Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I Love My Shorts

One thing I'm loving about Scalzi's rant against Black Matrix is all the discussion that's pouring out across the web about SHORT STORIES. While most of it is about the sci-fi/fantasy markets there's still a lot out there that mystery writers can glean from these discussions. And hey, if you're writing shorts, you don't need to limit yourself to just one genre. Writing shorts is like dating, you need to play the field before you settle down with your one true love.

And now for your linking pleasure

Nick Mamatas holds forth on "The 'Market' for Short Stories". This is a pretty simple overview of the genre markets. http://nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com/1407128.html He pretty much nails the mystery markets conundrum.

Cat Rambo's essay "Finding Markets for Stories" http://catrambo.livejournal.com/251628.html covers the process of looking for markets and where to start your submission process. Lots of links and good advice in this one!

Ann Leckie has two wonderful essays that speak more to the writing process than marketing. http://ann-leckie.livejournal.com/141905.html and http://ann-leckie.livejournal.com/141692.html

Marshall Payne also talks about writing in his essay "What is Story" http://marshallpayne1.livejournal.com/99255.html

And so as not to slight the gentleman who started all this great discussion, John Scalzi has another, and he claims it's the last, post about markets and rates. http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/08/presumably-final-notes-on-rates-markets-and-blah-blah-blah/

Don't you love it that short stories just keep keeping on?

5 comments:

David Cranmer said...

Writing shorts is like dating... Very true. I started writing crime but find myself more and more in the wild west and enjoying it.

sandra seamans said...

I believe that every writer has niche that fits their voice, David. We can write in all the genres, mix and match them, but there's always that one sweet spot that grabs hold of us and doesn't let go.

Marshall Payne said...

Thanks for the link and this post! I back to writing a novel again, but short fiction is my first love.

sandra seamans said...

Hello, Marshall and welcome to the corner. I've tried writing novels but they always turn into short stories, perhaps the reason I love shorts so much.

Marshall Payne said...

Hi Sandra!

I've written 15 shorts this year, so just thought I work on a novel for a while.

Thanks for reading my essay. Though I'm not always serious. Here's my Friday post on short fiction. :)

http://marshallpayne1.livejournal.com/99682.html