tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post1033718554143626919..comments2024-03-17T07:41:20.020-07:00Comments on Jacqueline Seewald: Ten Tips on Writing Short Stories that Sell by Jacqueline SeewaldJacqueline Seewaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-70047728649744472482014-08-07T15:23:00.552-07:002014-08-07T15:23:00.552-07:00Hi, Joan,
Initially I didn't consider myself ...Hi, Joan,<br /><br />Initially I didn't consider myself published unless my work came out in print. Now so many are digital readers while digital publications are paying much better. My thinking changed with the times.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-341429123944216642014-08-07T13:42:33.811-07:002014-08-07T13:42:33.811-07:00Good post, Jacqueline. Digital publishing has actu...Good post, Jacqueline. Digital publishing has actually benefited the short fiction market. More people are buying ebook short stories than print ones I believe. Kindle Singles is another venue.Joan Reeveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-51801205959906877192014-08-07T07:37:55.423-07:002014-08-07T07:37:55.423-07:00Pamela,
I hope the market sites I mentioned prove...Pamela,<br /><br />I hope the market sites I mentioned prove helpful to you. Nice to hear from another Jersey girl!Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-83157447998418990212014-08-07T06:45:37.035-07:002014-08-07T06:45:37.035-07:00Enjoyed your post on the tips and new markets! Al...Enjoyed your post on the tips and new markets! Always on the lookout for markets for those stories already written, inspiring! From one jersey girl at heart to another, keep up the fantastic work! ;) Pamelahttp://www.thewritingvineyard.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-25916361258653347182014-08-07T06:44:14.534-07:002014-08-07T06:44:14.534-07:00Hi, Nikki,
Thanks for dropping by. I hope this in...Hi, Nikki,<br /><br />Thanks for dropping by. I hope this information proves useful to you.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-19996013412847503812014-08-07T06:43:11.770-07:002014-08-07T06:43:11.770-07:00Thanks, B.K., for stopping by. You are such a well...Thanks, B.K., for stopping by. You are such a well-published short story writer. Your opinion matters a great deal.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-33449921244872351572014-08-07T06:22:09.742-07:002014-08-07T06:22:09.742-07:00Thanks for these helpful reminders, Jacquie, and f...Thanks for these helpful reminders, Jacquie, and for the equally helpful list of resources.B.K. Stevenshttp://www.bkstevensmysteries.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-53836314668418547552014-08-07T03:59:51.311-07:002014-08-07T03:59:51.311-07:00You're so right, Jacqui. Writing shorts is a g...You're so right, Jacqui. Writing shorts is a gift and a skill that improves with practice. Many thanks for all the tips and leads!Nikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08682040969965800663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-4665740110740076062014-08-06T15:37:58.419-07:002014-08-06T15:37:58.419-07:00Hi, Anonymous,
You sound frustrated. I can well u...Hi, Anonymous,<br /><br />You sound frustrated. I can well understand that. As I said, reading and then following submission guidelines is important. Also when possible become familiar with the previous stories that have been published there. Some publications prefer twist endings, others don't. A tight, clever plot is one consideration. But so is characterization, theme, and setting. Short story writing is a tough market for professional writing. The average paying market gets many hundreds of submissions for each call. We all get a fair share of rejection. Don't get discouraged if writing is what you really want to do. Just keep honing your craft.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-13918108114176525542014-08-06T15:31:15.119-07:002014-08-06T15:31:15.119-07:00Hi, Nancy,
You are generous with your time. Level...Hi, Nancy,<br /><br />You are generous with your time. Level Best anthologies are terrific for New England writers.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-87519217579181957992014-08-06T15:07:13.400-07:002014-08-06T15:07:13.400-07:00But what's the difference between writing a sh...But what's the difference between writing a short story and writing a short story that people will want to buy? Is it tightness of plot? Should you plan more than with a novel so that the opening lines reflect the end? Do twist endings do better than 'straight' endings when looking for a sale?<br /><br />Your tips are good, but they're the same tips people hear everywhere. I'd like to know what the foundation for professional writing vs. strong amateur short stories is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-30427597662377205572014-08-06T14:19:39.514-07:002014-08-06T14:19:39.514-07:00Very good tips, Jacquie, thanks. I've just fin...Very good tips, Jacquie, thanks. I've just finished a stint of judging shorts for a contest, so my head is full of stories. Level Best books anthology is one of the best markets, I think, for short mystery fiction. I earned all of $25 for my last one--but that was a lot more than I got for most of mine--free copies in the lit magazines!Nancy Means Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08092441250826231395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-5420441716792020222014-08-06T13:17:50.382-07:002014-08-06T13:17:50.382-07:00Hi, Jan,
