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Is it possible to write a novel series at a pace of 5,000 words a day and still create something that people will purchase, read, and recommend to others? Maybe for some writers. I’m hoping it’s possible for me. Honestly I’d be happy if could write something people enjoy at just half of that daily word count. But 5,000 words a day is my goal. I intend to search for tips, tricks, brain hacks, and whatever else I can find to increase my daily word count without reducing the quality of my writing or damaging my mental health, and I will share what I learn on this blog.

 

Why 5,000 words a day?

I was several chapters into writing a dystopian sci-fi novel (read it here), not including a mountain of notes and working from a nearly complete plot outline, before I bothered to research if an audience exists for such a novel. What I discovered is that there is an audience for dystopian sci-fi, but for a select few other genres, there exists much larger audiences that will consume many more books, and if you build a name writing whole book series for these audiences, you actually have a chance at earning a living as a self-published fiction writer.

These genres include any sub-genre of romance, many sub-genres in mystery and thriller, but sci-fi space operas are up there too. Initially, I had to lookup the term “space opera,” but it turns out it’s one of my favorite genres and I didn’t even know it. The Dune series, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Ender’s Game, Leviathan Wakes, and the Foundation series all fall under space opera.

So after a bit of research, I’ve compiled a few guidelines to maximize your chances at earning a living as a self-published genre fiction writer:

  • Choose a genre that has a large following hungry for new works.
  • Learn all the common tropes of this genre, and include them in your writing.
  • Don’t write one-off books, at least not a first. Create a signature book series of 3 to 10 book; the more books the better. One million plus words is ideal for a signature series. Why do most successful self-publishing authors write series rather than standalone books? The answer is that they are leveraging “read-through,” explained here: https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/marketing-a-book-series-the-power-of-readthrough
  • As a self-publisher, your final product needs to be indistinguishable from a book created by a large publishing house. You need to follow the conventions not just in your chosen genre, but also in cover art, book design, the blurb on the back that’s meant to hook the reader. And it should be professionally edited.
  • Stay in your genre and write for your audience. You won’t have an audience at first, but once you do, get to know them, and write for them, and watch your audience grow. Make things for your fans!
  • Write 5,000 words a day. You need to keep the books flowing at a steady pace. Likely you won’t be able to write 5,000 words a day, but at least shoot for that word count because your fans will be waiting for your next book.

And finally, don’t weight yourself down with negative inner dialogue. The point at which you know that you’ll be successful is the point at which you’re 100% confident you know you won’t quit on yourself. If you decide to a thing, then do it. Don’t be soft. Don’t quit on yourself.

 

I’m Charley Paxos and this is my author blog.

I write high-concept space operas and dystopian sci-fi novels. My writing provides cheap trills, but will also inspire a belief in the creative power and intrinsic worth of the individual. I write about freedom, slavery, individualism, psychological manipulation, and psychological self-defense… also space travel, space warfare, alien technologies, professional wrestling, collectivism, eugenics, moral degeneracy, societal collapse, and more…

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