Fiction Writer's Thread

[Epic Meepo]

"I want to know more about that world."
"Yes! That pops into my head a lot."
and simply "Do it."

So.

Do it!

 

[Dioltach]

Does anyone here publish on places like Reedsy? I've been thinking about doing that, just to get into the habit of finishing stories and hopefully getting some reader feedback.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I find the only way to actually finish a story is to make it really short.

 

[Bohandas]

I'm good at creating worlds and coming up with plots, not so good at turning those plots and worlds into full length stories

 

[Blue Orange]

I'm good at creating worlds and coming up with plots, not so good at turning those plots and worlds into full length stories

Try flash fiction (<1000 words) first?

Then maybe one of the bits you created strikes your fancy and you can expand it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Shortest published sci fi story I ever read was something called “Planet Earth’s Report Card” (or something similar).

Under the title was a huge:

F

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I've written a handful of short stories that I'm shopping around to various markets, but so far no bites. I'm working on a novel and about 1/3 or the way through.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Try flash fiction (<1000 words) first?

Then maybe one of the bits you created strikes your fancy and you can expand it.

Not heard the term before, but the story I posted above comes into that category. The point is, it's something you can finish in one sitting (possibly revisiting a couple of times for proof-reading and general polish).

The trouble is, it's not a commercial format. Everyone feels they need to write a best selling novel (and if it's fantasy, it must have doorstop proportions). But these days, the market is so oversaturated that even if your novel is great it's hard to make a liveable income from it. You really need to already be a celebrity for your novel to stand out in the crowd.

So, unless you want to build up a YouTube channel first, you are back to writing purely for your own amusement.

 

[Blue Orange]

Not heard the term before, but the story I posted above comes into that category. The point is, it's something you can finish in one sitting (possibly revisiting a couple of times for proof-reading and general polish).

The trouble is, it's not a commercial format. Everyone feels they need to write a best selling novel (and if it's fantasy, it must have doorstop proportions). But these days, the market is so oversaturated that even if your novel is great it's hard to make a liveable income from it. You really need to already be a celebrity for your novel to stand out in the crowd.

So, unless you want to build up a YouTube channel first, you are back to writing purely for your own amusement.

Very much so.

From what I've seen, a lot of people will build buzz elsewhere and self-publish, then if they make enough money publishers will (sometimes) pay attention.

One thing that might appeal to some people here is the people who are writing LitRPG, putting it up on Royal Road, and getting attention that way. Not sure how I feel about stats in my stories, but I'm sure some people here might see it as the perfect opportunity!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Not sure how I feel about stats in my stories, but

Would hate it. My writing isn’t really rpg related, and certainly not in the fantasy genre. When I’m not pastiching MR James I write comic science fiction or detective fiction.