10 Things I Learned from Self-Publishing on Amazon

So, you’re thinking about self-publishing your first novel on Amazon? Or you have already self-published your first novel and are wondering why you aren’t getting the orders that you originally envisioned. Maybe you have been hardened by the self-publishing world and clicked on the article to commiserate with a fellow self-published author. Whatever brought you here, welcome.

Authors arrive at the decision to self-publish for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you spent years receiving rejection letters from agents, only to turn to the self-publishing world as a last resort. That’s the category I fit into but have come to the realization that it isn’t a last resort, and it definitely isn’t easy. Others chose self-publishing because they wanted control over every aspect of their journey.

Even with all that control, there are still some things to take into consideration before you begin your self-publishing journey. Take it from a guy who learned these lessons the hard way, so you don’t have to. Here are the 10 lessons I learned from publishing my first 2 novels on Amazon, in no particular order.

  1. You need to hook them. The first page is crucial. That first sentence? It needs to be a banger. Why? If you bore a reader on the first page, what’s the likelihood of them finishing your book? Not likely. This can be achieved by getting straight to the action instead of ten pages of setup. My first novel had fifty pages of setup before anything substantial happened. I decreased that to a single chapter in my second novel. Not surprisingly, more readers continued reading the second book. My current work in progress gets to the good stuff on the first page. That’s where you should aim to be.
  • There are a lot of books out there. With the ability to self-publish your own novel on Amazon, the world has been flooded with novels. If you don’t make yours stand out, the reader will move onto something else. When a first reader (we’ll talk about these magical people later) puts down my book to do something, I like to note when this happened and what made it easy to put down my book. Then I go back and work on that section to increase conflict.
  • You’re not just the writer. Traditionally published books have a publishing company that handles everything from the cover design to the interior layout. The responsibility of choosing a cover design, promoting/marketing, interior layout, editing, etc. is solely on you. Knowing when to handle it yourself and when to hire a professional is a complicated hurdle to jump over, especially if you’re budget conscious. I like to format the interior layout myself, though it can be frustrating, while letting a professional handle the cover design.
  • The book’s description on Amazon means more than you think. This is important enough to warrant an article in its own right. Suffice it to say, this is where the reader makes that penultimate decision. Yay or nay? A strong hook at the beginning of the description pulls the reader in and keeps them reading. I spent an hour forming the description for my first novel. It didn’t perform well. Now, I write the description and plug it into ChatGPT to help format it in a way that converts into sales. AI is better at studying trends and conversion techniques than I am, so I use it to my advantage. Utilizing keywords helps signify the genre, setting expectations. If your book isn’t selling, this is a good place to start.
  • Nobody can buy a book they can’t find. Speaking of keywords. Yeah, they really are that important. When a reader searches for the next read to tickle their fancy, they type in keywords. Utilizing keywords that both summarize your novel and are desirable to readers is half the battle. Be careful. There’s nothing worse than a reader that was misled because the writer bent the truth about the genre. This is another area where I utilize ChatGPT to research keywords that will convert into sales.

  • Readers absolutely judge a book by its cover. They say not to judge a book by its cover. Whoever said that obviously wasn’t in the publishing world. How do you think the reader got to the description page on Amazon? By judging your book by its cover. The cover needs to evoke the genre of the novel’s contents. This is an area where hiring a professional cover designer is worth the effort. I created my first cover using AI (yeah, I know). It was too busy and didn’t work as a thumbnail. Since most readers judge the cover in thumbnail form while scrolling through a list, it needs to work in that form. I hired a pro for my second book cover and was impressed with the conversion results. There are great options on Fiverr.
  • Promote your book. Everything listed above? Guess what? It doesn’t matter if no one knows about your book. Start a newsletter, write a blog, get on social media, get an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) team together, or try a paid ad. Sitting back and hoping readers stumble upon your book by accident is unrealistic, believe me, I know. I published my first book without any promoting or marketing. It performed accordingly.
  • Marketing starts before publication. Just because you haven’t finished the book doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell people about it. Tease your audience with glimpses into the book while you’re writing. I didn’t do this with my first two books. Now, I share my progress on social media, including hooks on TikTok that entice the reader. The reader magnet for my newsletter is tied to my novel, which is a good way to get readers that are already interested in your work excited. When the book is released, I’ll have a built-in audience.
  • Find a good first reader or first readers. Do you have someone that will be brutally honest with you about the quality of your novel? First readers will discover things you missed. Things that would be embarrassing if discovered by the general public. I would suggest more than one because people have different skills when reading. One could be great with readability, while another catches typos, and a third catches that plot inconsistency you missed.
  • Don’t wait. It’s hard to learn about the publishing world while sitting on the sidelines. If you’re waiting for permission to become a published author, by all means, consider this your direct invitation. I spent years letting the gatekeepers of the publishing world dictate my actions. Finally, I left the gate, and crawled over the fence, letting myself in.

Those are the lessons I learned from publishing my first two novels on Amazon. You will have a list of your own once you hit that publish button. I’m willing to bet a few of the lessons learned on my list also make it to yours. Your journey doesn’t end there, after all, a writer that stops learning stops growing. I’m currently delving into the critical world of an Advanced Reader Copies (ARC) team and a newsletter. These are two areas every writer, especially self-published, should learn about.

