National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month is here! The goal is to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. You can register with NaNoWriMo here for word trackers, tip sheets and online support. 

Caramel Crisp Corner in Oshkosh hosting meet-ups at 2 p.m. every Wednesday. Details here. 

Good luck!

Kindle Vella - A Perspective

An Update on Kindle Vella 

by Bailey R. Hansen

I had been thinking about publishing on Kindle Vella before the 2022 Lakefly Writers Conference, but the "Venturing into Vella" presentation by Kendra Griffin cemented my decision to give it a go! Below are some highlights of the platform:

Kindle Vella is Amazon's new (July 2021) serial story platform. Instead of a traditional book, where you buy all of it in one go (and, as authors, you need to have the entire book written before sending it out into the world), Kindle Vella allows readers to buy one episode at a time, and authors to evolve their story as they write it. Think about it like a weekly TV show or story told in multiple sections in a magazine (or Wattpad or Archive of Our Own, if you are already reading serialized fiction online). 

Authors can post episodes of between 600-5000 words (1,500-2000 words were
recommended in the Lakefly presentation) at any interval they would like. The first three episodes are free for readers (though you do need an Amazon account to read past the first episode), and after that readers use tokens to unlock future installments, at a rate of 1 token per 100 words. Each reader also receives 200 free tokens to get them started on the platform. Authors receive 50% of what readers use to buy those tokens. For more information about pricing and royalties, check out the KDP Page introducing it. 

Other neat features of Kindle Vella include:

•     Readers can give "favs" to their favorite stories to help attract other readers and also follow them for automated updates.
•     Authors can leave notes at the end of every episode to build community and even include things like polls to get readers engaged.
•     Once you are done telling the story on Kindle Vella you CAN republish all those episodes in book form (though you CANNOT publish something on Kindle Vella that was previously published elsewhere). 
•     Like classic authors Dumas and Dickens, you get paid by the word!

Based on my experience with Kindle Vella, it is VERY easy to post, but be aware that advertising and getting people to read your work is going to take a little extra legwork.

The best stories for Kindle Vella are ones that can be posted episodically, and romance, action, and steamier content is generally the most popular. I posted my first installment of Starbound (an LGBT alien space romance with...probably not enough romance) in May 2022 and then took a 3-month break, which was a terrible idea. Ideally, authors post several times per week and on a regular posting schedule so that readers can know when to expect (and read) new installments. I re-started posting in September and have been sticking to a weekly posting schedule since (though I may take a break for Nanowrimo in November...we shall see). 

As far as process goes, I have been working on updating an old, mostly complete manuscript one tiny chapter at a time. This is the same general review and editing process that I've used for several years now with Writers Club, it seems to work very well for my brain, and will hopefully be enjoyable for readers. At least once they know the story exists.

One thing I have yet to do (and definitely need to, based on the analytics available) is advertising. I've wanted to make sure that I could keep up the weekly posting schedule before telling anyone about Starbound, but that also means that absolutely no one knows about it. And I do mean no one. Unlike free episodic reading platforms I've played with in the past, there have been no random people checking out even the first few episodes. I don't know if that's the algorithm, my summary/graphics, or the fact that I posted once and then crapped out for three months. Most probably a combination. If you want to make my week, go ahead and check out Starbound here.

And, if you have questions about my experience with Kindle Vella (limited as it is) please feel free to reach out!

Meeting reminder - Oct. 15

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

New members welcome!

Free Gale Courses For Writers

Fall classes are session with these quality Gale courses, accessible for free with your Oshkosh Public Library card.

Courses require a 24-hour commitment over a six-week period. Don't have a library card? Apply here.

The next semester begins on Oct. 12 - register now!

Here’s a sample of just some of the class offerings that are useful to writers:

Introduction to Journaling

If you have ever wanted to try journaling, this course will provide answers to your every question. You will discover the different types of journaling and many journaling techniques, exercises, tools and resources. You will explore a seven-step process that will ease you into writing a journal. You will get detailed instructions on developing, decorating, and customizing your journal, and you will learn exciting new ways to express yourself and develop your creativity.

Romance Writing


Romance is the #1 selling genre in mass-market fiction with readers clamoring for more! To pen a novel romance readers' love, you'll need to understand how to meet and exceed their expectations. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, this course will help you broaden your skills and understand exactly what makes a romance reader finish a book with that "Ahh" of satisfaction. You will start by learning about the genre of romance and exploring why you fell in love with your favorite romance novels. You will explore how to craft three-dimensional characters your readers will love and how to weave a plot so your story grabs the reader's interest from page one. You will gain valuable techniques—your "romance writer's toolbox"—to apply to your own manuscript.

Publish and Sell Your E-Book


If you can use a word processor, have a book written (or have an idea for one), and want to see your name in print, you just might have what it takes to succeed in self-publishing.

This course introduces you to everything you need to know to do a professional job of turning your manuscript into a book that will help you make money on the Internet, whether you want to self-publish a novel, a nonfiction book, or a picture book. You will learn how to format your e-book and get it ready to sell through bookstores like Amazon and Apple. By the end of the course, you could have your e-book published in over 100 countries worldwide and available to libraries and book clubs.


Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers. 


Who doesn't know the fear of the blank page? How can you transform your visions into the written word? Is it really possible to become a terrific writer? You'll find the answer to these and more of your questions in Writeriffic.

In this high-energy course, you will learn a number of invaluable tricks from the published writer's toolbox. Whether you're at work now or hoping to write a novel, a nonfiction book, a memoir, short stories or articles, Writeriffic liberates the imaginative, inventive bolts of genius that are inside everyone. If you've ever dreamed of hearing your writer's voice and writing what's in your heart and head, this course will make it happen!

Writing The Fantasy Novel

Fantasy is an increasingly popular genre of fiction, and now is a great time to become a fantasy fiction writer! This course is perfect whether you have an idea for a book or even if you don't know where to start. With the tools you'll gain in this course, you'll be ready to tackle your first fantasy novel.

In this course, you will learn what separates fantasy fiction from other types of fiction. You will also discover how to create characters and populate your world with unique, compelling, and interesting creatures. You'll learn how to outline your book, come up with a theme, and commit to actually writing. Finally, you'll get a number of tips about how to stay motivated and complete your novel - because, after all, writing is hard work!