What I Learned from "Murder Shorts - Short Stories"
/I attended "Murder Shorts - Short Stories" at Malice Domestic 2017. Here's what I learned from this fun bunch of short story authors: Leone Ciporin, Teresa Inge, KM Rockwood, Alan Orloff, and Maggie King.
- The group liked the short story format. They felt they could experiment more as writers in this compact format.
- Short stories are seeing a resurgence. Check out Spine Tingler Magazine, Flashbang.com, Mystery Weekly, and Woman's World. They all pay for mystery submissions.
- Visit Sandra Seaman's blog to see calls for publication for short stories.
- Readers care about the characters in short stories. The characters are often ordinary people in ordinary settings.
- Characters are important in short stories. Description and dialogue help create the picture for the reader.
- I loved Alan Orloff's advice for writers - BIFOK! (Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard). You just have to sit down and write.
- You have a small space in a short story; every word must count.
- Use both sides of your brain when you write. Your creative side writes and plots, while your analytical site proofreads and edits.
- Don't edit as you write. Just write. Revise later.