When I first started this blog, I said I wanted to put my blog where my mouth was. In other words, I wanted to point people in the direction of short stories and give a bit of advertising and praise to both writers and zines. Over the months, I think I've accomplished that on some small level. In that spirit, here's some links to check out.
Patti Abbott is sponsoring forgotten short stories this Friday in place of her usual Forgotten Books series. This is something every short story writer out there should participate in. If we don't take pride in short stories why should anyone else? If you'd like to participate, drop on over to Patti's blog and leave her a message in the comments, then on Friday she'll link to your blog and your review. http://pattinase.blogspot.com/ And if you don't have a blog, Patti hosts reviews on her blog. If she runs out of room, with her permission, I'd be more than happy to host any overflow reviews on my blog. Help tell the world about the joys of short stories.
Back a week or so ago, Rafe McGregor asked if the short story was dead. I think the response to that post surprised him and this week he's hosting two blog posts by Michael Bracken, short story writer extraordinaire. Michael's first post is up now and if you want to learn how to make a living at short story writing, head on over and have a read. http://rafemcgregor.blogspot.com/2009/04/short-fiction-is-my-life-part-1.html
Over at BookSpot Central, Brian has posted this week's Short Thoughts on Short Fiction. This post is more about the links to short stories than reviews. The stories he's put up were runner-ups to the top ten for the Spinetingler Awards. And I've gotta say, they're a WOW! bunch of stories. Head on over and click those links for some great reading. http://www.bookspotcentral.com/2009/04/short-thoughts-on-short-fiction-5/ My favorite of the group was Nicole Fix's "Jello's Escape" published at Thieves Jargon.
And a couple of Snoopy Dances for friends of The Corner who've had stories published.
Cormac Brown found Flash Fire 500 through the links on the left and had his story "Recalculating" published there. This story shows a different side to Cormac's writing than most of you are familiar with. Go have a read. http://flashfire500.blogspot.com/2009/03/recalculating-by-cormac-brown.html
And Gary Dobbs has a new story up at A Twist of Noir, http://a-twist-of-noir.blogspot.com/ But be forwarned, if cannibalism isn't your cup of tea, you'd best pass on this one, but you'll be missing one heck of a story.
And leading up to Friday's Forgotten Short Stories, expect to see more links and thoughts on short story writing this week.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Hallelujah
Somebody gets what we short stories writers are all about.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/weekinreview/05scott.html?_r=2
Thank you, A. O. Scott, for putting it so eloquently.
And a tip of the hat to Sarah Weinman for the link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/weekinreview/05scott.html?_r=2
Thank you, A. O. Scott, for putting it so eloquently.
And a tip of the hat to Sarah Weinman for the link.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Zines
Have you ever wondered how to choose which new markets to submit your stories to? I have. Zines pop up all the time, some flourish like BTAP and A Twist of Noir and others just struggle to get enough submissions for the first issue, then die.
So, how do you pick? Take a good look at the start up page. Did they care enough to get the spelling right? Don't laugh, I ran across a new market last week that's seeking submissions and there were misspellings all over the place. If a publisher doesn't present themselves in a good light, are they going to care about you and your story?
And what about the people behind the new zine? Are they enthusiastic about finding the best stories out there or are they just looking for filler and a place to publish their friends? Take a look at their "about us" page or check out their blog, find out who they are and what they're about. Is their site presentable or does it look like it was just thrown together as an afterthought? Is this a place you want your work showcased?
Another thing to look at is who else they're publishing. Are they writers you know and admire? If you don't know the writers, read the stories. Do you want your story sitting side by side with theirs? I remember when Flashing in the Gutters started up, I was thrilled to share space with authors who had books published and writers who I knew from the zine world.
But the truth is, even if everything comes together with a good-looking zine, a publisher who cares, and writers who will knock your socks off, the zine can fail. Why, you ask? Good question. Not enough readers, not enough word of mouth, not enough quality submissions to fill the pages. The reasons are endless and success as iffy as the weather.
I remember Todd Robinson once saying in an interview that in the first year of ThugLit they filled the pages with their own stories because they weren't getting enough submissions. But they hung in there and all of a sudden they were the hottest market on the web. Where others would have thrown in the towel, he persisted and now the zine has an anthology publisher and more submissions than they know what to do with.