Don’t spend years in the literary version of Ground Hog Day before ending the cycle. I wasn’t an overnight success when I decided to self-publish. It took work. Work that made me a better writer. Every lesson on this list came because I stopped waiting for permission and started learning by doing.

Thanks for reading,

Stephen M. Roth

Horror Tropes & Cliches: The Ultimate Guide

Ever read a horror novel about a haunted house? What about a story involving an ominous warning from a creepy stranger? If you’ve ever read a horror story, chances are that you’ve experienced a trope or a cliche and didn’t realize it. What is a trope? What is a cliche? And how can you keep them from appearing in your writing? Let’s dive deeper into the world of the macabre to discover whether you should use tropes or cliches, and how to do it effectively if you so choose.

Definition Time

According to Merriam-Webster, a trope is defined as a common theme or device. A cliche is something that has become overly familiar or commonplace.

That’s Great, But What Does It Mean?

A trope is a theme or plot device the reader easily recognizes and is commonly used in the genre. Readers have experience with these themes or plot devices and enter into the story with built-in expectations, even without realizing it. That haunted house story I mentioned earlier? That’s a trope. I’ll bet you were able to imagine the type of story I was referring to without much effort. Built-in expectations aren’t necessarily a negative thing, though you should proceed with caution.

A cliche is simply an overused trope. Have you ever seen Scary Movie? Most of what they poke fun at in the horror genre is cliche-based. A hero or heroine running up the stairs instead of out the front door didn’t become a cliche for no reason. It was a writer/creator-based lack of imagination that caused it.

Trope Examples

Below I’ve listed some common tropes. Obviously, this list isn’t comprehensive, so feel free to add any of your favorites in the comments.

  • Haunted objects. An object is in some fashioned linked to the spirit of the deceased.
  • Inclement weather. When things turn spooky, how come the thunderstorm always comes rolling in?
  • Abandoned/remote places. Places that either haven’t been touched by anyone in years or are far from anyone else.
  • Creepy children. What is it about children that scares adults?
  • Accidental summoning. Whether it’s a spirit or a demon from the fiery pits, you can always count on ignorant youths to summon them.
  • Ghosts and hauntings. The lingering spirits of the deceased and the chaos they cause.
  • Creepy small towns. Maybe it’s the watchful eyes of the citizens, but small towns with a secret they are desperate to keep are always recurring.
  • Twist ending. You think you’ve got the story figured out. Then the writer pulls out the surprise you should have seen coming.
  • Forgotten trauma. Something that’s hinted at throughout the course of the novel but is never fully explained until the climax.
  • Return of the prodigal son/daughter. We’re all from somewhere, and sometimes we have to go home, even if we don’t want to.

Honorable mention goes to the writer main character. It’s not a horror specific trope, but a fiction wide one. Why do we insist on having a main character that’s a writer? The reader doesn’t care. Yes, the main character in Reel Ghosts was a writer, despite it not being a necessity. We need to stop it already.

Cliche Examples

  • Splitting up. When the proverbial cow dung hits the fan, you can count on large groups to form into smaller groups (as an introvert I find large groups terrifying).
  • An ominous warning. Whether it’s a neighbor, a friend, or a note from an unknown source, writers love an ominous warning.
  • Bad guy that won’t die. We mostly see this in movies, but I’ve read a few books where the bad guy came back for one more surprise. It’s overdone, guys.
  • Technology that suddenly doesn’t work. Whether it’s a cellphone that doesn’t work or a car that was previously running like a well-oiled machine, suddenly won’t turn over. It’s better to leave this alone, though I’ve done possessed versions of these devices.
  • Dreams that serve no purpose. There’s nothing more irritating than reading an entire chapter only to have the M.C. wake up in a pool of sweat at the end. It’s a cheap trick to get a scare without incorporating it into the plot. You can figure out another way to get a scare out of the reader while delving into the M.C.’s psyche.
  • Evil clowns. Apparently, I wasn’t the only writer that loved Killer Klowns from Outerspace as a youth.
  • Bad police work. Why is every police force in a horror novel either filled with Barney Fife or Dirty Harry.
  • Unbelieving friends and family. Why doesn’t anyone ever believe the M.C.? There must have been some sus behavior going on before the opening page.

I know some of you will quibble with the placement of a few of these examples. That’s part of the fun with a post like this. What do you think I got wrong? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments.

How To Avoid Writing a Cliche

It can be difficult to keep the idea you once thought was original from turning into a cliche. Often it happens by accident. Here are a few tips to keep your story from seeming cliche:

  • Read widely. There’s only one way to avoid writing a cliche and that’s to be familiar with the horror genre. You can only achieve that by reading.
  • Be original. When in doubt, go against conventional horror tropes to surprise the reader. Readers won’t expect it, and that’s the idea. Who wants to read a predictable book?
  • Avoid unnecessary plot twists. Have you ever read a book that had so many twists it left you dizzy after finishing? Your readers deserve better.
  • Focus on atmosphere and character depth instead. Who needs twisty plots when the writer has left you with chills?

