Absolute Write Blog Chain Question for me! Answer included!
I received a question today from rosemerry who answered a separate question from Lady Cat who got her question from … well, I think you get the picture!
It’s called a blog chain and it’s a fun way to learn about other writers while sharing something about yourself! In this blog chain, started on Absolute Write (highly recommended for any writer!) the person before asks a question and it is answered by the next and so on and so forth. Today is my turn!
Question
Do you write short stories or novels or both? What made you choose that medium? If you write short stories, is it disheartening that you can’t make a living writing short stories like in the heyday of short story writing? If you write novels is it discouraging that it is a longer time period to see any return on your writing or that it gets rejected after all the time you put into it?
Answer
Technically, I have been writing professionally for 4.5 years — as long as my photography studio has been open. Not many knew that I, yes, little ole me, wrote all the content for our website, blog, flyers, marketing, PR, etc. But I did! None of that, though, has anything to do with short stories or novels. So read on …
When I got the idea for MIRAGE, I decided, right then and there, to write the whole darn thing — a novel. And I did. 99,971 words (I think) in about 60 days. It wasn’t the first time I was called crazy — shoot, opening a photography studio amidst the saturated industry where anyone and their mother can buy a fantastic digital camera was also crazy — but I digress.
It was then I decided that I was going to add writing to my resume — officially. It quickly became apparent (to me anyway) that I enjoyed writing more than just the pieces for the studio. I enjoyed taking my words and penning them into something creative for the benefit of not just me, but others around me.
Since writing novels, by their very nature, includes a long time-intensive process, I found I needed a creative outlet for my creative outlet and started adding flash fiction. I don’t consider them short stories since they are under 500 words. I could probably write 2000 words faster than I do 250 in a flash fiction piece, but I find it very rewarding to sit with a photo, that I or one of my photographers took, and create a little story — or even just a scene.
Do I expect to have them published, ever? Nope. They are totally for me, for fun.
I don’t think I’ll ever really get into real short stories — not because there isn’t a market for it, but because if I’m going to write 2000 – 4000 words, I want to make it bigger and tell an even bigger story which then leads me to 10,000 words, then 20,000 and on and on.
So, I would consider myself a writer of novels. Anything outside of that is just fluff fun.
Now, on to the next portion of the question … am I discouraged by the time it takes to get something in print? Um, well … not really. Yes, it’s a loooong process. I’ve been querying MIRAGE for, well, about 2 months now and am up to 15 rejections. In the meantime, I’m working on Little White Lies and have reached about 8,000 words.
Because I don’t come to writing from within the confines of an English degree or a “that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do in life” philosophy, I probably look at this a little different than others.
First, let me clarify something about myself. I have a Math degree and an MBA. I didn’t get into photography by virtue of an art degree either — it was a business decision and I happen to love the art side of it. Well … books are much the same way … for me.
I will learn from the industry, follow its rules, move forward, move backward, write, submit, rewrite, resubmit and if all else fails … well … the way I see it, the #1 thing writers want is publication and the success of publication is in marketing. Since I have a DEGREE that focuses on marketing (my MBA) then I will publish myself and market … myself.
Why you ask? Why step on the toes of every agent, editor and publisher out there? Because I have never been one to follow all the rules. The photography industry is going through a serious state of flux. I see the publishing industry going through something similar. Will I make millions off a self-published novel? Probably not. Will I make millions off a published novel by any of the big houses? Probably not.
Why not then take the marketing into my own hands? If I want to see my book in B&N, Borders or the grocery store, then yeah … gotta follow ALL the rules. At least today. If I want my book to be in book form then there are very strategic ways of doing that that requires that I do the marketing — which apparently is one of my greatest strengths.
I will caveat all of the above with this … if I decide I want, with absolute certainty, the ultimate agent-publisher-writer arrangement, then yeah, the time it takes is a loooooong one and for that I’m sorry for all the writers out there who want nothing more than a shot at the big time.
And I just may be in their shoes too …
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Thanks for reading my ramblings! I hope something in there was insightful. 🙂
For Proach aka Deanna, my question is this,
I see that you’ve just graduated from college. Kudos! Assuming writing is your career choice, do you have an ultimate goal for it and if so what is it? What are you doing to achieve that goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years?
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All comments welcome on this or any of our blog’s entries!
In 60 days?! You are crazy. – jaw drops – I totally get where you’re coming from with the flash fiction vs. novels bit too. I like writing scenes, but if I try to make it into a short story, I end up adding more details and more little subplots that they end up being a full blown thing.
Yeah, just under. 🙂 I wrote during my daughter’s dance class, for the first two hours of every day (at work) and late a night a few times. I could have stayed up to see the sunrise a few times — totally sucked into my own story. 🙂 If I weren’t editing Mirage a bit right now between writing Little White Lies, I’d be on the same track for it. 🙂 I write like I read … totally sucked in. 🙂
The writing bug bites deep and refuses to let go.
I’m surprised that so many people honestly believe they will make millions. You’re right not to expect riches to fall from upon high – Stephen King and JK Rowling are the annoying exceptions to the rule, and we should rightly be envious of their success.
Seeing your work in published form would be neat. It isn’t the main reason I – and many others – take up the pen (or set to the keyboard), but it is a powerful incentive. Writing for the sheer joy of writing should be enough in and of itself.
I’ll add one last thing before I wrap up: The self-publishing route is one with many, many pitfalls. I have neither the patience nor the cheery demeanor to participate in such a manner of publishing, but wish well to all who partake of the endeavor.
Good luck with all. I’ll be looking out for that first novel. 🙂
I expect self-publishing would be one with interesting pitfalls … though I believe the actual publishing route also has pitfalls … they’re just different ones. 🙂 The key, I think, for any writer, is finding and achieving what they want … whether that be simply amassing an audience or writing for pleasure. 🙂 Fun all around!
Thanks for commenting!!
I don’t have the concentration or discipline to actually finish a novel. It took me awhile to be able to admit this to myself and tell myself that it’s okay to not write novels. So short stories seem to be more my cuppa tea.
Very insightful post…thanks for sharing! I’m currently writing a short story, but it’s targeted to a specific publishing market, and we’ll see how it does. I think for me it’s just as you say, another shorter creative outlet for my writing.
I wish you all the best with the self-publishing route. I’m planning to do a mixture of self-pub and trad. pub. myself (well, hopefully some traditional, since it’s subjective to the whims of others). As with you, I’m not planning on making a bunch of money, just selling my stories however I can. I think that’s a very healthy, realistic goal, and I always admire authors who aren’t afraid to step outside the lines occasionally.
I like the juggling of longer and shorter works too. I am currently working in non-fiction, however, so for me my daily blog posts are the things that keep me going and give me some sense of satisfaction during the production of a longer work. Thanks for weighing in!
I started out writing short stories, but they got progressively longer until one day I realized I was writing novels. 🙂
I’ve just started writing flash fiction and I’ve been enjoying it a lot. I have a friend who self-publishes. It’s a lot of work but she finds it very rewarding. She’s got quite a following locally and could probably do very well if she wanted to put herself out there more, like on the internet.
Carol! That’s awesome about your friend! Isn’t flash fiction fun? I love putting so much emotion and wit into such a short piece. And it’s something even my hubby will read. 😉