I often wonder whether I've lost it - the knack of writing short stories that meet the requirements of the market for which I'm writing them, that is.
(If we're talking marbles, I seem to lose a few every day. I swear I can hear them dropping out of my ears every time I shake my head. Or perhaps it's just the rattle of my ever-shrinking brain.)
I'm still writing, but I don't seem to be hitting the mark. A few months ago, this would have made me feel like giving it all up, but now it's just making me wonder whether I'm writing the stuff that's right for me.
I love writing short stories because those fabulous words - THE END - come around so much sooner.
I have a short attention span (yes, I admit it, I get bored easily) and have never seen a novel to fruition, but I'm thinking the time to have another stab at novel-writing may be nigh.
I have dark thoughts and plot-lines that will have no place, believe me, in a short story for the WOMAG market.
What I need to do is to believe in myself and my story enough to see it through.
Watch this space!
Thanks for stopping by - hope you aren't feeling too insecure today!
13 comments:
You've solved your own problem. When I read the start of your post, I was going to suggest writing the story you want to tell, not for the market you've been submitting to so far. All writers change and develop - it might just be time to work towards something else. You may come back to WOMAG or you might choose not to. Happy writing!
That's the great thing about writing short stories...you can experiment with all kinds of genres and subjects. One of these days though you'll get an idea that is simply too big for a short and you'll find yourself tackling a novel instead.
I agree that you should write the story that is in your heart, it will show if you haven't.
Good for you! You totally know how to go about this already. :)
What is WOMAG? Women's magazines?
Yes!
Dark thoughts and plot lines... I like that. :) is the begining of greater stories. Unfortunately, short attention span is a problem to me too. But believing is one self is really important, thats my number one insucurity -at times *Sigh*
Don't worry! Those marbles have a way of sneaking back in when you're not looking. :)
And you know-- you can always work those dark thoughts and plot lines a little at a time. Just consider each scene a short story. :D Write THE END at the end of each scene.
You still have marbles? I was thinking of buying some more, but I'd probably lose them too. Anyway, stick with it. Maybe treat each chapter of that novel like a short story - until you end up with a whole book! I'm a new follower:)
If you decide to write that novel, you know we'll be here to support you all the way :-)
Seems neither one of us got lucky enough to be born with the Patience virtue. It is so easy to get distracted so last June I joined the Burrow Novel Writing Month and I managed 50,000 words in one month. Good start, right? We really can do anything if we want to bad enough.
What happens to you happens to a lot of people. If I get past chapter one, then I'll finish the book. Sometimes I take breaks, but I try not to let another story (unless it's a short story) take over. Not everyone writes that way.
Oh, I so want to hear the dark story plots! =)
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