How to Write a Trope Without It Becoming a Cliche

So, you still want to write that vampire story despite it being such a heavily used trope that it’s untouchable? As the guy that wrote a novel about a haunted object, I won’t stop you. I will, on the other hand, give you some advice. Here are a few tips for writing a trope:

  • Subvert expectations. Use the reader’s knowledge of the trope against them by doing the exact opposite of what usually happens in other stories.
  • Give the trope a twist. Are you writing a story about a vampire? Can I be honest? Enough stories about the bloodsucking variety have been written. For me to pick up a novel about a vampire, it’ll need to be good. Turn that bloodsucking vampire into a psychic-vampire feeding on the emotions of a man mourning the loss of his son and I’m in (this is a short-story I wrote years ago).
  • Change the perspective. There are common tropes told from a certain perspective, like a new couple doing a remodel of an old house that happens to be haunted, for instance. Boring, right? Write that story from the perspective of the ghosts that don’t know they’re dead and I’m in (I’ve read a novel in which this is the plot but can’t remember the title).

Examples From Fiction

  • Cell by Stephen King. This is King’s take on the zombie apocalypse trope. In typical King fashion, he added his own twist, cell phones. The novel was released in 2006, when worries about cell phones causing cancer were running rampant. Cell phones causing the zombie apocalypse is a good example of adding something new to a trope, while exploiting societal fears at the same time (isn’t that what we try to do as horror writers?).
  • Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix. The physical copy of the book looks like a catalogue for an Ikea furniture store. That isn’t by accident. The novel takes the haunted/cursed building trope and puts it in a furniture store.
  • Reel Ghosts by Stephen M. Roth. I wanted to write a ghost story but didn’t want it to be set in a house. I spent my early twenties working as a projectionist and assistant manager at a movie theater, which meant I spent a lot of time alone in a dark theater. I always wanted to write about those spooky vibes. As an added bonus, I also tackled the trope of the haunted object, which was a film reel. My twist? There’s a serial killer hellbent on getting the reel back.

Those are just a few of the examples that come to mind when I think about horror tropes handled in an interesting way. Obviously, mine stands out next to the bestsellers of the genre. The premise was better than the execution in my case. What novels stand out to you that handled horror tropes in a new and creative way?

Conclusion

There are tropes in every genre of fiction, enemies to lovers in romance and dystopian societies in science fiction for example. Horror fiction is no different than any other genre. It’s the utilization of those tropes that is important. If you handle the trope in a creative manner, fans will devour each page and want more. On the other hand, if you forgo putting your own spin on it, you leave the reader’s interpretation open to that dreaded word, cliche.

A smart horror writer will utilize the trope to set expectations without having to do the heavy lifting of explaining the situation. There’s nothing wrong with using those expectations against the reader by flipping the story on its head. That’s just good writing.

Thanks for reading,

Stephen M. Roth

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The Reel, The House, and The Family Table

  • The newsletter for April, 2026:
  • There has been a concerted effort in recent months to tailor the blog posts more to the reader. That means my writing journey takes more of a backseat in most posts. Maximizing the focus on the reader by minimizing myself as the writer is something I’ve learned while studying freelance article writing. The newsletter will keep you informed with any upcoming novels and projects.
  • The House That Wasn’t There was released December 6th, 2025. There’s always a lot that you realize you did wrong with your first book and try to rectify with the second. Unfortunately, there are also things I’m realizing that I did wrong with my second book release. Chief among them is the short window to promote the book before the release date and lack of ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) team. I’ve investigated the possibility signing up for an ARC reader service. If you’re interested in being an ARC reader for a future novel, send me an email. The House is available on Amazon. There’s also a preview and link available on the books section of this website.
  • Reel Ghosts was released August 7th, 2024. Sales for both books have been slow, especially Reel Ghosts. I’m still fiercely proud of the originality of that book. In fact, the slow- building horror of it is more the style that I choose to read. Every book has its issues. With The House That Wasn’t There it was the rushed ending. Reel Ghosts was the overall length of the novel. The House is a better book overall, but Reel Ghosts fits my reading preference.
  • If you have read either The House That Wasn’t or Reel Ghosts, please consider leaving an honest review. It helps other readers discover my work.
  • My current work in progress is tentatively titled Cult of the Macabre. I have usually settled on a firm title by this point (75% finished with the first draft) but this is a tricky one. I like the title and feel it’s the most appealing to horror fans, however, I think that title comes with certain expectations that it may not be able to live up to.
  • Here’s a one-sentence hook for Cult of the Macabre: Psychology students are supposed to warn people about cults, so why did I join one?
  • Yes, it’s written in first person perspective, which isn’t my normal jam. I’m also interspersing some third person in; we’ll see how that goes.
  • My mind is starting to turn to my next writing project. With recent books sales in mind, I think the choice is obvious. I should write a series. The first book in the series is the one that you focus on selling, with the hope that a significant number of readers that read book one will move onto read book two and so on. I’m still brainstorming ideas. Stay tuned.
  • I’ve been busy with a new project that is unrelated to writing. Cooking has always been a passion of mine. I helped my mom cook when I was growing up. Now, my kids help me in the kitchen. I watch a lot of cooking videos on social media. I’d think, “I could do that.” I mean, how hard can it be, right? So, I started a TikTok account where I share cooking videos. The response has been positive enough that I’ve also started uploading those videos to YouTube. I’m still feeling my way through the process, but I’m having fun doing it. It’s called Roth Family Table. Check it out if you’re into quick and easy meals for busy people.
  • This is the first newsletter. In the future it will be for subscribers only. You can get this newsletter and all other posts delivered to your inbox by hitting the follow button.

