04.25.08

What do editors / agents / publishers really want?

Posted in Uncategorized at by Dianne

Have you ever wondered what an editor, agent, publisher really wants in a story? Do you have story ideas that seem great in the moment, but become just like everyone else’s? Is your story a cliche?

If so, you’re not alone. We all come up with a plot that has conflict. Conflict has only three ways of being: self with universe, self with other, self with self. How many variations can there be?

Lots of agents are blogging these days. And some publishers are, too. Here are a couple of blogs / sites where you can read what the folks who do the buying and selling want – and don’t want.

Nathan Bransford, literary agent, Curtis Brown Ltd. http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/

Strange Horizons , weekly online magazine http://www.strangehorizons.com/guidelines/fiction-common.shtml

04.18.08

First reader at Flashing Swords Magazine

Posted in Uncategorized at by Dianne

A couple of months ago, the managing editor of Flashing Swords Magazine asked for volunteers to read submitted stories. The magazine publishes mostly Sword and Sorcery (SS) stories, so I was very interested.

The editor sent me a story to review and comment on, and I sent her my comments. After that, I was on the team of first readers. Woo hoo!

The main reason that I do this is to help other writers while I learn from them. Every story is as unique as its writer. The plot, characters, settings, etc. are different in every story, so I learn excellent techniques in every part of story telling. When I think about what worked in the story, and what didn’t, I have to go deep into the writing craft. That helps me to think about everything in my own stories.

The managing editor of FS, CrystalWizard, has a mission. She makes sure that every writer who submits a story to the magazine receives a critique of that story. It goes above and beyond anything I’ve experienced. I love being a part of that mission!

Take a look at the magazine:  Flashing Swords Magazine. And while you’re there, look at the new anthology called The Return of the Sword. If you’re into SS, this collection of stories is excellent!

04.11.08

Mysteries – How do we plot them?

Posted in Uncategorized at by Dianne

I’m writing a novel. Oh, yes. Just like everyone else.

My novel is a hybrid of mystery and thriller. There is a mystery at the core of the story, but there’s a lot of action before it’s solved. Like all good mysteries, the plot needs to take the reader to different places before the mystery is revealed. The plot needs to be good enough that even the most astute mystery reader can’t guess where it’s going.

I think I need to put together a "plot line." Something that shows me the main mystery, several subplots that lead to nothing, and the final revelation. I’ve decide to use a process map to do that.

Business process mapping is a tool that people use to figure out the processes that are in place at companies. Using this method, repetitive steps are revealed, along with places where there is no process. It’s visual which is easy for me to follow.

I’ve just bought a book about plotting. When it arrives, I’ll settle in for a good read. Until then, I’ll create my "plot line."

04.04.08

Placed in short story contest

Posted in Uncategorized at by Dianne

I won second place in a short story competition! Woo hoo!!

This story is a flash fiction piece named Of Spiders and Monsters. The theme for the contest was “snowbound.” Since the magazine is all about science fiction, fantasy, and horror (with fantastic elements), I wrote about what a human mind does during extreme isolation.

You can read the story here:   Electric Dragon Cafe

Let me know what you think – leave a comment.