Why not turn that novel into a short story?

May is almost over and so is National Short Story Month.

Did you submit a short story? Wish I’d spent my time on NSSM instead of reading, studying and ripping my current work in progress (WIP) apart. Now I’m considering just burying it in the back of my closet and denying its existence.

Is Your Idea a Short Story or Novel?

Makes me wonder if my “novel” be better as a short story???

There are three days left in National Short Story Month. Three days, hmm. Not sure I can write something worth reading in three days.

No, let me revise that statement. I can write something, but getting it ready for prime time is the challenge.

Ding, ding, ding! Light bulb moment. Why not try? I love a challenge. What about you?

Did you submit a short story for the month of May frenzy?

Do tell. And do share any success stories.

Maybe it’s too late to get in those submissions for National Short Story Month but it’s never too late for inspiration to strike.

On Twitter check out  #ShortReads or  for a list of people, places and stories. And follow @ShortStoryMonth for more….

FREE contest Alternating Current (There’s still time!)

The Fiction Desk (There’s still time!)

Every Writer Magazine

Fiction Writers Review

Story A Day

Every Day Fiction

Flash Fiction On Line

The Stoneslide Corrective

Nano Fiction

Reading the Short Story

Flavor Wire 

Get a FREE trial subscription to Found Press.

Okay, is that enough to get the juices flowing?

No? Then watch a pro – Steven King.

Time to start clicking those keys. Happy writing!

 

Writers Submit Your Crime Thriller To New Short Story Competition

Okay, all you crime and thriller writers, dust off those manuscripts until they are bright and shiny.

No Exit Press New Short Story Writing Competition is now open for entries.

Chris over at The Story Reading Ape’s Blog shared a link from Bridget Whelan, Writer’s blog where she explained how Oldcastle Books plans to celebrate it’s 30th birthday. The publisher has set up a new short story competition for its crime fiction imprint, No Exit Press.

So now I’m sharing with my readers. Head over and start entering for a chance to win. Submission period is: 25 May – 22 June.

Do you know of any upcoming contests or submission requests my readers might be interested in? As always, I love your comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Choosing a Genre—Anatomy of a Best-Selling Story Part 7

How serendipitous (I know-big word) the timing. I don’t believe I could have ordered a better follow-up for my last post. Thank you Kristen, I know my readers will enjoy your latest post at Warrior Writers.

 

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Author Kristen Lamb's avatarKristen Lamb's Blog

Screen Shot 2014-07-30 at 10.42.33 AMUnderstanding structure helps us write cleaner and faster. Whether we plan every detail ahead of time or just intuitively have the architecture in our head, structure makes the difference between a workable first draft and a nightmare beyond salvage.

I know a lot of you are chomping at the bit right now to get writing. All in due time. Today we are going to talk genre and why it is important to pick one.

Understanding what genre you are writing will help guide you when it comes to plotting your novel. How? Each genre has its own set of general rules and expectations. 

If we don’t pick or we get too weird, we will confuse agents and readers because there is no clear idea of where this sucker should be shelved. It will also make plotting more than problematic.

Fifteen years ago, when I first got this brilliant idea to…

View original post 2,601 more words

How to discover your writing genre

What genre is your writing?

Thanks to Ryan over at A Writer’s Path for mentioning Literary Rejections.

The post explaining in detail the definition of each genre, is just one of the many posts over at Literary Rejections with a wealth of information for writers.

Hop over and find out which genre is right for you.

Hmm, so much to read, so little time.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!