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Short story satisfaction

While querying my paranormal mystery manuscript, I found myself with time to over-analyze everything that could be wrong in my book. After I sent off my query letter and the requested pages, my brain battled between typos and pacing and character motivation. I wasn’t winning and end up dragging myself down into the pit of self-doubt in the worst way.

However, I wouldn’t allow myself to be alone, so I reached out to some writer friends, who’ve also been querying or on sub with their agents. They were dealing with similar emotions. We mulled together and vowed to keep writing. Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to tackle another novel project. My brain wasn’t ready to wrap around a new investment until the other did or didn’t have any traction in the querying process. This was my mind playing tricks on me.

So, while some friends worked on a new manuscript, others took breaks, and another started to look up opportunities for short story submissions in anthologies and magazines. For these submissions, we found goals and prompts to write something fresh and different. I had no idea that’s exactly what I needed.

Yes, usually, you hear that you should be writing your next thing, but the mountain was too big for me in that moment. I needed hills to conquer.

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Photo by Will Swann on Unsplash

To me, a short story is a nice, satisfying challenge and the prompts available through submission opportunities serve me inspiration. As with any piece of writing, send it to a CP and beta readers for feedback before submission.

Yes, I agree you must keep writing, beta reading, and CPing to stay fresh and learn about the craft. There’s always room for improvement.

Keep on writing, my friends!

Difference between flash fiction and short stories?

A few options on where to submit short stories:

 

If you know of places to submit short stories and flash fiction, please comment below!

 

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Podcasts on Writing, Publishing, & More

There are so many excellent podcasts about writing and publishing out there, I wanted to post a list. Podcasts are another way to learn, to connect, to get inspired.  If you know of one, let me know and I can add it to my list here! (The descriptions are straight from iTunes.)

88 Cups of Tea – We release weekly interviews with awesome storytellers ranging from novelists to screenwriters to TV producers. Topics cover how-to’s, writing advice, craft tips for writers, career nuggets, and the highs and lows of being a storyteller. We are a safe space for listeners to absorb information and learn in a way that’ll shake up their creative routine. Our community welcomes each storyteller and writer and aims to make them feel less alone. 88 Cups of Tea on iTunes.

Hey YA – From great new books to favorite classic reads, from news to the latest in on-screen adaptations, Hey YA is here to elevate the exciting world of young adult lit. Hey YA on iTunes.

Literaticast – A literary agent and her friends dish about writing and publishing books for children and young adults. Literaticast on iTunes.

The Manuscript Academy – The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey. The Manuscript Academy on iTunes.

Print Run Podcast – Print Run is a podcast created and hosted by Laura Zats and Erik Hane. Its aim is simple: to have the conversations surrounding the book and writing industries that too often are glossed over by conventional wisdom, institutional optimism, and false seriousness. We’re book people, and we want to examine the questions that lie at the heart of that life: why do books, specifically, matter? In a digital world, what cultural ground does book publishing still occupy? Print Run Podcast on iTunes.

PubCrawl – Authors & publishing pros blogging about all things reading, writing, books, and booze. Reading You Under The Table Since 2012. PubCrawl on iTunes.

Shipping & Handling – Join Bridget Smith of Dunham Literary Inc. and Jennifer Udden of Barry Goldblatt Literary LLC as we discuss books, publishing, writing, fandom, and more! Shipping & Handling on iTunes.

Write or Die – Often times in publishing we only hear about the quick sales and overnight successes – but for most of us, publishing is hard AF! So I’m sharing those stories – the real, gritty, pull your hair out because it’s been years – stories of writers who didn’t give up despite it all, and are now living out their dream. The perfect podcast for writers and creatives in need of inspiration, laughs and camaraderie! Hosted by author Claribel Ortega. Write or Die on iTunes.

Writing Excuses – Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Daniel Wells discuss writing techniques in a fast-paced, 15-minute format. Writing Excuses on iTunes.

 

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I shelved a piece of my heart

I recently had to make a tough decision in my writing journey.

After spending four years writing and revising a manuscript, entering almost every writing contest with it (and not getting in), two solid rounds of cold querying, and 55+ form rejections later…I finally shelved a piece of my heart.

This was not easy.

I repeat.

This was not easy.

If you’ve been following me on Twitter for awhile, you probably have seen my pitches or even helped me critique this story along the way. My feedback was always a mixed bag and at some point, I knew where this might be headed.

But. Persistence.

My story, A FEATHER’S FORCE, is a YA portal fantasy about a girl who finds out she’s from another realm and only raised human to stay safe from a grandfather, who wants to steal her powers. Here’s a pitch from the past:

Ember can’t deal with her new siphoning ability let alone glowing tattoos crawling up her arms. But when her other superhuman friend is kidnapped for the king’s next experiment, she must embrace her true self or her friend dies. DARKEST MINDS set in sword & sorcery

I believed in this story so bad and for so long. In the last few years, I also wrote several other YA and MG stories, some of which are only outlines and unfinished.

However, knowing when to shelve a finished manuscript after years of writing, revising, and querying is one of the hardest decisions in a writer’s journey. This manuscript has been through so much and I tried so hard to keep it going. I finally made one final push in querying it December 2017 through February 2018. What did I do during the waiting period? I became a CP for a new friend, offered a book giveaway for new releases, tried to blog more, and wrote a brand new story – one that’s been in my heart and mind for years. And it’s TOTALLY different. It’s an adult mystery and I adore it!

That day I finally decided to shelve my YA portal fantasy was a day I received my 57th form rejection. I wallowed. I drank some wine. I binged television. I read a couple books.

Then I picked myself back up because PERSISTENCE! I also fell madly in love with my brand new story. So, here’s to the next leg of my writing journey and I can’t wait to see what’s around the bend!

Every leg of your journey will teach you things. Here’s some of what I’ve learned so far:

  • Timing is everything in publishing
  • Be patient. Seriously!
  • How to be a good Critique Partner for other writers
  • Wrap your arms around your close writing friends
  • The value of CPs and beta readers in your writing journey
  • NEVER GIVE UP! (but it’s okay to take a break)
  • Giving back to the writing community is important – whether you’re giving away books, critiques, or anything that’s encouraging and helping other writers succeed
  • How to craft a Twitter pitch and prepare a submission package
  • Celebrate the small stuff – whether it’s positive feedback or achieving your word count or even a shiny new story idea
  • How to pitch to agents and editors face-to-face, get excellent feedback, and requests for pages
  • How to revise – especially in removing filter words and passive voice
  • How to OUTLINE
  • How to accept rejections and learn from them