Thanks for coming by and commenting. I k...Hi, Jan,<br /><br />Thanks for coming by and commenting. I know that you are a reader as well as a writer.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-86129204262856230092014-08-06T13:16:48.440-07:002014-08-06T13:16:48.440-07:00Hi, Travis,
I really do believe that good writers...Hi, Travis,<br /><br />I really do believe that good writers are readers and that's where the desire to write is initiated.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-60424578643135893842014-08-06T12:59:52.033-07:002014-08-06T12:59:52.033-07:00Wonderful tips, Jacqueline. I agree with Travis--r...Wonderful tips, Jacqueline. I agree with Travis--reading is so important for writers. I've met too many who say they hardly ever read fiction. It shows in their writing. And thanks for resources. Very useful!Jan Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027877440748580764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-73419359322287833922014-08-06T12:01:19.200-07:002014-08-06T12:01:19.200-07:00Great tips from a master. I think #2 is so importa...Great tips from a master. I think #2 is so important. I hate it when people tell me they're too busy writing to read anything. Great short stories can stick with you forever. Travis Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921123586885981804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-27515307492106356672014-08-06T11:05:31.804-07:002014-08-06T11:05:31.804-07:00I think D'Ann that novelists like you don'...I think D'Ann that novelists like you don't give themselves enough credit.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-63430369473484141272014-08-06T10:08:34.925-07:002014-08-06T10:08:34.925-07:00Wow! You impress me more and more the more (ha!) I...Wow! You impress me more and more the more (ha!) I learn about you! I cannot write a short story to save my soul and so admire those who can. I've written two novellas, and boy, is it hard.D'Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05333880627045486088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-45702276617754747372014-08-06T09:02:12.809-07:002014-08-06T09:02:12.809-07:00Hi, Paula,
Edgar Allan Poe gave the best advice f...Hi, Paula,<br /><br />Edgar Allan Poe gave the best advice for short story writers. He spoke of creating a "unity of effect," focusing on a single incident or character. His stories always develop from a single viewpoint.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-52671556878760134382014-08-06T09:00:18.943-07:002014-08-06T09:00:18.943-07:00It does take self-discipline to work with a narrow...It does take self-discipline to work with a narrow focus.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-49219255569407147332014-08-06T08:59:31.305-07:002014-08-06T08:59:31.305-07:00Betty,
Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you f...Betty,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you found this blog useful.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-70509061621605809392014-08-06T08:58:30.595-07:002014-08-06T08:58:30.595-07:00Hi, Janis,
I really think writers should try shor...Hi, Janis,<br /><br />I really think writers should try short stories before they attempt a novel.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-72320069329116288752014-08-06T07:25:45.622-07:002014-08-06T07:25:45.622-07:00Jacquie, thanks so much for this excellent advice....Jacquie, thanks so much for this excellent advice. I'm teaching a class on short stories tomorrow and will refer the students to this post. All good points to remember and pursue.Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-63809089643523772362014-08-06T06:45:05.075-07:002014-08-06T06:45:05.075-07:00Good advice, Jacquie, and thanks for adding the li...Good advice, Jacquie, and thanks for adding the list of your stories to read and the market resources. I agree that writing a short story isn't as easy as it looks. For me, writing a good one is harder than plotting a novel!Bobbi A. Chukran, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16678371925926783260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564808806012504614.post-6919901338123058122014-08-06T06:38:08.655-07:002014-08-06T06:38:08.655-07:00An informative blog, Jacquie -- one that is helpfu...An informative blog, Jacquie -- one that is helpful to all of us.<br />Betty Gordonnoreply@blogger.com