The zine world is a coin toss at best. As writers we need to seek out the best of them, support the new ones that look like they're reaching for the stars, and spread the word. Word of mouth advertising and submitting your stories is the easiest way to support and keep the best of them alive and breathing. And yeah, I'm a zine fanatic and damn proud of it.
So, how do you pick? Take a good look at the start up page. Did they care enough to get the spelling right? Don't laugh, I ran across a new market last week that's seeking submissions and there were misspellings all over the place. If a publisher doesn't present themselves in a good light, are they going to care about you and your story?
And what about the people behind the new zine? Are they enthusiastic about finding the best stories out there or are they just looking for filler and a place to publish their friends? Take a look at their "about us" page or check out their blog, find out who they are and what they're about. Is their site presentable or does it look like it was just thrown together as an afterthought? Is this a place you want your work showcased?
Another thing to look at is who else they're publishing. Are they writers you know and admire? If you don't know the writers, read the stories. Do you want your story sitting side by side with theirs? I remember when Flashing in the Gutters started up, I was thrilled to share space with authors who had books published and writers who I knew from the zine world.
But the truth is, even if everything comes together with a good-looking zine, a publisher who cares, and writers who will knock your socks off, the zine can fail. Why, you ask? Good question. Not enough readers, not enough word of mouth, not enough quality submissions to fill the pages. The reasons are endless and success as iffy as the weather.
I remember Todd Robinson once saying in an interview that in the first year of ThugLit they filled the pages with their own stories because they weren't getting enough submissions. But they hung in there and all of a sudden they were the hottest market on the web. Where others would have thrown in the towel, he persisted and now the zine has an anthology publisher and more submissions than they know what to do with.
The zine world is a coin toss at best. As writers we need to seek out the best of them, support the new ones that look like they're reaching for the stars, and spread the word. Word of mouth advertising and submitting your stories is the easiest way to support and keep the best of them alive and breathing. And yeah, I'm a zine fanatic and damn proud of it.
Friday, April 3, 2009
We Love Shorts!
Scrolling through Ralan.com this morning, I discovered a new flash site. Yeah! While its billed as horror, they take their scares in any way, shape or genre and Paul, they dig the black humor. The first stories will hit the web on June 1 but they're open for subs as of yesterday.
What? Oh, the details. The site's name is The Daily Tourniquet, word count maxes out at 1500, so you have plenty of room to play. They're hoping to make this an every day, in your e-box sort of deal, like FlashShot and Every Day Fiction. And from the looks of the site, well, they just might make it happen. So, here's the url, go have a gander and get writing. http://www.dailytourniquet.com/?page_id=5
And for you short story lovers out there, Patti Abbott is sponsoring a forgotten short stories spot next Friday. If you've got a blog, post a review of your favorite short story. Get the word out that shorts are here to stay and they're a fun way to pass the time. Share the secret!
What? Oh, the details. The site's name is The Daily Tourniquet, word count maxes out at 1500, so you have plenty of room to play. They're hoping to make this an every day, in your e-box sort of deal, like FlashShot and Every Day Fiction. And from the looks of the site, well, they just might make it happen. So, here's the url, go have a gander and get writing. http://www.dailytourniquet.com/?page_id=5
And for you short story lovers out there, Patti Abbott is sponsoring a forgotten short stories spot next Friday. If you've got a blog, post a review of your favorite short story. Get the word out that shorts are here to stay and they're a fun way to pass the time. Share the secret!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wasted Writing?
A couple of posts back I was bemoaning the fact that I'd totally screwed up a short story I was writing. Now, that story is mellowing out in my brain, searching for the proper notes to make it dance to its own music. But in that wrong story, I discovered several paragraphs that work within the frame of another story I'm working on.
One of the things I discovered was a description of Rachael Reilly's home that I'd been wracking my brain for. I could see the space in my mind but I couldn't seem to get it down on paper in a way that captured the reasons Rachael lives the way she does. Here's her home as seen through Harry's eyes.
