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Calls
By Nancy Lindquist | September 14, 2007
I’ve gotten an interesting e-mail from one of my publishers. It’s asking for a short story, 5 thousand, to 15 thousand words about a holiday, other than Christmas, due out about then.
Normally, I don’t think I can write something good in that number of words, well fleshed out. This time, I think I’m going to try.
Almost immediately an experience I had at a ritual a few years ago, came to mind and my mind flitted off into the land of, “what if?”
I like that country. Lately, I’ve not been able to write much. Herne makes it tough to write when he’s home and when he’s not, I’m in pain cause of my dumb back.
Still, I think I’ve got a good idea here and want to run with it.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:32 am
GO FOR IT! Actually, it can be a wonderful writing exercise, because it keeps you very focused on essentials, since every word counts. It’s almost like writing poetry–well-written short fiction has to be “denser”; that is, more description, more ideas packed into less space.I mean, be honest–couldn’t you find a few words, phrases, even sentences or scenes in any 40K or above story that don’t REALLY explicitly define a character, or move the story forward strongly? So…just don’t write any of those! Aren’t you glad I cleared that up? *snicker*
Just do it! (says the woman who hasn’t written a story in…never mind. Do as I say, not as I do!)
September 14th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Yay!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Good for you!
Good luck, Nancy.