Jennifer Bacia - BESTSELLER! How to Write Fiction that Sells

Why I Wrote This Book

A s someone who thought about writing a novel for a long time and then finally did it to amazing success, I know exactly how you are feeling about facing that first blank page.

My aim with this book is to offer you the confidence, motivation and knowledge that will help you to start your novel , finish one you have already begun, or evaluate and rewrite a manuscript you have had rejected or that you know needs more work but are unsure what to do to improve it.

Many published authors have received help somewhere along the line and I am no exception. First came a meeting with the hugely successful American suspense writer, Sidney Sheldon who recognized my passion and gave me great encouragement. Later, a meeting with Colleen McCullough led me to super-agent, Selwa Anthony.

Since my own success, I have taught writing workshops and spoken at numerous writers festivals and had the pleasure of knowing I have helped other aspiring writers to get published. I can say with certainty that you can learn what you need to know . In this book you will find very practical information, particularly as I closely analyze what worked or didnt work in my own novels . I promise by the time you get to the end of Bestseller! you will be itching to start writing!

Authors Note

T his book was first published as Creating Popular Fiction by Allen & Unwin, Australia, 1994.

In the following updated pages, rather than get caught up in the complexities of hero/heroine, his/her, I have chosen to use the feminine gender throughout. However, the information given here is every bit as pertinent to aspiring male writers of popular fiction.

In the last decade or so of course, the rise of digital publishing has seen huge changes in the publishing industry. Both established and new authors can now publish their work on numerous digital platforms and by-pass the traditional publishing process entirely. But of course with so many indie published books available, it is more important than ever to ensure that your story has what it takes to gain a readership.

Chapter 1: What Sells?

Giving yourself the best chance

W hen my first novel , Indecent Ambition , (originally titled Shadows of Power ) was published in Australia by Pan Macmillan it was the first time a leading publishing house had taken the plunge in launching a local popular fiction writer with a major publicity campaign.

Like so many others, Id had the idea of writing a book in the back of my mind for a long time. In the process of creating my first novel I learnt so much. Some things I actively researched before starting, others came to light as I wrote, still others as I went through the process of selling the finished manuscript.

In this book I want to share some of these lessons and learning experiences with you. By pinpointing some of my own areas of difficulty I hope to provide insights and shortcuts that will help you take that wonderful step from wishful scribbler to successful author.

Somerset Maugham once said: There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

While creativity cannot be manufactured, there are guidelines that can certainly assist any aspiring writer of popular fiction. In this book my aim is to offer you the confidence, encouragement and technical information that can help you to sit down and finish your first novel.

Writing a novel is neither as hard nor as easy as you might imagine. But there is only one way to find out if you really do have talent you must sit down and write. Perhaps you think there is something magical and different about people who become writers. They must all be brilliant, highly educated, lateral thinkers, wizards with words... You couldnt be further from the truth. Writers have emerged from amazingly diverse backgrounds: they were once teachers, housewives, accountants, students, lawyers, itinerant workers, nurses, doctors, sales representatives.

What authors do have in common are the qualities of determination, discipline, doggedness, resilience and patience. They made up their minds they were going to write and they let nothing stand in their way. On top of that, if they didnt make it on their first attempt they didnt give up.

My aim is to help take the fear and mystery out of writing your first novel by sharing with you those creative techniques that have worked for me.

When I first started to think seriously about writing, I read a number of articles which seemed to dwell on the terrible odds against being published. Yet I saw no reason to allow any of the statistics or negative information to put me off. After all, I figured, what did I have to lose? As far as I could tell, only my time, and I was prepared to sacrifice that.

The result of my efforts did more than fulfil my dreams. My first novel was bid for by major international publishing houses. It was a Doubleday Book Club choice, a UK lead title, the featured book that receives advertising and prominent shelf space, condensed in Cosmopolitan magazine and bought by leading foreign publishers. On top of all that, the film rights were optioned too.

Everything those articles had warned me not to expect with a first book had actually happened to me! It was a wonderful start to a career which continues to bring me immense pleasure and reward.

I dont tell you all this to brag. Rather, I hope you will be encouraged by the description of my own success with a first novel. Until you actually make the effort to sit down and finish a manuscript yourself youll never know if writing might bring you similar reward and fulfilment.