Thanks for reading,

Stephen M. Roth

It’s All in the Ending

*Spoiler Alert: I’m going to write about the ending of The House That Wasn’t There at the end of this post. If you haven’t read it, you’ve been warned. I’ll try to give sufficient warning. In any case, I plan to be vague with the details.

Why Is the Ending so Important?

Everyone has either read a book or watched a movie that was good, until it wasn’t. What happened? The ending was ruined. Why does this happen? What is it about an ending that makes you feel as if your opinion hinges on those last few pages? Reading a book is an investment in both time and emotion. We spend a number of hours and several hundred pages with the characters contained within a novel. In that span of time, an emotional connection is made in some form, the strength of which is dependent on the writer’s ability to hook you. No matter the strength of that connection, an unsatisfactory ending can leave you feeling cheated out of your time and wishing the writer had spent more time developing the ending.

What Makes a Good Ending?

As readers, we know when we’ve read a bad book and we know when we’ve thoroughly enjoyed one. What factors go into the best ending for your book? Let’s break down the elements that play a part.

  • It should surprise the reader but feel inevitable. The reader shouldn’t see the ending coming. Yet everything should make sense as they look back upon the Main Character’s journey.
  • Wrap up all or most of the plotlines from the novel. Unresolved plotlines aren’t a good idea unless you’re writing a series. I say most because leaving the reader wondering about a small, insignificant aspect of the novel isn’t a bad idea. In fact, I’ve done it on purpose. Again, it needs to small, otherwise you risk having an unsatisfied reader.
  • Leave the reader satisfied in the journey they’ve undertaken. Reading a novel is an investment in both time and emotion. If you’ve done it right, they’ll look back with fondness on that journey.
  • The main character needs to be changed in some way by the events of the story. Who wants to read a story about a character that gets put through the wringer only to end up virtually the same on page 425 as they were on page 1? I’ll skip that, thanks.
  • The main character must solve the problem of the novel. The main character spends the entire with a problem to solve. Hundreds of pages are spent in pursuit of that solution. If a secondary character swoops in and solves the problem for the M.C., are they really the M.C.?

*Here’s the spoiler alert.

My Mistake

That last element is what I’d like to focus on. The main character must solve the problem of the novel. I believe John Matthew Fox of the YouTube Channel, Book Fox, was the person that used that terminology (he’s an editor and makes great videos, so check him out if you haven’t). I was watching one of his videos when I realized I messed up.

In The House That Wasn’t There, Conner is trapped in a house only he can see, forced to relive the occasions he committed each of the seven deadly sins. The problem of the novel is obvious, escape from the house. Now, I’m not going to go into specifics about how I managed to break an unofficial rule of novel endings, but I did.

I believe it was also Fox that said, “If the main character doesn’t solve the problem, then maybe they aren’t the main character.” Of course, this would infer that the main character is someone else in the book that did solve the problem. So, If Conner isn’t the main character of the novel, then who is? I guess you’ll have to read it to find out.

Thanks for reading.

Stephen M. Roth

If you’re interested in receiving the monthly newsletter, hit that follow button. If this post resonated with you, please like, follow, and share. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Stephen Roth

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Why Your Marriage is More Important Than Your Children

This article is a spec sample written for portfolio purposes

Life as a married couple with children can be a hectic whirlwind where you’re flying by the seat of your pants. It’s hard to get time alone when you have multiple kids, let alone intimate time. Most of the time it’s like the kids are ruling you. That’s exactly why you should make your marriage a priority, even at the expense of your children.

The Value of Marriage

Marriage is the most valuable relationship in the family, after all, it was the union that brought those children into the world. You managed to find the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. You settled down, had children, and built a life together. Along the way, that valuable relationship can fall into the background in lieu of raising children. That’s a shame. A marriage can be so much more than two people mindlessly parenting children until it’s time for bed.

When done right a marriage can be a bond that holds a family together. It’s an escape into comfort for two people at the end of a rough day. It’s another adult to have a grown-up conversation that doesn’t involve Kid #1’s blanky that went missing or Kid #4’s rough day at daycare (real conversations in our house). Valuing your marriage is the most important investment you’ll make in your children’s lives.

Parenting Is a Partnership

The bond created when you married your spouse doesn’t have to evaporate when you have children. Instead, it needs to turn into a partnership that helps the whole family strengthen. Two people working for a common goal are better than two individuals.

That partnership also means someone to share the burdens that come with raising children. There are moments of doubt, frustration, and stress that can be a heavy weight if carried alone. Take solace in the presence of another person to lighten the load, after all, isn’t a load shared more easily carried?

A Healthy Marriage Models Behavior for Your Children

In any relationship there are ups and downs. That’s simply a fact of life. There are moments when one of you will lose your temper, saying something that was better left unsaid. It’s best if those moments happen away from the children, but let’s face it, sometimes it’s unavoidable. If the children see you argue, they should also see the resolution. The ability to apologize and forgive are skills your children can best adopt when seen in their parents.

