How
to Sell Fiction on the Internet
by Suzan L. Wiener
Do you hunger
for more fiction writing opportunities? Could you use some extra
clips, or income? Would you like to share your writing with hoards
of new readers? If so, write for the Internet.
I have found
writing for print publications differs from writing for the Internet
in one key area: space. Print magazines generally have more pages,
which gives writer a bit more leeway to write somewhat "loosely."
In a print magazine, you can explain the characters background in
a broader scope, and give character traits, etc. Conversely, a story
for the Internet needs to be shorter, with just enough details to
move the story without slowing down the reader (see below for more
on this).
To address the
space limitation of the Internet, I always do a plot outline when
I write short stories. Here is what I follow that helps to organize
my story:
I. Major
characters
a. List
the main character(s)
II. Minor
characters
a. List
the minor character(s)
III. Complications
(should always move the story forward)
IV. Subplot
(if any)
V. Crisis
(turning point)
VI. Resolution
(end of story)
The Write Way
Developing a
similar, concise outline also can help you write stories that fit
the Internet's limited space requirements. Following are seven other
ways to help you get that most-welcomed acceptance.
- Write
about something you love. Write from the heart, and from
experience as well. Don't write about something you don't feel
compassionate about, it won't read well, and probably won't sell.
- Get
to the point. Surfers like to skim content, and may be
seeking "chunks" of detail that helps them glean the
story line. Thus, your fiction must immediately grab the editor's,
and reader's interest. So, start your story where the action is.
Also, ensure the story climax is credible. For instance, if you
are writing a story for children, don't have an adult solve the
child's problem. Have the child solve it. In other words, general
rules for writing fiction—including writing for children—still
apply. You just have to apply them quicker to your Internet-marketed
stories.
- Make
smooth transitions. Although you have limited space and
have to quickly get to your destination—conflict resolution—make
sure your words flow smoothly. If your fiction sounds choppy,
it won't pass the first reader—the targeted editor—and
will be rejected. As always, reading your work aloud can help
pinpoint choppy passages, as well as grammar glitches, and other
problems. So, read it aloud, and edit as necessary.
- Look
for a new spin on an old concept. Unique ideas don't
exist. Nonetheless, putting a new spin on an old idea makes for
interesting fiction. Make a list of ideas that you would like
to write about, then have fun changing them to arrive at original
ideas that fiction readers will enjoy.
- Know
your stuff. Once you've finished spinning those ideas,
do the necessary research. Double check the information you have
cited, giving credit to the appropriate sources where necessary.
Keep in mind: fiction, unlike nonfiction, does not include footnotes,
etc. So, provide the source information to the editor, but don't
put reference material in the actual body of your story.
- Don't
be afraid of lesser known e-zines. If you do a Google
search for "fiction guidelines," you will likely come
up with many places you've never heard of before. Surf to some
of the sites to determine whether they are viable options. Before
pitching your fiction, however, make sure the targeted markets
are open to your kind of story.
- Network.
Having friends who also write fiction can open a lot of new markets
to you. Don't be afraid to market share. You might find that your
friend has had good experiences with some Internet markets, but
horrible ones with others. Sharing information saves you time,
and effort. And, as my writer friends and I discovered, it also
helps us discover many new markets.
Writing fiction
for the Internet pays off. Follow the above rules to increase the
chances of seeing your fiction on the Internet, and a most-welcomed
check in your mailbox.
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