To all those nice people that have taken the time to comment on my short stories I need help. i don't know what I write?

After finishing two stories to a level that I am happy with, I decided to look through the magazine directory to find any magazines that might consider them. But my problem is, I don't know what I write? To those that know I am thinking about 'Aurora' and 'Number 12', with 'Ghost in the Picture' also progressing well (though this latter one is a little easier to define genre wise).

What are they? I can't think of a genre as they're not conventional fiction, but I am not sure they are fantasy or sci-fi either! And what the bally hell is Slipstream?

Any advice gratefully received! And if you send me your address, I'll send chocolate . Maybe

James (Anthony)

Hi James,

I have just read 'Number 12'. I would say it was general fiction. A classic short story, happening in real time.
It’s very good, by the way.
Go for it,
Dawn,x

I'd agree with Dawn.

I've just read Aurora - how did I miss that! It's brilliant.

I saw the Northern Lights once, as a child in Northumberland, and I will never forget the awe and wonder I felt... green ribbons! Yes! Or the bottom edge of a lace curtain rippling in a breeze... sorry, I'm drifting off...

Great story. Yes I would say it's either fantasy or general fiction - probably safer to call it general.

As to where you would send it... I'm sorry but I don't have much of a clue. Certainly most of the little quarterlies would snap it up - Peninsular Magazine by Cherrybite, for instance - it's a great little mag but it doesn't reach a wide audience and only pays £5 per 1000 words so it wouldn't get you out of the day job. It does have the bonus of feedback though... most contributors provide constructive comments on the published stories.

I'll dig out their details if you're interested.

Good luck
Dee

Very interested Dee. Don't care about the money at all. Hope that doesn't make me strange!

Cheers, you're a star!
Both of you

http://www.cherrybite.co.uk

email: helicon@globalnet.co.uk.

Editor's name is Shelagh.

They have a quarterly competition. Closing date for next issue is March 15th. They select the - in their opinion - best three entries and publish them anonymously. Then subscribers vote on them. I entered a couple which didn't make the final three but Shelagh wanted to publish them. I get the impression this is where they find most of their material so I would suggest you enter the next comp.

Good luck.

Dee.

Hi James, I thought Aurora had disappeared. On finding where to place your stories: It needs research, collect info. about as many different mags as you can that you like the look of. Usually there will be a sentence or so somewhere in their submission information or their home page that'll give you a good idea of what they're into. Secondly, try to read some of their stories, either online or by buying their mag, that'll give you an idea about whether you stories fit. Slipstream is a funny kind of thing,.. slightly weird stories that don't fit neatly into any fantasy/Sci/fi niche, but have a touch of magic realism about them, that's one way to describe it. I often write slipstream type material. Check Absinthe Literary Review, Raven Electrick and Polyphony. What is also a good idea is to try to keep abreast of which mags have died, (so many do).
Becca.

BEcca, you legend...

Slipstream - thought it was a waterslide...

I want to subscribe to a few mags to get a feel of things a bit more. One thing WW had taught be is the need to get involved, or at least knowledge of, the literary scene - which is hard to do it seems. Not like music of which I know all about early 90s bands (so sad...still think that I am student buying rum and coke for £1 at the student bar. DEar oh dear!)

Any subs you reccommend?

Nigh night all

JAmes (Anthony)

<Added>

RECCOMMEND? WHAT?!

James, I'd have to get more familiar with your writing to know where to direct you. Start with the three I mentioned, study them. It's all a matter of research, and it's something I find particularly tedious myself, but has to be done. Good Luck.
Becca.
P.S. Since online mags have become more common the whole process is a lot simpler and less time consuming.

taking a trip to Borders/ waterstones today with a crisp £20 in my pocket... my job title calls me a researcher after all! Hmm...