Eric Heiden

Hi fellow auhors!
          
          My favorite content creator on YouTube just uploaded this video. In just over ten minutes, it tells you how to get a publisher interested in your manuscript AND how to avoid getting scammed.
          
          (seriously, if nothing else, note what he says about agents; if you DO go the agent route, NEVER use an agent that asks for an upfront fee).
          
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS2tzDiP7LA

Hello fellow writers!
          
          I originally posted the following in the community forums as part of a discussion on publishing.
          
          I know that, in addition to uploading stories here on Wattpad, many of you also submit to publishing houses. If you find your submissions continually met with polite (and/or NOT-SO-POLITE) rejection, this tip I learned from pitching guru Michael Hauge may help. Without any further ado, here's what I originally posted:
          
          According to the Michael Hauge book, ‘Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds,’ one of the best ways to get a publisher interested in your book is to list two or three books in the same genre (preferably sub-genre) that your manuscript falls under.
          
          The 2-3 books you list must be (a) recent (as in the last 5-25(ish) years) and (b) successful. By citing these books, you’ll create an association in the publisher’s mind between your chosen sub-genre and financial success. Even if you don’t like the books you use as examples, you can still cite their objective financial success.
          
          Let me end by giving an example.
          
          Let’s say you wrote a novel; the genre is horror, and the sub-genre is “haunted house story.”
          
          When you pitch it to a publisher, you might start by pointing out how tons of people love haunted house novels, as evidenced by the success of other haunted house books like Susan Hill’s ‘The Woman in Black’ (which not only sold well on its own but was also adapted into a TV movie, a long-running stage play and, more recently, a series of theatrical movies) and David Mitchell’s ‘Slade House’ (which debuted on the # 19 spot on the New York Times Bestsellers List and on the # 3 spot on the LA Times Bestseller list–a list it stayed on for eleven weeks).

Hi everyone!
          
          My friend Jenn Hilty has uploaded a Science Fantasy story here on Wattpad. I announced this a few weeks ago, but I've gotten some new followers since then, so I thought I'd share the link again.
          
          Enjoy, and be sure to let her know what you think: https://www.wattpad.com/578531426-the-sofa-in-the-lake-part-1

Happy Friday, Folks!
          
          If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I like listening to mood music while I write.
          
          What I'm curious about is if any of you listen to mood music too. If so, what music genres and what artists? If you want, you can answer in this thread I just started in the Wattpad Horror Club: 
          https://www.wattpad.com/forums/discussion/1209987/Horror+Mood+Music

Hi everyone!
          
          While I don't have enough free time to do #MoodMusicMonday on a regular basis anymore, I wanted to share something I listened to while revising a ghost story. What do you all think?
          
          https://cryochamber.bandcamp.com/track/without-the-sun

Here's a question I asked a few days ago on the Horror club discussion forum here on Wattpad. If you're not a member of the club but want to throw in your own two cents, consider joining. It's free and only takes a single click.
          
          What kind of horror villain do you prefer, one with a tragic past or one with a vague, largely unknown past?
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/forums/discussion/1208742/Horror+Villain+Preferences

I'm finally starting to get over a cold I've had for two months, and I thought I'd celebrate by sharing some fun news.
          
          I've recently had the honor of being a beta reader for a friend's story, and I'm excited to say they've begun uploading it right here on Wattpad. Here's a link: https://www.wattpad.com/578531426-the-sofa-in-the-lake-part-1
          
          What's it about? Well, the short answer is that it's a piece of speculative fiction that reads like someone blended the Science-Fantasy wonders of the Star Wars Universe with the dark mysteries of the Harry Potter series.
          
          If you want more specifics, here's the long answer:
          In the wake of a devastation war, our future world is now haunted by unmanned technology, its origins-benevolent or otherwise-no longer known. In one out-of-the-way town, it’s a favorite past-time to try and uncover the secrets of this technology, especially the secrets of whatever cleans and purifies a nearby lake.
          
          When it’s reported that a huge sofa has randomly appeared in the lake, two youths-Kenny and his best friend August-decide to go see it for themselves. It’s the largest object ever found in the lake and provides the perfect excuse to make their own attempt at solving the lake’s mysteries…as well as the perfect escape from monotonous boredom and endless bullying.
          
          After they’re in the water, however, they discover too late that someone put the sofa there deliberately, hoping to attract attention, hoping to lure in curious onlookers.
          
          Now, they’re both pawns in a fight tied to the lost history of the lake and their world, a duel where lives hang in the balance…and they have absolutely no idea which side to trust.

Anyone can make a horror story about a beach towel, but it takes a special writer to make a GOOD horror story about a beach towel.
          
          Seriously, despite the odd premise, S.E. Casey's 'Rainbows and Resentment' is a a well-crafted, unsettling nightmare of a yarn...AND it can be read in one sitting!
          
          https://www.wattpad.com/470774709-rainbows-and-resentment

Hey! Thanks for the follow, I appreciate it! 

Thanks for the follow, mate!