Okay, I'm writing an Apocalypse story. I know the ending and I'm almost there, but the bad guys aren't taking shape in my head. I really don't want zombies, vampires, cannibals, evil government soldiers or aliens. What's left? Or is this a situation where it has all been done so just pick one?
This is my first Apocalypse story which makes me wonder if readers have certain expectations that need to be filled in this genre.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Lost Stories
One day about two weeks ago our electric was flickering on and off, so I shut down the computer. Not wanting to entirely waste my writing time, I went through my old file folders from five or six years ago and found some stories that I'd never submitted. Ahem, to be truthful, they weren't fit to be subbed.
I picked three of the stories that looked the most promising and started working. One flash piece just need a bit more focus, another story had bits of dialogue and a very vague outline, and another just needed some description added and a bit of spit and polish. All three have been kicked out the door and into the world of slush piles.
And yes, I still have a stack of stories sitting beside the computer to work on along with working my way through the computer files to see what needs work and what needs to be kicked out the door. I did a lot of writing last year, but didn't sub as much as I should have. Hope to do better this year.
How about you, what do you do when the computers are down and that writing bug is gnawing away at you? And how many stories do you have lurking in folders, on and off the computer, that just need a bit of polish?
I picked three of the stories that looked the most promising and started working. One flash piece just need a bit more focus, another story had bits of dialogue and a very vague outline, and another just needed some description added and a bit of spit and polish. All three have been kicked out the door and into the world of slush piles.
And yes, I still have a stack of stories sitting beside the computer to work on along with working my way through the computer files to see what needs work and what needs to be kicked out the door. I did a lot of writing last year, but didn't sub as much as I should have. Hope to do better this year.
How about you, what do you do when the computers are down and that writing bug is gnawing away at you? And how many stories do you have lurking in folders, on and off the computer, that just need a bit of polish?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
2011 Spinetingler Award Nominees
Let's have a big round of Snoopy Dances for the 2011 Spinetingler Award Nominees for best short story on the web:
Times Past by Matthew C. Funk from All Due Respect
Hold You by Steve Weddle from A Twist of Noir
Pillow Talk by Jodi MacArthur from Beat to a Pulp
The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson from Mysterical-E
Secretario by Catherynne M. Valente from Weird Tales
Ghostman on Third by Chad Eagleton from The Drowning Machine
Carpaccio By Lily Childs from Thrillers, Killers ‘N’ Chillers
How to Jail by Dennis Tafoya from Crime Factory
Home Invasion by Jen Conley from Thuglit
Beat on the Brat by Nigel Bird from The Drowning Machine
A HUGE congratulations to all the nominees!!! You can find more information and links to the stories here http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2011/03/24/2011-spinetingler-award-short-story-on-the-web-nominees/
Times Past by Matthew C. Funk from All Due Respect
Hold You by Steve Weddle from A Twist of Noir
Pillow Talk by Jodi MacArthur from Beat to a Pulp
The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson from Mysterical-E
Secretario by Catherynne M. Valente from Weird Tales
Ghostman on Third by Chad Eagleton from The Drowning Machine
Carpaccio By Lily Childs from Thrillers, Killers ‘N’ Chillers
How to Jail by Dennis Tafoya from Crime Factory
Home Invasion by Jen Conley from Thuglit
Beat on the Brat by Nigel Bird from The Drowning Machine
A HUGE congratulations to all the nominees!!! You can find more information and links to the stories here http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2011/03/24/2011-spinetingler-award-short-story-on-the-web-nominees/
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Brian's Story Cupboard
Brian Lindenmuth sent this link so we could all take a peek into this amazing story cupboard.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=257985
If you can read through this thread and not come up with at least one story idea - it's time to hang up your keyboard!
Thanks, Brian!!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=257985
If you can read through this thread and not come up with at least one story idea - it's time to hang up your keyboard!
Thanks, Brian!!
Anger Burns by Gary Carter
I just love when I come across a great piece of flash fiction. Some writers don't think you can say everything that needs to be said in less than 2000 words. "Anger Burns" by Gary Carter is proof that you can. http://www.friedchickenandcoffee.com/2011/03/09/anger-burns-by-gary-carter
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Best Fiction
I love finding zines that celebrate not just the short story but authors who write in the form. Welcome to the web "Best Fiction: A Journal of Short Stories". The site has just opened and is looking for subs that blur the lines between literary and crime. http://bestfiction.org
Stories should be 1500 to 7500 words and the pay is $25 per story minimum. Established authors can negotiate their fees.
On the site you'll find video talks featuring Tennessee Williams, Charles Bukowski, and Ernest Hemingway. Click on Classic of the Day and you'll find the Raold Dahl short story, "Man From the South".
A lot of care has gone into setting up this site, so drop over and give them your support. Zines don't exist in a vacuum - they need writers and readers to keep them going, just the same as print zines.
Stories should be 1500 to 7500 words and the pay is $25 per story minimum. Established authors can negotiate their fees.
On the site you'll find video talks featuring Tennessee Williams, Charles Bukowski, and Ernest Hemingway. Click on Classic of the Day and you'll find the Raold Dahl short story, "Man From the South".
A lot of care has gone into setting up this site, so drop over and give them your support. Zines don't exist in a vacuum - they need writers and readers to keep them going, just the same as print zines.
Little Big Crimes
It's always great to find a new site that reviews short stories. Rob Lopresti, from the Criminal Brief blog has started a new short review site called "Little Big Crimes" http://lbcrimes.blogspot.com
Once a week Rob posts a review of his favorite short read of the week. He's also looking for guest reviewers. Rob's reviews so far have been from print sources so you'd have to query him if you're interested in reviewing online shorts to make sure he's open to this type of review.
And be sure to drop by and read his reviews, you're sure to find some good reading material and a few anthologies you might have missed.
Once a week Rob posts a review of his favorite short read of the week. He's also looking for guest reviewers. Rob's reviews so far have been from print sources so you'd have to query him if you're interested in reviewing online shorts to make sure he's open to this type of review.
And be sure to drop by and read his reviews, you're sure to find some good reading material and a few anthologies you might have missed.
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