Seeing a loving relationship as an example in their own home will help them develop healthy relationships of their own. What will your children learn from seeing their parents in different rooms every night after work? How will they learn to effectively communicate when their own parents are sitting right beside each other staring at their phones instead of talking? Healthy relationships start in the home, and they start with the two people closest to your children. You and your spouse.

Having an Outlet Eases Anxiety

Who feels the brunt of your wrath when your anxiety morphs into anger because you don’t have an outlet? Your children. Putting your marriage first takes the pressure off the children to be perfect little angels. Let’s face it, they aren’t angels, and that’s okay. Vent to your spouse when you’re frustrated. Go out to dinner when you need a break. Have the kids stay with a trusted friend or family member when you want to pull your hair out. Get that time however you can. Since I also have a full-time job in addition to writing, my evenings are spent at the desk in the corner of our bedroom. Most nights my wife lies in bed while I write (in fact, she’s there now). We can talk or just spend time together while I am working on a novel or an article. Whatever you do, find that outlet with your partner that takes the focus away from the children and back on your relationship.

It’s Okay to Have Adult Time

That brings us to the next point: don’t feel guilty about taking time away from the children to focus on your relationship. Feeling guilty seems to be a natural part of being a parent. You feel guilty because you’re spending too much time at work. You feel guilty because you’re spending too much time with one child and not another. You feel guilty because you missed Timmy’s tee ball practice. Feeling guilty because you focus on the relationship with your spouse isn’t as common. That’s likely because most parents simply aren’t doing it.

Spending time away from your children is good for your mental health. It gives you time to recharge your battery so you can be everything you need to be for them. You shouldn’t feel guilty about that, especially if you’re spending time with the person helping you raise those little darlings.

Ignoring Your Relationship Is a Recipe for Disaster

Let me take you through a scenario. Your entire life has revolved around raising your children. For two decades it was the only thing your spouse and you focused on. You made sacrifices in your relationship in order to give the children the attention they deserved. You can’t remember the last time you went out with your spouse. Then your youngest graduates from high school and moves away for college. Suddenly, it’s just the two of you in that big house. Two people who haven’t had an adult conversation or spent quality time together in years. What if you’re both different people than you were when you fell in love?

Divorce rates among adults over 50 have doubled in recent decades, a shift researchers at Bowling Green University have called the “gray divorce” trend. It’s a transitional period, when children move out and priorities change. Some couples have difficulties coping with it. Making your relationship a focal point while you’re raising children will give you tools to handle the transition with grace.

Conclusion

Your marriage is the most influential relationship in your household. It’s the heart of your family, if it isn’t healthy, the rest of the body will suffer. It’s the foundation of your family, and the building blocks for the way your children build relationships both now and in the future. Focus on your relationship with your spouse, your children’s future depends on it.

Stephen M. Roth

Praying For Signs:

When God Says No

This article is a spec sample written for portfolio purposes

When life brings challenges, the Christian has a secret weapon to wield. The power of prayer. We pray for the wellbeing of our loved ones, friends, and families. We pray for guidance, strength, and courage through difficult circumstances. We also pray for signs from God of which direction to venture when faced with uncertainty.

Sometimes those signs are favorable, as with Gideon (Judges 6:36-40), while at other times we are nullified, as happened with the Pharisees asking Jesus for a sign (Matthew 12: 38-39). More on those later. It can seem random how God decides to send signs or messages to his believers. It can seem unfair when the sign that is received sends you in an unplanned direction.

My Story

My journey has always involved writing, just not what you would imagine from the author of an article like this. I have always dreamed of being a traditionally published author. It’s something I have spent a significant amount of my prayer time over the course of the last twenty years on. Recently, I prayed for a sign that I was heading in the direction God intended. The sign received wasn’t the one I expected. My path as a fiction writer wasn’t in God’s plans for me.

Has there been a time in your life when you prayed for a sign from God only to receive an answer you didn’t expect? It may be a simple matter of faith.

Biblical Examples of Asking for Signs

Let’s look at Judges 6: 36-40:

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

In his doubt, Gideon asks for a sign from God. Then another. In this passage we see God’s patience on full display as Gideon doubts Him, not once, but twice. He shows humility when requesting both signs. Gideon was a faithful man that sought reassurance of his path in God’s will. Deemed worthy and faithful, God provided the guidance that was sought.

Matthew 12: 38-39:

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign to prove his divinity. Jesus rebukes them instead. The Pharisees weren’t asking for a sign out of faith but were attempting to test Jesus, a demonstration that their motives weren’t pure (Mark 8:11).

What can we learn from these two passages when compared? Faith in God’s ability, even when doubting your own worthiness or ability to achieve what God has planned, is crucial. In fact, we are called to have faith no matter the circumstance. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Philippians 4:13 is a personal favorite of mine. It reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Though we may not possess the foresight to see into the future, God does. He knows everything. We are called to trust in Him to provide our way forward, lighting our path.

The Pharisees weren’t pure of heart. Their intentions were unjust. Jesus, being God in human form, knew their intentions and refused to provide the sign they requested.

Should You Ask for Signs?

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with asking God to provide a sign, as long as the heart is coming from a place of faith. If you are testing God, good luck. Test God and your prayer will go ignored. There is a better way.

