Short Fiction. Write it. Sell it. : I’ve got a challenge for you. We're branching out. Let's make a storm.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

I’ve got a challenge for you. We're branching out. Let's make a storm.

"What's the matter? You don't have enough rain to make up a storm? " -- Elliot Moss https://soundcloud.com/elliotmoss/slip

There is life after you get your rejection letter from WW. Yes, I know, they pay well. Almost the best in the fiction story publishing market. But let's face it, folks, they only pick two a week. Tons of great stories get the Big R. Stories that could be pitched and sold to other magazines.

So I’ve decided that each week on Tuesday or Wednesday I’ll pick one market that buys short fiction (generally under 2000 words, but not always) and I’ll give you the lowdown on submitting. And not just for you-solve-its but all kinds of markets including romances, mysteries, sci-fi, Christian, and children's stories. Magazines from all over the world that publish in English.

Take the information, unearth one of your rejected stories and tweak it, change it, revamp it… or heck, just throw it out and start new… but submit something to the new market each week

What have you got to lose? (Most markets take on-line submissions.)

I will not include markets that don't pay. Not even the ones that give you a free copy of the magazine. Or ones that promise your name will be seen by a kajillion people. We want dead presidents.

On Fridays I’ll still post my take on each week’s Woman's World mini-mystery. I’ve been asked to continue; encouraged by a few, and threatened by one. And I do get a kick out of shredding the tales that are truly awful; the stories that are so terrible they make you cringe.

The URL for my blog will remain the same for the time being (http://wwmysterystory.blogspot.com/) but the name on the banner has changed to: Short Fiction. Write it. Sell it.

“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.’ — Ray Bradbury

8 comments:

Chris said...: A girl after my own heart. If WW don't want it, try somewhere else. Looking forward to seeing the first of these new postings, Jody.; June 25, 2015 at 8:04 AM
Jody E. Lebel said...: @ Chris. You already know about most of these markets either from my original list I sent you or Hope's newsletter, or from your own store of information, but hopefully there will be a couple new ones for you. Even some of the old ones might give inspiration to submit. This'll be fun. :); June 25, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Suzanne said...: I love this idea, Jody. I'm particularly interested in the short paying romance markets.; June 25, 2015 at 3:07 PM
Tamara said...: Mr. Bradbury has not seen my collection :)
I think this will be a worthwhile venture.

Your suggestion is working, Jody. I used Firefox.; June 25, 2015 at 9:00 PM
Jody E. Lebel said...: @ Suzzanne,
Any particular genre?; June 25, 2015 at 9:29 PM
Jody E. Lebel said...: @Tamara... good to see you :); June 25, 2015 at 9:29 PM
Jody E. Lebel said...: @Tamara... ps I got your story. I put it aside. I want to read it when I've got some time, and a cup of coffee in my hand. Do you want feedback or no?; June 25, 2015 at 9:45 PM
Tamara said...: Oh sure, if you feel like it -- don't want to make work, though. I'd be interested to know what you think of it.; June 25, 2015 at 11:44 PM

78 Pages full of tips. Click on cover for link. Only $1.99.

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Want help with your story?

My day job puts me in contact with real cops, detectives, FBI agents and DEA guys. I have worked thousands of cases from the homeless guy on the Metrorail who got arrested for jumping the turnstile -- that’s right, arrested for not having a quarter -- to the Tamiami Strangler, a serial killer who strangled hookers along the famous trail in Miami. I produce court transcripts for a living.

Who better to look at your mystery stories to see if the police procedures are true, the clues are solid and the whole thing works? I will not hesitate to point out the good, the bad and the ugly in your story. Both of my WW mysteries made it to Johnene. From there? Cross your fingers.

The line-by-line edit, which also includes grammar, spelling and proofing, will offer suggestions on how to improve problem spots. The cost is $29 payable by PayPal. 72-hour turn around time.

I’ll also take a second look once you’ve revamped your story, but this time I’ll only look for glaring errors assuming all the details you chose to put in you want to stay in.

Send your story as a Word e-mail attachment to ladyrprter at aol dot com, and the fee to PayPal using ladyrprter at aol dot com for the payee

I'm looking forward to rummaging through your story's drawers...heh heh.

