Word magic.
Love to write short fiction but struggle to plot a short story? You’re not alone. A novel gives you freedom to go off on tangents; a short story or novella doesn’t. Many authors find corralling their story a hassle. I do too. I’m a wordy writer, so I’ve had to learn to stick to the point in short fiction. In … Read more
A new author will often ask me to tell them whether their short story is “good”. In response, I ask them how the story makes them feel. Did they achieve what they set out to do? Are they satisfied? If not, why not? Then I read the story. I’m looking for just one thing… entertainment. If the story entertains, then … Read more
I’m a big fan of short fiction. If you’re a new author, publishing short stories gives you a boost in confidence. Myths about short fiction abound. “Readers won’t read short stories,” my students tell me. Not so. Many readers love short material. Readers are willing to pay and invest 30 minutes in a story, but will baulk at investing hours … Read more