"Rachael lived on the upper floor of a two story brick building that used to house a dress factory before they started shipping that kind of work overseas. The space was completely open, almost bare, so the line of sight wasn't cluttered. In one of the back corners a loft had been built for her sleeping area. There was no way anyone could ambush this lady, even in her own home."
What I love about that paragraph is that it captures the state of the city she lives in, where jobs are vanishing and buildings are being deserted. It also shows how paranoid she is about keeping herself safe, which goes back to her days on the street. How cool is that?
I was also able to draw a better picture of a few other characters who live in Rachael's world. While the original short story didn't work on one level, it did open up enough to give me a better feel for Rachael and her world. Which proves the point that no writing is wasted, there's always something in the words we put down on paper that we can use, even if only a simple sentence or paragraph.
So the next time you're getting ready to toss a story in the circular file, take a second look. Maybe your brain wasn't working on that story because it was mulling through another one, trying to pick up threads that you dropped. No time spent writing is wasted, you just have to pick through the muddled story to find the true gems that your writer's brain was searching for.
One of the things I discovered was a description of Rachael Reilly's home that I'd been wracking my brain for. I could see the space in my mind but I couldn't seem to get it down on paper in a way that captured the reasons Rachael lives the way she does. Here's her home as seen through Harry's eyes.
"Rachael lived on the upper floor of a two story brick building that used to house a dress factory before they started shipping that kind of work overseas. The space was completely open, almost bare, so the line of sight wasn't cluttered. In one of the back corners a loft had been built for her sleeping area. There was no way anyone could ambush this lady, even in her own home."
What I love about that paragraph is that it captures the state of the city she lives in, where jobs are vanishing and buildings are being deserted. It also shows how paranoid she is about keeping herself safe, which goes back to her days on the street. How cool is that?
I was also able to draw a better picture of a few other characters who live in Rachael's world. While the original short story didn't work on one level, it did open up enough to give me a better feel for Rachael and her world. Which proves the point that no writing is wasted, there's always something in the words we put down on paper that we can use, even if only a simple sentence or paragraph.
So the next time you're getting ready to toss a story in the circular file, take a second look. Maybe your brain wasn't working on that story because it was mulling through another one, trying to pick up threads that you dropped. No time spent writing is wasted, you just have to pick through the muddled story to find the true gems that your writer's brain was searching for.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Dash of This - A Pinch of That
First up, Markets.
Necrotic Tissue opens for subs today and will accept them until the 30th. Also their last online issue is up on their site. The next issue will be print. Url to the left.
Withersin Magazine is a horror print magazine. They open for submissions today and accept until May 15. And for you flash writers, it's a market that takes flash. http://withersin.com/withersin_002.htm
Apollo's Lyre. I just received word that Apollo's Lyre has moved it's site and while it is still under construction they are open to submissions and they now have a blog for information. They accept shorts and flash - it's a wonderful flash site for those who enjoy micro fiction. The new url is http://apollos-lyre.tripod.com/
Magazine Newsletters.
I don't know how many of you sign up for the free magazine newsletters, but it's not a bad thing to do. You're sent an email when the publication posts a new issue and most times you're advised when they open to submissions. Always nice to have that heads up when it's time to submit. Does it increase your spam? Not that I've noticed.
Finding Guidelines.
How many of you find it difficult to track down the guidelines at a zine site? I'm raising my hand here. On more than one occasion I've found myself clicking and clicking on links to find out what exactly a publication wants. I've found the guidelines under such titles as: Who We Are, Contact Us, News, Submission, Guidelines and at PulpPusher under Deal. Always hunt for the guidelines, besides formatting details, you find submission dates, types of stories they're looking for, and the preferred length of those stories. And yes, also take the time to hunt down the editorial staff, they're not always with the guidelines. And if a site has a news blog, click on it. They're usually full of information that makes you look like you know what you're doing when you submit a story.
And finally, with a hat tip to Brian at Book Spot Central, the newest thing in creating a short story. http://www.theurbanelitist.com/short-storyspreadsheet-excel-as-a-trojan-horse-for-literature/1947/
And a final late day note - Storyglossia is open for submissions. Url to the left.
And the news keeps coming - There's a new issue of ThugLit on the streets.
