Help Please! Questions for writers - short stories.

[brendancody]

I'm doing a little research about short stories.

Do you write short stories, or focus only on longer forms such as novels? How often would you compose a short story, and how many are in your back catalogue (either published or sitting unpublished)?

Thank you.

 

[Sedayne]

Hi @brendancody

My main pursuit is the novel, but about six months ago, I tried my hand at short stories. I've had one published in print, one in an online lit mag, and another accepted for an anthology being published this year. I've got three more out on submission to lit mags at the moment, plus a couple of bits of flash fiction (but I'm no good at flash).

I have lots of ideas for short stories, but they don't all materialise, and some get stuck half-written. I might go back to them, or I might not.

Is this for personal research? If it's part of a more official project, I'd love to know more about it.

Thanks,
Rachel

 

[RK Wallis]

I've only ever dabbled in shorts as exercises. Trad publishing a novel is the goal. Has been for 30 years.

 

[brendancody]

Thanks, that's interesting, and exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. @Sedayne - yes, there's a project I'm working on which I'll post more details about soon. In the meantime I'd love to hear how prevalent or not short story writing is with you all.

 

[Sedayne]

Thanks, that's interesting, and exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. @Sedayne - yes, there's a project I'm working on which I'll post more details about soon. In the meantime I'd love to hear how prevalent or not short story writing is with you all.

I'm happy for you to have this info - there's nothing sensitive to it - but as a matter of principle, it's important to know what the information is being used for and where it will end up.
Let us know more when you can; you'll likely get more help when we know what it's for.
BTW, are you on Substack? Lots of short story action going on there.

 

[brendancody]

I'm happy for you to have this info - there's nothing sensitive to it - but as a matter of principle, it's important to know what the information is being used for and where it will end up.
Let us know more when you can; you'll likely get more help when we know what it's for.
BTW, are you on Substack? Lots of short story action going on there.

It's research for my own information (not distributing it anywhere), but related to a new eReader I'm developing. I'm just curious to ascertain whether writers would actually be bothered submitting to a new digital publication dedicated to short form fiction, and how often in a year they might be likely to do so.

 

[E G Logan]

submitting to a new digital publication dedicated to short form fiction

IMO, depends how much you are paying.

 

[Sedayne]

It's research for my own information (not distributing it anywhere), but related to a new eReader I'm developing. I'm just curious to ascertain whether writers would actually be bothered submitting to a new digital publication dedicated to short form fiction, and how often in a year they might be likely to do so.

Judging from the lit Mag scene on Substack, there are plenty of writers keen to submit to new publications whether print or digital. This doesn't necessarily guarantee quality of submissions, though.
Sounds like an interesting project.
Best of luck with it

 

[Jake E]

The shortest I've managed is 20,000 words (novella)
I'm not very good at sub 10,000 word stories. I'm not clever enough lol

 

[Sedayne]

IMO, depends how much you are paying.

True, paid publication is attractive, but in fact lots of writers submit to non-paying magazines just for the publication credit - especially if it's a well-regarded publication.

Many lit mag editors do it for love not money and their contributors do the same.

The thing that puts writers off is paying to submit. A tip-jar donation of a few pounds/dollars (price of a coffee) to help cover admin costs is fine, but beware the magazine that charges more than that to submit.

My go to info for all things lit mag:

Lit Mag News | Becky Tuch | Substack

Latest News in Lit Mag Publishing. Click to read Lit Mag News, by Becky Tuch, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

litmagnews.substack.com

You'll find lots of discussions from submitting writers here as well as advice for editors.