A Better Prayer Than Asking for Signs

Instead of praying for signs, pray for wisdom and the ability to discern the signs that are already in your life. Pray for your will to align with God’s will for you.

James 1: 5-7:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not be expected to receive anything from the Lord.

“The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” Have you ever felt like that? I know I have. Allow God to aid you in properly aligning your will with His. Through faith all things are possible.

Conclusion

I’m still writing fiction, however, I have opened my eyes to the path that God wants me to walk, rather than asking Him to bless the path that I walk. Writing articles of faith is a part of that journey.

Walking with God isn’t about the signs that are sent to you in your daily walk. It’s about faith that he will deliver you from whatever you face, because He is with you and all things are possible through Him. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray to align your will with His. If you do that, you might not know the direction you’re heading, but you’ll have faith that God will deliver you there safely.

God bless,

Stephen M. Roth

Pacing: Speeding Up & Slowing Down

The pace is the speed at which the story unfolds, how quickly or slowly the events take place within the narrative. Proper pacing is essential if you want to hook a reader into turning the page long into the night or if you want to develop your character’s depth enough for the reader to have empathy for them. Both require different aspects of pacing. Understanding how to slow the story down or speed it up is crucial to success as a writer.

When to Quicken the Pace

When should you quicken the pace of your novel? Leading into the climax of the story is an obvious place to quicken the pace. You might also choose to start your novel off with a quick pace, hooking the reader with action. Maybe your previous chapter had a lot of introspection or internal monologue, and you feel it’s the right time to get things moving again. The choice is yours. So, how would you quicken the pace of your novel?

Tips For Quickening the Pace of Your Novel

  • Shorten sentences to create urgency. Shorter sentences are easier to read and keep the reader engaged. It’s also better for skimming through, which readers tend to do when the pace is quick.
  • Keep description to a minimum. Only describe what is important to the story and the action within. Unnecessary descriptions slow the story down.
  • No Internal Monologue. There isn’t usually a lot going on when a character is deep within their own mind. Save this for when you want to slow things down.
  • End Chapters on a cliffhanger. This will keep the reader engaged and turning the page to see what happens next.
  • Have quick dialogue exchanges. Quick, snappy dialogue will read quicker and move the story along faster.
  • Use shorter chapters. This will create the feeling of a lot happening in a short period of time.
  • Get in and get out of scenes. Don’t linger in a scene longer than necessary. To create a quickening pace, start at the action and end it sooner than you think.
  • Skip ahead. Don’t be afraid to skip ahead, skimming over the boring events that happen. Does your character drive to the next scene? Don’t write a scene with them in the car. Instead, skip ahead to where they are already at the location.

When to Slow Down the Pace

You don’t want to have an unrelenting pace to your novel cover to cover. Don’t get me wrong, we all love to be hooked by a fast-paced story, but you don’t always want that. There are times when you want to slow things down. For instance, when your character got out of an exhilarating scene that had the reader’s heartrate beating out of their chests. Maybe you want to focus on character development. Or maybe the main character just learned about something that alters the course of the novel. How do you slow down the pace of a novel?

Tips for Slowing Things Down

  • Inner monologue tangent. This is the time to get into the character’s mind and let out their thoughts.
  • Use longer sentences and paragraphs. Longer sentences take longer to read, therefore, slowing down the pace of the novel.
  • Longer Chapters. A long chapter can slow down the pace of a story by causing the reader to linger.
  • Linger in a scene. There are scenes that are best kept short, but here, you’ll focus on letting it stretch out.
  • Detailed description. Remember when we said to keep the description to a minimum to keep the pace moving quickly? This is exactly the opposite. Describe the scene using multiple senses.
  • Use complex language. Break out the thesaurus or that word you’ve been holding onto and use it. Complex language takes longer to absorb, slowing down the reader, and leaving them lingering in your brilliance.

Examples of Novels with Good Pacing

The Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud is a good example of how to pace your novel. Each novel starts with the psychic detective agency (Lockwood & Co is agency’s name) in the heart of an investigation into a paranormal event. It starts off quick, hooking the reader with action, before slowing down so you can get to know the characters.

Stephen King is a master of the slow building horror story. The Shining is a personal favorite of mine. Jack Torrance seems like a normal, but flawed husband and father at the beginning of the book. It slowly builds to a terrifying climax.

My Pacing Issues

I have thought a lot about pacing over the course of the last year or two. I know in hindsight that Reel Ghosts, my debut novel, suffered from pacing issues. It’s too slow in the beginning chapters, taking longer than needed to get to the main part of the story. I tried to rectify that with The House That Wasn’t There, which I believe I did, for the most part. Yet I focused so much on keeping a fast pace that I forgot to stop and linger occasionally. The end of the book suffered because of it. With my current work in progress, Cult of the Macabre, I’m focusing on landing somewhere between the two novels, with a slow building plot with a satisfying ending.

Conclusion

Pacing is the key to both hooking the reader and making sure they have spent enough quality time with your characters to appreciate them. There are times when you will need to speed things up and slow it down. Knowing when to do so is half the battle of this beautiful thing we call writing.

