Hello everyone

After a mini-trial last year I took up full time membership yesterday and I have a couple of queries, one regarding submissions, the other about blogs. I've always written - in one form or another. I worked as a copywriter and (commercial) scriptwriter in the 90s and started writing short fiction and poetry around the same time. However ...

I now have a small collection of short stories (and poetry, though that's not my main thing) which I would like to see published in one form or another. If I'm being honest, I've been looking for the perfect home for them. This I think, has been precipitated by my creative writing tutors comment (she's a PhD and is a published poet) that my stories were already of publishable quality. Though I've done a lot of research I always seem to have just missed a deadline for submissions. Consequently I have only submitted one thing, a (very) short story, and that was to the Bridport Prize in the summer. So, and this is where I come to my second point, I think I'm trying to get the measure of exposure. My solution, up to now has been to publish writing (fiction as well as non-fiction) to my blogs (I have seven ...). Again, I feel reluctant to post my best work on these, which is stupid, because it means I am posting what I regard as second-rate work. So I know the value of this is probably self-defeating.

Likewise, (and this is why I've joined WriteWords) if I post something on this site, what do I post? My best work or my work in progress? Help, please, would be very much appreciated!

Again, I feel reluctant to post my best work on these, which is stupid, because it means I am posting what I regard as second-rate work. So I know the value of this is probably self-defeating.

Oh, good, I'm glad it's not just me. I've got a host of short stories that have no outlet other than on the internet via my website - wrong length, wrong age of protagonist (it's children's fiction), so of no interest to publishers, but readers like them. But for for the same self-defeating reasons I'm reluctant to put them on. I guess at some point I hope the market will change, or a competition will come up, where they'll be of use.

Likewise, (and this is why I've joined WriteWords) if I post something on this site, what do I post? My best work or my work in progress? Help, please, would be very much appreciated!

I'm sure others will jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always looked at WriteWords as being, first and foremost, a site for feedback on one's work, rather than simply displaying it to be read and enjoyed (Personally, I find a difference between reading it to critique, and reading something purely for pleasure).
If you just want people to read it then a blog (or sites like Authonomy) would probably be a better outlet. However, if you do want feedback, then it is probably better to upload work that has already gone through the redrafting/editing stage, rather than a WIP, otherwise a lot of the feedback could get bogged down on technicalities which you can spot for yourself anyway. Whichever you choose to post, it's worth putting up a paragraph saying what kind/level of feedback (if any) you are looking for.



- NaomiM

Hello Naomi

First of all, it's good to know I'm not the only one too! Your comment (sorry, not mastered the art of replying with quotes yet) about not having the right protagonist, age etc may have something to do with it. This highlights approaches to writing - some write for a specific market, are able to respond to specific themes whilst others (think I fit in to this category) work better when they generate their own ideas. I think this may be part of the problem - finding a publisher/competition/magazine that 'fits' your work rather than identifying one first and working towards something specifically for that market.

Secondly, reading v feedback. I think I'm looking more for feedback on my poetry (which I'm not as confident about), so will probably join one of the poetry groups. I've just taken a look at authonomy and registered on their site, so will see how that develops.

Thank you for your very valuable input, it was very much appreciated and I look forward to reading your work (and others!). :0

<Added>

Re: I think this may be part of the problem - finding a publisher/competition/magazine that 'fits' your work rather than identifying one first and working towards something specifically for that market - I should have said 'is more difficult'!

Welcome, Diane!

I'd tend to agree with Naomi. I think WriteWords works best as a place for testing out ideas - getting help with something you're stuggling with or not sure about, not for showcasing work which may already be as polished as it can be. (Though argubly, I suppose even anybody's best work can always be improved...)

Rosy

I'd agree, you should mostly post things you're not sure about. You might try submitting to poetry and short fiction magazines rather than competitions for your best work. I'm not sure how well Authonomy and YOuWriteOn serve people who don't write novels, TBH - I think if you're spotted on there the publisher will want you to produce a novel, rather than a short story or poetry collection.

getting help with something you're struggling with

Hi Rosie

That's very helpful - I've got some stories to what I regard as first draft stage, but apart from sitting on them for a year I've been unable to revise them to a point I'm happy with them. I'll try posting some of those. Do I have to join a short story group to do this? (I'm not sure about where to upload what at the moment).

Thanks - Diane

Hello

Re: You might try submitting to poetry and short fiction magazines rather than competitions for your best work. I'm not sure how well Authonomy and YOuWriteOn serve people who don't write novels,

Yes, I think you're right on both counts. In fact I submitted a piece of flash fiction to a magazine on Friday and on Saturday received a reply saying they were considering it for the forthcoming issue, so perhaps I've been approaching it the wrong way! Re: Authonomy and You Write On; I've registered with both these sites, but yes, my stories are way too short, but it's interesting to see the quality of work submitted (good and otherwise), it helps you to evaluate your own too.

Thanks

Diane