Necrotic Tissue opens for subs today and will accept them until the 30th. Also their last online issue is up on their site. The next issue will be print. Url to the left.
Withersin Magazine is a horror print magazine. They open for submissions today and accept until May 15. And for you flash writers, it's a market that takes flash. http://withersin.com/withersin_002.htm
Apollo's Lyre. I just received word that Apollo's Lyre has moved it's site and while it is still under construction they are open to submissions and they now have a blog for information. They accept shorts and flash - it's a wonderful flash site for those who enjoy micro fiction. The new url is http://apollos-lyre.tripod.com/
Magazine Newsletters.
I don't know how many of you sign up for the free magazine newsletters, but it's not a bad thing to do. You're sent an email when the publication posts a new issue and most times you're advised when they open to submissions. Always nice to have that heads up when it's time to submit. Does it increase your spam? Not that I've noticed.
Finding Guidelines.
How many of you find it difficult to track down the guidelines at a zine site? I'm raising my hand here. On more than one occasion I've found myself clicking and clicking on links to find out what exactly a publication wants. I've found the guidelines under such titles as: Who We Are, Contact Us, News, Submission, Guidelines and at PulpPusher under Deal. Always hunt for the guidelines, besides formatting details, you find submission dates, types of stories they're looking for, and the preferred length of those stories. And yes, also take the time to hunt down the editorial staff, they're not always with the guidelines. And if a site has a news blog, click on it. They're usually full of information that makes you look like you know what you're doing when you submit a story.
And finally, with a hat tip to Brian at Book Spot Central, the newest thing in creating a short story. http://www.theurbanelitist.com/short-storyspreadsheet-excel-as-a-trojan-horse-for-literature/1947/
And a final late day note - Storyglossia is open for submissions. Url to the left.
And the news keeps coming - There's a new issue of ThugLit on the streets.
A Big SMFS Snoopy Dance
A round of Snoopy Dances for the Derringer finalists. Congratulations to everyone on the list and for you SMFS members - let the reading and voting commence.
The finalists for the 2009 Derringer are:
1000 or Less
Black Pearls by James C. Clar
Incident in Itawamba by Gary Hoffman
No Flowers for Stacy by Ruth McCarty
No Place Like Home by Dee Stuart
This Bird has Flown by BV Lawson
1001-4000
Independence Day by Allan Leverone
Regrets, I've Had a Few by Allan Leverone
Stalkers* by Lew Stowe
Taste for It by Sophie Littlefield
The Cost of Doing Business by Mike Penncavage
Wishing on Whores* by John Weagly
4001-8000
Bonnie and Clyde Caper by O'Neil De Noux
Dead Even by Frank Zafiro
The Art of Avarice by Darrell James
The Big Score by Chris Holm
The Quick Brown Fox by Robert S. Levinson
8000-17500
Haven't Seen You Since the Funeral by Ernest B. Brown
Jack Best and the Line in the Sand by Steve Olley
Panic on Portage Path by Dick Stodghill
Too Wise by O'Neil De Noux
Vegetable Matters by Terry W. Ervin II
The finalists for the 2009 Derringer are:
1000 or Less
Black Pearls by James C. Clar
Incident in Itawamba by Gary Hoffman
No Flowers for Stacy by Ruth McCarty
No Place Like Home by Dee Stuart
This Bird has Flown by BV Lawson
1001-4000
Independence Day by Allan Leverone
Regrets, I've Had a Few by Allan Leverone
Stalkers* by Lew Stowe
Taste for It by Sophie Littlefield
The Cost of Doing Business by Mike Penncavage
Wishing on Whores* by John Weagly
4001-8000
Bonnie and Clyde Caper by O'Neil De Noux
Dead Even by Frank Zafiro
The Art of Avarice by Darrell James
The Big Score by Chris Holm
The Quick Brown Fox by Robert S. Levinson
8000-17500
Haven't Seen You Since the Funeral by Ernest B. Brown
Jack Best and the Line in the Sand by Steve Olley
Panic on Portage Path by Dick Stodghill
Too Wise by O'Neil De Noux
Vegetable Matters by Terry W. Ervin II
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