Ep86: Short Stories and Patreon (Erick solo show)

Still reading The Yard.

Show Notes:

How to set up a Patreon Page

Patreon Header: defines what you do

(Erick talks about his favorite elements of mystery, and why he’s including what he is for his Patrons.)

Making sure you delight your readers/patrons/subscribers: use different tropes so no two stories are the same, back-to-back. Giving some variety in the eras—1800s to 1980s. Using a collection of stories to develop the world-building of the series.

Craft: These short stories start with a little introduction (framing technique), and then a witness account follows. Write the framing device first. Give credibility to the witness account. And then let the witness tell their story. End “chunk” has an ironic twist.

Character voice is really important and when Erick knows the character’s first line, he can “take dictation” from the character, and the story tells itself.

Use beta-readers to “up the ante” on the stories, amp the stakes without shifting into a different genres.

Introduce the world and every element of Canyon County to his Patrons. Research is important to create a level of authenticity.