WW Mystery Writing Tips

Not every crime has to be intentional. An accidental killing is manslaughter as opposed to murder.

Long gone are the days when fiction was meant to instruct us. Today, fiction must entertain. If you bore the reader, you lose a fan. Keep losing fans and you will not have a writing career, you will have a hobby. Take a hard look at your WIP (work in progress). Here are four areas where your story might be lagging.
http://iuindia.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e7e93e9b465b4920d300061bc&id=0afe02a531&e=75c2fed65f

Your tag line is the hook that gets someone interested in reading your work. It's one of the most important lines of your story. Take time to make it sparkle.

Criminals don't always think the crime through--especially if the crime is one of passion or revenge--but don't have them make stupid or stilly mistakes just to get your story written. Make the mistakes something that you just normally don't think about. Like the pruning skin in this story.

You don't always have to have crime scene details to make a mystery story work. Cozy mysteries sell well if you make the characters interesting.

Don't be fuzzy with your clues. Make up good ones and own them.

I've noticed that WW loves female cops and really loves little old ladies.

Once again WW chose a story with a female cop and little old ladies. Just remember to use the proper words for the crimes and before you say things like, he jimmied the lock, understand just what that is.

You've only got 700 words. Make them count. Don't waste words on things that don't matter. And NEVER give a clue and then later in the solution change it to the opposite. That's not fair. Just how is the reader supposed to figure it out then?

There are many ways to lay out the solve-it-yourself story. You don't always have to have the reader guess who the perp is. This week's story was presented with a fresh angle. We knew who did it. The question was did she cover her tracks well enough to fool the police?

As writers we often ask the reader to suspend disbelief a bit, but don't overdo it. Keep it as real as you can or you'll lose the reader.

If you have four suspects, have four good motives. Otherwise what's the point in having four suspects? It is almost a sin to have four suspects and not have even one decent red herring in the bunch. That's just a waste of words.

When the reader expects one situation, and gets another, that's really a form of a red herring. I expected a tired old theory and was given the surprise of a fresh twist. As the reader I was tricked...and that's a good thing.

When you reuse characters be sure to make them interesting and likable. Being cranky is not the same as being interesting. Be careful to not let one of them become mean. It's hard to like someone who calls people names and teases them about their not so glorious past.

Don't introduce a main character too late in the story. The reader feels cheated.

You don't always have to have police involved for a mystery to work. Be realistic if you are going to use animals in your story. Lassie wasn't real.

Write in more than one good motive. Two or three people could have done it, but only one has the means and opportunity to go with that motive.

I realize you only have 700 words to get in your story, but use every one of those words wisely. Don't repeat to fill the space. If your story is really done in 350 words, your story is too simple.

Try not to use the same old tired solutions. We're writers. Come up with something new and interesting. Treat the readers to a challenge. If I see one more muddy footprint on a white carpet...I'm going to hurt somebody.

Readers like to follow the same characters. Once you sell a mystery to WW, try building up a following by using the same police characters in future stories. Do us all a favor though... make them likable.

I know I'm repeating myself (talk about deja vu) but please try your very best to come up with a fresh twist or interesting solution that hasn't been done before. We want WW readers to LOVE this mystery page...not become bored with it.

Don't use too many names in your story. It just confuses the reader. The story this week handled this extremely well. You knew who you were reading about from the character's description. It all flowed well and never pulled the reader out of the story.

A short story is really just a very short novel. The same rules apply. Give us characters we will love and care about. Don't have them doing silly things.

Once again we have someone not acting right. Check your facts. Check your facts. Check your facts. Did I mention you should ALWAYS check your facts? Getting the details right should just be a given.

Make sure the solution makes sense. Common sense. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you do? Think? How would you act? Don't throw in a rotten fish just for smell.

Know the proper use of words. Men don't leer at each other -- generally. lol. Don't make up a silly details to fit your story line. Make sure everything works and people act in character.

Short Fiction. Write it. Sell it.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

I’ve got a challenge for you. We're branching out. Let's make a storm.

8 comments:

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