exercises, etc.? Would I benefit significantly from having access to both sources? Again, thank you for sharing your expertise. P.S. Any chance of an audio version of WITD coming out in the near future?
The Writing into the Dark has two incarnations on Teachable. It is first a lecture that is similar to the book. The second is a six week workshop that has five assignments in it and is far, far, more extensive than the book. We offer the workshop every two months. One just started now for November, the next will be in January. It is far, far more extensive and covers all the problems writers face while trying to write into the dark.
Any questions, feel free to write me directly at dean.wmgworkshops@gmail.com
I just read Writing into the Dark and it resonated greatly with me. My first book – and the only I managed to finish so far – was written into the dark, and it was the most fun I had writing ever.
I was wondering what’s your recommendation on writing into the dark when there’s a lot of world building (i.e. in fantasy/sci-fi). My guess is that you do your world building without regards to the characters and then write into the dark with characters based in/on the world you created. Is that about right? 🙂
Thanks, Helge. Nope, I world build as I go along typing, making up the world right with what the characters are doing. I write world building details down after I write something into a story or chapter, but never before.
That’s interesting. I’ll give that a try! 🙂
Dean,
Just purchased and read Writing into the Dark and Heinlein’s Rules last night. Great stuff; helpful, easy to read, and easy to follow. Got up this morning, wrote a 1,000 word flash fiction piece, and sent it off. Followed your & Heinlein’s steps. It was so much fun. So much! Have another piece started as well.
Wanted to thank for you for these two pieces.
Been searching for a good piece by you or Rusch on writing mysteries. I’ll keep looking, but suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks!
gz
We do workshops on it, but haven’t written much about it yet. We have a Classic Workshop called Writing Mysteries on Teachable.
https://wmg-publishing-workshops-and-lectures.teachable.com