Here's the thing: I like the languid way that in a novel I can develop character, however, I've just written two short stories and had them critiqued--elsewhere.
Results: Caitlin--24 critiques; 23 enjoyed it; 1 liked it. Bloodletting--14 critiques; 14 enjoyed it.
And no, I have no idea who these people are, it's completely anonymous. And yes, both had mechanical and style issues that I will be addressing in the second drafts.
The other strange thing is that both my novels are fantasy. Well, one definitely is, the other is probably speculative fiction but it feels like fantasy to me. But my short stories are hardish sci/fi although Bloodletting does have a supernatural element to it.
The question is: I've been researching getting novels published, not short stories. Any pointers on where to look or how to do it.
PS. extrinsic, I saw your comment about Poe's commentary on writing short stories. I must have been channeling him because both mine deal with a single POV character over a short span of time. It just seemed the natural way to write short stories; or perhaps I was influenced by reading a lot of Robert Heinlein and Harry Harrison.
Phil.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
The conventional route for short stories is to select a publication and submit to it according to its submission guidelines. The Grinder has become the go-to replacement for Duotrope as a digest publication indexing service. The Grinder offers submission tracking and other services short story writers appreciate.
Locate potential digests, print and online, using The Grinder's search features. Visit the target digest's submission guidelines. And submit according to the stipulated guidelines. Pay special attention to simultaneous submission policies. Many digests insist that no simultaneous submissions be submitted to other digests while a submission is pending acceptance. Many accept simultaneous submissions.
Fantasy and Science Fiction is a top of the print digest fantasy magazine often included in top three categories along with Analog and Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. The F&SF submission guideline's page:
Alternatively, consider submitting to L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest. WoTF, or W&IoTF, is a four annual quarters writing and illustration contest for fantasy and science fiction short story writers and illustrators who've not been previously published in commercial digests.