Thanks for reading,

Stephen M. Roth

If you enjoyed this post, please follow, like, and share. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Stephen Roth

Social media links:

X: @StephenRoth316

Bluesky: @stephenrothwriter.bsky.social

Instagram: @StephenRoth316

TikTok: Stephen.Roth6

Accepting What I am

(There will be a preview of my new novel, The House That Wasn’t There, at the end. If you’re just here for that, skip to the bottom.)

When we are young, we’re filled with dreams and ambitions of what we will achieve in our lives. Some of us want to climb Mt. Everest, while others want to become a famous actor. My dream since I was little was to be a published author. More specifically, I dreamed about seeing my book on the shelf of my local bookstore. Being a famous author wasn’t necessarily the dream, just being a traditionally published author would suffice.

I finished my first novel when I was twenty-five years old. It was rejected by the three literary agents I sent it to. Yes, you read that right. I sent it to a total of three literary agents. Thanks to the advancement of the internet, and the popularity of Googling information that we don’t know but want the answer to, I now know that three wasn’t enough. That’s alright, it wasn’t publishable by any stretch of the imagination.

Eventually, I learned that three wasn’t enough and sent my next manuscript to twenty-five agents. The following manuscript was sent to more than fifty. Reel Ghosts was sent to at least fifty, as well. All of those manuscripts had the same thing in common. They were rejected.

I was blindly repeating the same mistake over and over again, which I wrote about when discussing why I decided to self-publish. My focus on the dream had blinded me to reality and what the world was telling me. I wasn’t going to be a traditionally published author.

A wild backup plan became “the plan.” Back when X was Twitter, I posted about my backup plan being self-publishing my book. I was looking for insight, which I received. I also received plenty of comments regarding my usage of the term backup plan. Self-published authors weren’t happy that I used it in that manner. Years down the road, I stand by that terminology, at least for me. The fact is, if I could be a traditionally published author today, I would likely take it. Of course, it would come with a cost. My control would be limited. I would also still have to do some of the same marketing for the book that I do now. It wouldn’t be easier, just a different sort of journey.

Full disclosure. I didn’t send The House That Wasn’t There to a single literary agent, like I had planned. Seeing Reel Ghosts do little to nothing in the self-publishing world was and still is hard. Plus, The House is a better novel. I want good things for it. Yet, I have come accept what I am, a self-published author.

It’s a humbling experience for a man who has read many books and thought “Are you kidding me? My book is better than this! Why do they have an agent and a publishing deal?” If you choose to read The House That Wasn’t There, which deals with the 7 deadly sins, you’ll find out which two I committed.

Because of the experience of the last year and a half, I know what I am. I’m a good, but not great writer. There are worse, true, but there are a lot that are better. That’s fine with me; I’ll keep writing regardless. Hopefully, you’ll keep reading.

The Preview

Here’s the back of the book description:

There wasn’t supposed to be a house hidden in the woods across the street. There weren’t any visible signs of construction in the area. Being a residential construction worker, Conner knew a construction site when there was one. There wasn’t one.

It was as if the house appeared overnight.

It beckoned to him, calling out for him to enter, until he had no choice but to step inside.

It knew his sins and tormented him with them, making him relive every heartbreaking choice that shattered his life.

The worst part? There’s no way out.

Interesting, right?

Since you’re reading this blog post (thanks, by the way) how about a further look into the book?

This isn’t the first time that Conner has encountered the house, which you’ll learn more about when you read the book. Ten years ago, he was part of an investigation into the disappearance of a woman. Her husband said that in the week leading up to her disappearance, she claimed to see a house across the street in the empty lot. The problem? There wasn’t a house there.

The house is seven stories tall, with a different level where the wanderer experiences an occasion they committed that particular sin. While they are in the house, it feeds on their soul.

While in the house, Conner experiences the sins he committed while investigating the disappearances involving the house ten years ago. Sins that caused him to flee his life for a new one.

Here’s a link to the Amazon page where you can buy the book.

Thanks for reading.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow, like, and share. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Stephen Roth

Social media links:

X: @StephenRoth316

Bluesky: @stephenrothwriter.bsky.social

Instagram: @StephenRoth316

TikTok: Stephen.Roth6

To Be or Not to Be a Christian Writer

In recent posts I’ve written about my faith as a Christian (here and here). I’ve also written about my passion for writing. Outside of family, those are my greatest passions, loves, and reasons for being. It occurred to me recently that some of you might be wondering why I haven’t blended the two. In other words, why am I not a Christian writer? Well, it’s a complicated answer, and I can’t say it won’t change somewhere down the road. Here it goes.

Let’s start off with a reiteration of my faith and why it’s important to me. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. That he came down from heaven, lived a perfect life, and died for the forgiveness of my sins. I, a sinner, condemned, unclean, am made clean by that sacrifice, which was accepted by baptism. That’s the Good News. That’s what I believe. I have refrained from sharing my story on this blog in the past. Now, I fear I was wrong. After all, am I not called to proclaim the Good News? That’s what this is. That’s what this is about.

Now, Let’s talk about why I write. I’m sure that I’ve written about this before, but it’s good to reiterate the point here. I write because I must. That’s the short answer. The long answer is that it’s a compulsion, an itch inside my brain that must be scratched. I write for the way it makes me feel afterward. I write because I’m a better person when I have a creative outlet in a world where I can control so little. I write for all the reasons that were in the previous blog post. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

So, what is a Christian writer?

