We’ve talked about why you might want to add short fiction to your author’s bag of tricks. Your next challenge: promoting short fiction in today’s slightly wobbly and ever-shifting marketplace. While Smashwords’ Mark Coker says that the highest selling novels on his site come in at about 100K, other industry professionals are all over the map about book length. On one hand, they point to recent successes like Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch (775 pages), but then they blame our culturally reduced attention spans for the desire for shorter books. Continue reading “Promoting Your Shorter Fiction”
Tag: Short fiction
Use Short Fiction to Help Your Novel Writing
I don’t know about other novel writers, but something happens to my brain between drafts. It’s tired, but it’s too revved up to stop. The state reminds me of my brief long-distance running career. After a major race, lying around “resting” was anything but restful. My body preferred short jogs for a few days, to recover and refresh for the next goal. So when I was going a little stir-crazy waiting to begin the second draft of one of my novels, a friend suggested I try writing a few short stories to keep myself out of trouble. I’ve always found the form intimidating—novel writing gives me the luxury to delve deep into characters and story, and many of my attempts earned me the same response from critique groups: “That sounds like the beginning of a novel.” Sigh. Also, when the subject comes up among writers, you always hear examples of such-and-such author who is better at one length than another. Continue reading “Use Short Fiction to Help Your Novel Writing”
Third Flatiron Is Accepting Submissions for Anthology
Third Flatiron is currently accepting submissions for their Spring 2015 anthology. They are interested in short stories that revolve around age-old questions and have something illuminating to tell us as human beings. Fantastical situations and creatures, exciting dialog, irony, mild horror, and wry humor are all welcome. Stories should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words.
Prizes: Accepted stories will be paid at the flat rate of 3 cents per word (U.S.).
Deadline: December 31, 2014
Entry fee: Free
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit their website.
Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers. We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition. Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.
Simian Publishing Is Accepting Submissions for Anthology
Simian Publishing is currently accepting submissions for their next anthology Apotheosis: Stories of Survival After the Rise of the Elder Gods. This anthology will feature stories about humanity under the reign of the Elder Gods and ancient terrors. They are interested in classic mythos gods and monsters and originals that have been inspired by the Lovecraft mythos.
Prizes: 3 cents per word (or 1 cent per word for reprints), paid within 90 days after publication. Plus contributor copy of print and e-book.
Deadline: December 31, 2014
Entry fee: Free
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit their website.
Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers. We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition. Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.