Jan 30, 20 good urban fiction writing has a few necessary elements to make it great. But there are certain rules and guidelines to follow that can help you keep your writing both focused and engaging and, therefore, more publishable. Over the past few years, ive written a threepart series of books about writing called become a writer today. Baker, author of borderline, is a graduate of the clarion science fiction and fantasy writers workshop, and her short stories have. However, it is now slowly resorting towards a social and economic environment of societies of today. In this lesson, we will learn about what it means for a novel to be labelled as street lit, and also explore some of the genres greatest.
Defined as stories with magical or supernatural elements that take place in a contemporary city or town setting, the urban fantasy category includes the likes of authors such as patricia briggs, cassandra clare, neil gaiman and jim butcher. Find out about two magic phrases that make it easy to come up with great story ideas. Writing fiction is not just about making up whatever story you want. As someone who never took creative writing classes or pursued an mfa, books on writing are my goto resource for instruction and inspiration. If you are writing non fiction, your table of contents will help you organize your thoughts and act as a guide to writing the book. The flint series and the cartel series are the best in this list and all of them are not posted, but easy to find. Self publishing guide for urban fiction authors ebook. The tone of urban fiction is usually similar to that of cinema noir. A beginners guide to writing urban fantasy writing tips.
The term urban fiction is used more often than most of the names for these kinds of books, but this guide and other reference sources will use the name street lit because it includes fiction and nonfiction. Is urban fiction defined by its subject or the skin. Its as if they the publishing industry are saying, lets put those books at the back of the store and call it urban fiction so the white consumer doesnt get confused and start buying it. For those urban fiction authors that are looking for a publishing house.
I have already started a foundation for how the flow of the book should be. In her book, the readers advisory guide to street literature 2011, vanessa. Fan fiction fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular tv series, movie, or book. I have studied urban fiction and know what i like to read and im also writing a juicy urban fiction tale titled platinum dust i will attempt to share a few tips that ive learned on. Use an event that happened or might have happened to you. In fiction, placing your story in a city of which you have no familiarity loses much of the flavor of the atmosphere. How to write urban fiction novels authentic ideas, themes and purpose. I would also like to suggest the deadly reigns too, 4 books, plus peaches story makes it 5 books, and im waiting on the next one. Its time for urban fiction to get some literary respect crimereads. Good urban fiction writing has a few necessary elements to make it great. While books with a uf flavor have been set in rural areas, historical periods, small towns, or even secondary worlds, the classic urban fantasy setting is a dense, highly populated presentday metropolis.
The new yorkbased publishing company was established by carl weber in 2002 and features urban renaissance books, urban soul, and urban christian books. For centuries, writing an urban fiction book has existed as a literary genre that focuses more on the domain of street fiction. Jun 27, 2012 if you are dipping your toes into the sometimestumultuous waters of fiction writing for the first time, you might be feeling a bit daunted right now. Jan 15, 2008 unless you are a urban fiction writer yourself, you cannot answer these questions. The tone for urban fiction is usually dark, focusing on the underside of city living. One of the first writers in this new cycle of urban fiction was omar tyree, who published the novel flyy girl in 1996, reissued as a reprint in 1999. Best urban fiction book writing services by top urban fiction. Blue drew the attention of random house and has since dominated many top selling lists across the country. Apr 19, 2017 the bestselling black urban author of harlem girl lost, treasure e. Writing success boils down to hard work, imagination and passionand then some more hard work. Use these tips as an inspirational guideor better yet, print a copy to put on your desk, home office, refrigerator door, or somewhere else noticeable so you can be constantly reminded not to let your story ideas wither away by putting off your writing. I had no idea what to do next or who to ask, until a friend came along and recommended this.
Fantasy fiction in an unreal setting that often includes magic, magical creatures, or the supernatural. Starting with vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters that shift into animals, shapeshifters that can shift into any person or animal, elves, fairies, and other fey creatures, all the way to angels, demons, witches and wizards, mages and oracles. About street lit street lit urban fiction libguides at durham. Whether its a big city, an outer suburb or some other spin on the urban setting, the world of your story should be so vivid and welldeveloped that its basically a character in. I am looking for someone to help with an urban fictional book. Apr 02, 20 you can use aint and for sho for sure because it reads like it sounds and provides authenticity to your urban fiction writing.
The ultimate list of writing contests in 2020 reedsy. The best urban fiction book blogs ranked by influence, up to date. How to write a urban novel in 4 days coach taneisha sw. The book on writing kindle edition by larocque, paula. Urban book editor writing, editing, and consulting urban book editor helps authors create their best work and connect with their audiences, writers, editors, urban books, urban fiction, fiction editor, book development, developmental editing, author websites, author platforms, website builder, selfpublishing.