A Christian writer is a writer that chooses to write for a Christian audience. That’s usually through the confines of the Christian genre of fiction. For the purposes of this blog, we’ll only be discussing fiction, although I’ll get to nonfiction at the end.

Why don’t I write Christian fiction?

It’s a personal choice, honestly. Horror was my first love. That wouldn’t change, even if I decided to write Christian fiction. Christian horror does exist and could be an option down the road. For now, however, it simply isn’t for me. I am a big proponent of reading what you write and vice versa. I read horror, not Christian horror. The Christian writing I intake is of the nonfiction variety, mostly having to do with spiritual growth.

I write mainstream horror, but with a code of ethics that derive from my faith as a Christian. In the two blog posts linked above, I documented my struggles with maintaining that code of ethics. I try not to use profanity in my writing, though have at times in the past. In The House That Wasn’t There, my upcoming novel, I stayed true to those ethics. There is an intentional use of profanity later in the book, symbolizing the struggles that remain in my life. It’s a good book. I hope you read it when it comes out, hopefully later this year.

The choice to continue writing mainstream horror instead of changing to Christian horror, despite the calling I’ve felt recently to speak out on faith, was an intentional one. My fiction is the most likely way I can make a widespread impact on nonbelievers. “But Stephen, you don’t write Christian horror. How will you have an impact on them?” Most readers will read my novel and move on with their lives, and that’s fine. A few of them, however, might decide to visit the website in my author profile (this website). Here they will find a writer that talks about the struggles he has had in his writing career. Hopefully, that will help them with their own struggles. They will also find posts like this one, where a writer proclaims his faith, unafraid of what the world will think of him. You see, what good is proclaiming the Good News if it’s only done to those that already know? It’s those that haven’t heard, the doubters and the naysayers, that I’m trying to reach.

I hope this post clears up any confusion about the purpose of this blog going forward. There will still be writing related content, however, there will also be more posts like this. If you like this post and think I should do more like it, leave a comment below.

One last thing. Reel Ghosts is struggling with getting reviews. I am willing to send a copy of that book to two readers willing to CONSIDER leaving a review on Amazon. Simply considering leaving a review is enough. Send me an email if you’re interested (sroth2006@yahoo.com). I’ll post in the comments when this offer has closed.

I know this is my first post in a while. I’ve been working on getting some freelance writing samples done while working on a new novel. Writing about faith is something I’m considering with freelance writing. The other topics are parenting/family and digital marketing. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow, like, and share. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Stephen Roth

Social media links:

X: @StephenRoth316

Bluesky: @stephenrothwriter.bsky.social

Instagram: @StephenRoth316

TikTok: Stephen.Roth6

What’s Going On

It’s been a while since I’ve given you an update on what’s happening in my writing career. So that’s what we’ll do this week.

  • Reel Ghosts has been out over a year now. It’s been a learning experience, mostly in what not to do. For most of that time I didn’t promote or advertise the book. That’s what I’m doing now. If you’ve read Reel Ghosts, consider leaving a review.
  • My next novel, the House That Wasn’t There, is in the hands of a few first readers. I accidentally gathered a group with varied skills. Some are good with readability, while others are picking out some mistakes on my part.
  • A cover is next for the House. With Reel Ghosts I thought I needed to spend hundreds of dollars on a cover. Unable to afford it, I opted for an AI image for the cover. This time I’ll be hiring an artist on fiverr. A date for release isn’t set, but I’d like a few months to promote the release.
  • I started a new novel last week, tentatively titled the Devotee. It’s about a psychology student that interviews a horror writer about his influence on his fans for her thesis, and subsequently joins a cult with the writer as the leader.
  • It’s a different story than anything I’ve written for 2 reasons. First, as you may have noticed in the brief description, I said her. That’s because the main character is a woman. I’ve written short stories about women before, but this will be the first novel. Second, it’s first person POV (I/ me) instead of my usual choice, 3rd person (she/her). It felt right when developing the story. 3 chapters in and it feels like the right decision.
  • I’m working on a short story collection. The grind of finding magazines for my short stories has been something I’ve struggled with in the past. In fact, over the last few years, I’ve not tried to find magazines for most. Instead, they’ve sat collecting dust. In my spare time I’m editing the stories I’ve written and putting together a collection for an ebook. This is a recent undertaking so there’s no timetable for publication.
  • Another plan for the future has to do with my middle grade fiction. In the early years of this blog, I posted about my trials and tribulations querying literary agents regarding my middle grade novels. Now that I’ve committed to self-publishing, it’s time to get those stories out to the world. From Darkness Comes will be first, as a standalone book. Then I’ll turn my attention to the Breaking Character series. The first book is done, but needs a fresh eye. I’ve grown as a writer since then and know it’ll need work. The first draft of the second book is done and needs edited. The third book is unwritten. Is 3 books enough for a series? Should I write more? Let me know your opinion in the comments.
  • I’m planning on doing some freelance writing soon. Articles, blog posts, and whatever sounds interesting. I’d like to turn writing into a career. If you have a need for writing services, send me a message.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow, like, and share. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Stephen Roth

Social media links:

X: @StephenRoth316

Bluesky: @stephenrothwriter.bsky.social

Instagram: @StephenRoth316

TikTok: Stephen.Roth6