Writing SF/F short stories - useful for novelists?

[lin robinson]

There is really no comparison between novel subplots and discrete short stories.

This is not an observation by a person with a lot of experience writing novels, I'm thinking.

Not all novels even have subplots, and they very often involve completely different characters from the main plot or other subplots. But they are functions of the overall arc. NOT something "woven" or bolted together.

Some novels do grow from groups of shorter stories. I did one last year that grew out of my syndicated columns. But it's not the norm.

And yeah, I guess running sprints would be better marathon training than laying on a couch.

[Barney]

Who was drawing a comparison between subplots and discrete short stories? Not I, as you would realise if you took the trouble to read my posts.

At no point have I said that writing a novel is equivalent to bolting or weaving together short stories. That has been the opposite of what I was saying.
But thinking in short story terms can show some writers a way into a longer work. A starting point. If you don't agree with that, then you should just respect that other people have different ways of working.

Now I will return to lying "on my couch".
Good luck with your marathon...

[lin robinson]

The comparison of short stories to subplots was yours, actually, since you are taking this a personal reply.
If you don't agree with my opinion, perhaps you should respect different ideas.

[j. d. worthington]

Gentles: leave the personalities at the door please. Threads get locked otherwise.

[David Elliott]

Greetings eveyone!

I don't tend to write short stories at all when I'm working on longer pieces ... but I do find them a great way to "chill out" between bigger projects. It freshens you up, I think ... colonic irrigation for the mind!

And at the end of the day, whether they're published or not ... whether they're relevant to novel-writing or not ... it's all good practice, right?

Right?

[lin robinson]

Ah, short fiction as enema. I think that's healthy.

My guess would be a lot of book writers have a similar approach to shorts.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by alihale

Interesting thought, ctg, I do understand what you mean though I'm not sure how it would work for me. Hmm, it does open up possibilities for revising my fantasy novel (though if I go through another revision I think I'll want to strangle something... I'd called it very definitely FINISHED after the last one!)

Ali

Never say never, Ali. I've had novels that I've thought were as good as I could get them and a couple of months later I've looked at them again only to find they were so full of holes I could have used them as a sieve! If you're sick of looking at the novel you've done, start writing another. Even if you did get a contract for the novel you've completed, the publisher would likely want to know what you're working on now ... publishers are like that. They don't want one book wonders. They are looking for writers with whom they can develop a sustainable and growing market - especially in SFF.

Once you've been writing your new novel for a while, then go back and look at the first one for a break. You'll be amazed what you find.

[Grimblade]

I completely agree with that. Writing for me is a constant learning curve, every time I wrap something up (or should I say give something up?) and start something new I find myself looking at my previous project and wondering how drunk I must have been to have such bad writing.

[ctg]

If one has written a short story and want to publish it somewhere? Then what are the best options? Try to get it published in a commercial magazine or straight away dump them in some unpaid website (and hope to get picked for an anthology)?

I have seen some sites saying that they pay penny or few cents per word, is this the reality?

[Doctor Sax]

If you can get a hundred quid for a short story you're doing well, I reckon.

[ctg]

That's very interesting, on 5000 word story, they payment would be 0.5 pennies per word. I don't think there is a point of even trying to supply short stories for magazines then.

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by ctg

If one has written a short story and want to publish it somewhere? Then what are the best options

If you want to get a short story published, it is the same as getting a publisher/agent for a novel. You have to study the market. Find the magzine, z-ine and anthology (Pro, semi, or for the love of) which will suit your story/work.

Try to get it published in a commercial magazine

Hard work, and even top Mags like Analog and Asimov's only pay 8c (US) a word. Yet, they are over subscribed with submissions. I feel the lure of getting a short story published in Mags like these is not for the money it is the fact that you have had your work accepted by publications that have printed great genre writers. To actually have the editor say, yes I will pay to print this is a hell of a feather in your cap. A few good sales to well known and respected mags/anthologies can go a long way to showing an editor/agent that you can sell your work, that people are willing to pay money to buy said work and publish it.

or straight away dump them in some unpaid website (and hope to get picked for an anthology)?

Not sure what you mean here, the three anthologies I have been published in, I submitted my work in the same way as I would do for a mag, tailoring my work to suit the remit of the anthology's editor. The stories certainly had not been hanging around on a website waiting to be "picked up" I had to sell them.

[ctg]

Thanks, that's more informative answer then Doctor Sax's one. I exactly thought short story as a way to raise my profile, plus earn a little bit of money. 8 USD cents is roughly 4 pennies and it's more then I was even thinking about get from it.

[Ian Whates]

There's no substitute for studying the markets when it comes to short stories, as with everything else. Fortunately, there are tools designed to help you do so. Have a look at Ralan's Webstravaganza - Ralan.com

Begin with the 'Semi- & Pro Markets' list, then work through the 'Anthology' and 'Paying' Markets, and you'll get a good idea of what's available, the type of story each market is looking for and what they pay.

[ctg]

Thank you very much Ian, that is very useful link. Too bad that my writing is difficult at the moment as I did cut tip of my thump off with a kitchen knife.