Submission time. Tonight’s my deadline for submitting a short story to the Cascade Writers 2012 workshop. Since I’m going, I’d better get something picked out, huh? It’s not like I lack stories. I’ve written fourteen stories in the past fourteen days and then there’s a backlog of stories I’ve written, edited and tried to sell. I’ve got stories coming out my ears. THAT’S not the problem.
The problem in the word length. Sigh. They have a max limit of 3750 words or there abouts. Now, to some folks, that sounds like a lot. For me, it’s generally not enough. Not for my best work (and I want to put in my best work). To create interesting characters, lived-in worlds, compelling conflicts and development…I gotta have about 5~6 thousand words. I have written shorter, but those mostly feel…lacking. Some dimension, be it setting or character development or worldbuilding, gets lopped off every thousand words I cut.
That’s just where I am as a writer, now. I bloom given room to write. If I write short, it’s not as good. In my opinion.
I’d like to be able to write well shorter, I really would. This month is giving me a lot of practice and showing me…I need a lot more practice.
I don’t know. I feel plot suffers the most with length restrictions. Twists come at the end, at best, or don’t show up at all and what I have is a very linear plot. Again, I guess this shows me more areas I need work in.
Well, I’ll find something. I have a few stories I’m proud of but haven’t submitted outside the awesome circle of Wordslingers. Maybe one of them is under that cursed, cursed 3750 limit.
On another ’30 in 30’ note, finished another story last night. A first person monster-hunting girl story. Worked pretty well. Maybe I’ll do more 1st person from now on. It creates intimacy in a short space, lets me create voice pretty easily. That should help with the length and time limits.
The problem in the word length. Sigh. They have a max limit of 3750 words or there abouts. Now, to some folks, that sounds like a lot. For me, it’s generally not enough. Not for my best work (and I want to put in my best work). To create interesting characters, lived-in worlds, compelling conflicts and development…I gotta have about 5~6 thousand words. I have written shorter, but those mostly feel…lacking. Some dimension, be it setting or character development or worldbuilding, gets lopped off every thousand words I cut.
That’s just where I am as a writer, now. I bloom given room to write. If I write short, it’s not as good. In my opinion.
I’d like to be able to write well shorter, I really would. This month is giving me a lot of practice and showing me…I need a lot more practice.
I don’t know. I feel plot suffers the most with length restrictions. Twists come at the end, at best, or don’t show up at all and what I have is a very linear plot. Again, I guess this shows me more areas I need work in.
Well, I’ll find something. I have a few stories I’m proud of but haven’t submitted outside the awesome circle of Wordslingers. Maybe one of them is under that cursed, cursed 3750 limit.
On another ’30 in 30’ note, finished another story last night. A first person monster-hunting girl story. Worked pretty well. Maybe I’ll do more 1st person from now on. It creates intimacy in a short space, lets me create voice pretty easily. That should help with the length and time limits.
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