“Weird” sells, in both fiction and nonfiction books. This isn’t surprising, because books are an entertainment medium.

Unfortunately, many writers forget to make their novels offbeat, whacky and unusual while they’re writing. They leave their inner editor in charge, and this is death. Lock up your inner editor while you’re writing.

Turn on your creativity. It can make the difference between a book which sells, and one which stays on your hard drive.

For example, in PublishersMarketplace’s current book deals, you’ll read about these offbeat books which have just sold:

* Dakota Cassidy’s THE ACCIDENTAL HUMAN, about a multi-level cosmetics saleswoman who thinks she’s seen it all with her “accidentally” paranormal friends until she meets a vampire turned human…

* Judith Healey’s THE REBEL PRINCESS, the story of a princess, sister to the King of France, who battles corrupt court officials, religious fanatics and her beloved as she engages a band of underground Cathar noblewomen to assist her in the rescue of her illegitimate son…

Look for unusual twists you can give your characters and your plot

Write out a blurb of your novel - a couple of paragraphs which encapsulate your characters and plot. Where can you add twists?

In our example above, THE ACCIDENTAL HUMAN, the sales rep character is given a twist, she’s a “multi-level” cosmetics saleswoman. I’m not experienced in MLM, but I can see where this world has lots of potential for conflict. Better yet, the saleswoman meets a vampire turned human - a twist on the idea of a human tuned into a vampire.

As you’re writing your novel, ask yourself continually “how can I twist this? How can I add the unexpected”?

Adding a little weirdness to your characters and plot can lead to a book sale.

Write more - the key to your writing success

Many years ago, I wanted to be a “good” writer. So I wrote less. I became obsessive about revision - polishing the life out of my writing.

It finally dawned on me that “good” doesn’t mean slow. In fact the faster I wrote (which was my natural inclination anyway), the more quality I could winnow from the chaff.

Most of my writing students have similar experiences. For them to become better writers, they need to write more. They find that when they write more, writing is easier for them - they’re not giving in to their inner editor - and the overall quality of their writing improves.

My new writing class, “Write More And Make More Money From Your Writing: Develop A Fast, Fun Productive Writing Process” is based on lessons I developed for my private coaching students to help them to write more and improve their writing.

If you’re struggling with your writing, the class will help. The techniques you’ll learn in class with help you write fiction, nonfiction, and copy for business.

I’ll see you in class.

Joyce Carol Oates discusses how a writer develops realistic characters using examples from her novel The Gravedigger’s Daughter.

Watch the video on my new site, Writing Hacker (a compendium-style site on writing) - the video’s in the sidebar on the right.

Details, details… details will make your fiction come alive.

Here’s one of my best tips for my writing students - ground your fiction in your senses.

When you use your senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell in your writing it takes your writing out of your head and brings it into the real world, and in fiction, it enables your readers to experience the world you’re creating.

Get specific. For your reader to experience the world you’re creating, you have to experience that world first.

So be there with your characters. Feel what they feel, and see what they see.

Stephen King, in his early novels like Salem’s Lot, was a master of creating a world that you could experience. If you haven’t read Salem’s Lot, read it with an eye to studying how King uses the five senses to take you right into a world which contains vampires - he makes you FEEL.

Make YOUR readers feel when you use your senses in your fiction.