To add some tools to our writers tool belt, I wanted to highlight two great blog posts from the last week.
Modern internet browsers are accustomed to two things: short text, and images. Friends will often send me links to articles and fan-fiction and such, and I often don't have the patience for long text on a computer screen. I'm used to quick, often bullet-pointed blog posts. I spend quite a bit of time on Tumblr, which is very image based. And I'm a true internet child, because when I get to long textual posts, I usually just scroll past.
I'm not trying to pass a value judgement on this browsing culture. I think there are good things about it and bad things about it, but its important to be aware of our cultural psychology and how we can best participate in that conversation and introduce people to ourselves and our books.
And we do that with short writing and images.
So, first, here is a post from the consistently wise Anne R. Allen giving 12 reasons to write short stories. If you think short fiction isn't worth your time, Anne will change your mind. Each reason she gives is reason enough to work on short stories. After writing books, I submit that short stories are the best way writers can build their careers, and Anne will tell you why.
As far as images, here is a great list of image resources from Author Marketing Experts. I would also add PicMonkey or iPiccy. I know we writers don't work in images, we work in words, but I am a firm believer in expanding our venues and skills as much as possible. These resources will help you do that with images, even for those of us with no artistic skill to speak of.
Hope these resources help. Write on!
Sarah Allen
Thursday, May 15, 2014
9 comments:
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short stories are a great way of developing writing. I often do a short version of a novel idea just to see if there's anything there.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
Oooh, that's a great idea! Short story as trial run.
DeleteI still need to check out pic monkey.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate!
Shelly
I highly recommend it! It's fun and easy to use.
DeleteAnd yet, as a reader, I tend to avoid short stories although I also avoid very long blogs or articles.
ReplyDeleteAh, interesting. Why do you think that is, and are there certain types of short stories you've enjoyed?
DeleteShort stories which come to mind are anthologies based on a series I enjoy such as those about Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey) or about PERN by Anne McCaffrey - but generally, now I think about it, I am not quite sure why I avoid them. I will have to give it some thought
DeleteI've had several short stories published, but am finding a lot of publications now prefer stories under 1000 words, or even 500. You are right about attention span for short bits. You're more likely to get published now with the short-shorts.
ReplyDeleteOoh, yes, flash fiction :) I have fun with things like that, and its something you can play with in a notebook while you're waiting at a dentists office.
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