Beginning of a short story

Emma B

Well, despite being in a bad mood this morning I did manage to make a bit of headway over lunch. I did begin a short story yesterday aimed at Woman's Weekly but I just wasn't able to get the order of events to work.

On my lunch I have left yesterday's temporarily to one side and started something different, still aimed at Woman's Weekly but with a much better plot and emotional core. I feel much better now :-)

I'll no doubt return to the other one, I'm just going to have to put more thought into how I can plot it better.

Stan2

Don't give up!

Red

That's a good attitude to have Emma. Sometimes I start something, it doesn't work, I start something completely different and then return to the original story and find that I can carry on...writers work in mysterious ways!

dorothyd

it's a good deal to do with allowing the subconscious to work quietly away and then surfaces when you are ready, I think. Good one, Emma!

Stan2

^

febes

I agree with the others, however I don't suggest listening to me as I am yet to be published, so I must be doing something wrong!

However, I find I have the same problem with Plotting! That is why I haven't written a word for the short story competition yet and doing the research before I do the main plot.

Good luck with them both, don't forget to let us know if they are commissioned :)

Emma B

Well that short story is all done and dusted and is now going out to Woman's Weekly :-)

I'm pleased that it does actually come from the heart this story so it's better than ones I've done in the past.

Fingers crossed!

Jay Mandal

Best of luck!

niddy

Good luck Emma, I've never had any luck with WW, have a few out with them at the moment and People's Friend (who have accepted one of mine) - the waiting is the worst bit - takes ages sometimes.

Emma B

I have never had anything accepted before and only just started short stories again last month. Hopefully I have improved a lot since last time and I'm certainly a lot better at doing a bit of research!

niddy

I think you just have to stick at it and keep writing and subbing - I gave myself a year of subbing at least once a month I was lucky to have something accepted right at the end of the year although still waiting to see it in print - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you Emma

Viv

Good luck Emma. WW were my first sale twelve years ago, and I still write for them from time to time. Nice people, but a huge submissions pile and consequently a high rejection rate. They do pay well though! I waited around 4 months for their most recent response, so forget about it now and write something else.

ceka

Good luck, Emma!
Four months (checks latest rejection!) yes, that's about right!
And get on with the next and the next, send, write, rewrite, edit, send etc ad infinitum!