  Short Stories
This week: Where DOES the Time Go? Edited by: Jay's debut novel is out now!  
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This Short Stories Newsletter is dedicated to readers and writers of short fiction and to those who want to know more about the art of telling big stories in small spaces.
This month:
Where DOES the Time Go?
Little things can add up to big changes in your writing. Be proactive and use your time wisely! |
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How's the editing going, gang? I hope some of you have revisited your "Contest Entries" folders this past month after last month's editorial!
Time management is a significant part of the writing process. Not only do you need to put in the time to complete drafts of stories; if your short story goals involve getting your short stories in print ("print" here is meant as "paying market: paper, electronic, or podcast") then you are going to need to do additional legwork to make it happen. This past month has been an adventure in submissions for me, and while I am far from having all the answers, I can share the experience I've gotten thus far.
For many years now, I have been operating with the idea that publicity from Writing.Com, in general, is enough attention for me. The reality is, though, that I'd like to participate in the wider world of publishing, and that means getting my work out there before a public that... well, isn't going to be very adoring. I've had to put a lot of extra time and energy into my writing to really hone and polish some things before I commit to sending them hither and yon.
And that takes time management.
Those of you who know me reasonably well, please. Stop. Stop laughing, right now.
I have lots of really bad writer-habits. Habits like video games, online chat, worldbuilding specifically geared toward procrastination. That kind of thing. (Dude, seriously, why are you still laughing?)
The reality is that the universe really doesn't want you to write. There will always be a million distractions and deterrents. There's some stuff that's important: laundry to wash, dinner to prep, dishes to do. And then there are things which would have to classify as time sinks, like, say, countless hours of online backgammon and rewriting that outline of the history of the tertiary religion of one planet your main character visited right before the beginning of the story you're just dying to write as soon as you can get all that history mapped out. You'll be prepped and ready to write then! (Still some tittering over there in the back! {e:sternglance})
It's very easy to fall into a habit of not having time. There are times where you legitimately DON'T have time-- so you don't question it when your lazy mind says, "Hey, Ghostbusters is on Comedy Central again this weekend..."
You don't question your excuses for not-writing because they're the same excuses that keep you from donating your time at the library or the animal shelter. Oh, or you're tired. Tired is another one, because you can't fight it. You wouldn't want to hurt yourself by going to the gym when you're tired, would you? It's all you can do to prop your eyelids open with toothpicks while you read the twelfth consecutive Cracked.Com listicle you couldn't resist the title of: 6 Things You're Tired Of, and You Don't Even Notice Anymore...
You have to fight for your writing time. Pry it from the grips of your other habits, or find ways to combine them-- writing sprints while you chat? Worldbuilding on your lunch break? Send out three submissions before binging on that sweet new bundle of video games? Carve that time away from the big chunk of time that keeps going missing in your life, so that when things legitimately hit the fan-- natural disaster, family emergency, mandatory overtime, whatever life throws at you-- you'll either manage it by taking solace in the work you've already done and buffered for yourself, or you'll find ways to make that new problem part of the writing routine as well, instead of trying to make excuses for it.
If you're going to go on an online idle click-fest, make it a trip through websites for new potential submissions. You'd be surprised how quickly you can fill up your tabs in Firefox or Chrome with something other than cat videos on Youtube. (Not to besmirch the sacred quantity of cat videos on Youtube, which is a volume bordering upon the infinite.)
Submit things for publication before diving into the Zen Mode on Plants versus Zombies. You'll need the Zen part later. Trust me.
Until Next Month,
Take care and Write on!
~jay |
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Feedback from Last Month's Issue: "Pushing Past the Prompt"
Mitchopolis  writes:
I think your suggestion to continue to nurture a contest story after the awards are awarded is an excellent practice for not only perfecting a story, but also for perfecting editing. I know many times when entering a contest I am limited by time to perfect the story to my liking, but I rarely return to the story and just move on to a new project.
I am going to blow off the dust from my old stories and see what I can do. One suggestion I can offer your readers: If you are working on a prompt based story and your story gains a life of its own, abandon the prompt and let your story develop without that limitation.
Great newsletter - Take care!
Great suggestion, Mitch! I agree completely and have many stories that began life in precisely that way.
mblank writes:
Thanks for your thoughts on revising contest entries. It's a shame to let all of that material rot in a folder just because its original purpose has expired. I'm going to have to give some of my stuff a second look! 
Excellent! I hope you found some hidden gems in the woodpile-- or at least some good kindling to stoke your writing fire.
A.J. Barretts writes:
I personally have a few stories that I absolutely love and all of them have come from contest prompts. My first published piece actually came from the Dialogue 500 contest. It is a shame when we drop a good story because the contest is done. There are amazing things to be done after a contest and you never know, maybe that will be the story that puts you on the map.
Oooh! Glad to hear that, on all accounts, and I agree-- lots of good stuff gets wasted.
Vampyr14 writes:
This is great advice! I've expanded and rewritten several of my Writers' Cramp entries over the years and had many of them published.
That's wonderful news! 
J. A. Buxton writes:
I love prompt contests, but do have a problem afterwards. One contest had us write a short story using the word "akimbo." My entry of 1,000 words finally ended months later as a novel of 129 chapters. It was the sequel and prequel to the first two novels in my "Home of the" trilogy. So you see, my problem is the inability to end a short story.
As problems go, having too many ideas is not the worst one you could have! 
DRSmith writes:
An interesting item that compelled me to say hello, Jay. Well done, as it happens I've just entered a contest prompt and was thinking the same thing. But in my case, which may work for others in sharing this tid-bit, whether writing in response to prompts or not, I always try to incorporate a valid theme rather than simply blather a string of words to fit the piece. To me, themes tend to give a piece meaning, a life of its own, and all the while likely to evoke emotion from the reader.
I quite agree, DR! I hate it when someone takes a prompt and just barely does anything with it apart from meet-the-requirements. Creativity goes a long way!
Mark Allen Mc Lemore writes:
Another inspiring newsletter, Jay. I think maybe I will go back and revise a few of my stories I entered into contests. I know one I never entered and I am always adding a little more to it here and there, started off as a contest entry and now I am thinking of sending it to Lovecraft eZine. Of course, I have it set for my eyes only since it isn't even a complete story yet.
Thanks Jay.
Sounds like a solid plan to me! I love Lovecraft Ezine, btw.
NickiD89  writes:
Excellent newsletter, Jay! I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on writing for a contest. The prompt is only the catalyst -- breaking out of the contest guideline constraints after the judging is over and molding the story into something bigger and better is such wonderful advice for us all. Thanks!
I know, right? There is so much more work that can be done once the gavel drops.
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Short Stories: June 26, 2013 Issue [#5750]
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