Discover the finest writing contests of 2020 for fiction and nonfiction authors including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Apr 03, 2017 the urban in urban fantasy means that the setting should always be one of the main characters. They are fastpaced, driven by highoctane plots and liberally sprinkled with dialogue. May 07, 2020 create a table of contents for the book. Oct 20, 2017 i rarely read nonfiction, but when i do, its usually on the craft of writing fiction. Author teri woods talks drama and being the first urban fiction writer duration. If you are looking for a marketing and promoting platform for your new urban fi. The act of male masterbation that can be used in polite conversation. And i must say that even though im not an author i have many author friends on social media and this book hits the nail on the mfing head. Use these tips as an inspirational guideor better yet, print a copy to put on your desk, home office, refrigerator door, or somewhere. Learning to write a book for the first time is a challenge. Urban fantasy is one of the most popular fantasy subgenres around. Nov 03, 2011 its as if they the publishing industry are saying, lets put those books at the back of the store and call it urban fiction so the white consumer doesnt get confused and start buying it.
The urban in urban fantasy means that the setting should always be one of the main characters. The high quality books and easy to work with atmosphere that the urban writers produce was essential in making them our writing company of choice. Urban fiction writing that makes the reader inspired and uplifted. Ten rules for writing fiction get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again if all else fails, pray. The book offers tips and insight to publishing in the urban fiction genre, with a humors twist. The coldest winter ever by sister souljah, addicted by zane, true to the game by teri woods, flyy girl by omar tyree, and. Each series has 7 books, and the flint series can be found in one thick copy. So you wanna write urban fiction your ultimate writing.
Profanity, sex, and violence are usually explicit, with the writer not shying. As a new author, i realized that writing my novel was the easy part. This is particularly true when you first start writing fiction because there is a huge gap between the books that you love and the pitiful first draft you have created. Urban fiction drama is a bit more over the top than traditional tales. With each new book i write, im always looking to improve on my craft. Also check out these story setting ideas, fiction prompts about siblings, love story ideas, mystery writing prompts and 4 new years resolutions for your characters that you can use yearround. Urban fantasy stories are, essentially, stories that involve supernatural species and creatures that come straight out of a myth. How to begin writing a novel when you dont know what to do. Feb 19, 2010 ten rules for writing fiction get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again if all else fails, pray. Lets dive into five easy tips for writing incredible urban fantasy. The key thing to know about urban lit is that it really is an. Gangsta, published under his first name only like the rest of his books, is the semiautobiographical story of an aspiring writer who has lost his.
Apr 17, 2017 urban fiction or street lit is a popular genre usually selfpublished that deals with the harshest socialeconomic realities of inner city life. You even took it a step further and had it edited because you are serious about your. Its very informative and thorough covering topics of relevance both to fiction and non fiction writers yet manages to make enjoyable what otherwise might have been a dry read. The book s two main parts focus on writing mechanics and storytelling devices.
Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by reedsy to weed out the scammers and timewasters. Jul 25, 2017 with books by wellknown urban lit authors like kwan, shannon holmes and t. Usually published on online platforms such as or archive of our own. Nov 16, 2015 the point of fiction is to cast a spell, a momentary illusion that you are living in the world of the story. Urban fiction books, on the other hand, are written to pull the reader in and not let go. There are rules and conventions to every genre, and before you get too far into telling your story, decide what the genre is, and therefore, what rules and conventions you are going to follow. Writing tagged urban fiction a cold war in your pocket 3 chapters updated jun 07, 2019 12. Urban fiction publishing requirements urban fiction news. I certainly havent figured it all out yet and im still striving to achieve my goals but these are just some tips and tricks ive learned so far along the way. Imagine a book that combines the dense worldbuilding of fantasy and science fiction with the gritty grounded reality of contemporary novels set. Urban book editor writing, editing, and consulting. But as a writer, how do you suck your readers into your stories in this way.
Also, urban fiction tends to include subgenres that include books that are not. The urban writers has quickly become our go to writing service for all students of my self publishing blueprint. Unless you are a urban fiction writer yourself, you cannot answer these questions. Dubbed the uncle of urban fiction, blues other noteworthy book titles include keyshia and clyde and a street girl named desire. And, in a distinct departure from the longestablished norms of africanamerican literary fiction, urban fiction. Sure anyone can conjure up a good tale but urban fiction is a bit different.
If you are writing fiction and need an idea, read the news for some incident around which you can build a story. Urban fiction, also known as street lit or street fiction is a literary genre set in a city landscape. Apr 10, 2018 urban books is a wellknown, mainstream indie book publisher that specializes in urban novels that focus on african american themes. When thinking about creating an urban fiction novel you must remember urban literally refers to the streets or the background for your story. Perhaps the most important aspect of urban fantasy is its setting. Writers of urban novels often have life experiences that provide. Readers will quickly put down your work if you use proper english in your dialogue. The book that was speaking to young brown girls couldnt possibly be speaking to them, as well. Urban fiction represents the voice of the inner city. In my opinion, if you got a story to tell, write it. This article gives you a stepbystep process to make writing your book far easier. Donald goines was a prolific writer who published 16 novels. Apr 25, 2016 6 questions writers must answer when writing urban fantasyparanormal here are a few questions to ask yourself as you go about the task of worldediting in the early stages of an urban fantasy, paranormal, or nearfuture science fiction story. I need someone who has experience with urban fiction.