tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post1223269856091330442..comments2024-03-27T23:53:59.771-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: While We're at ItLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-77864603375819337212017-05-02T09:53:44.220-04:002017-05-02T09:53:44.220-04:00I do enjoy writing both the novel and short storie...I do enjoy writing both the novel and short stories. Thanks for sharing this. K. L. Hallamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37002516257892552362017-04-01T13:16:34.962-04:002017-04-01T13:16:34.962-04:00R. T., my husband pointed out that I was making mo...R. T., my husband pointed out that I was making more money on my short stories than my novels, and he was correct. Sigh. Thanks for sharing the numbers. The best thing I've done for my writing career was to not quit my day job. Like you, I prefer having a roof over my head and three squares a day.Catherine Diltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05772088568954159017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-442768755363213822017-03-27T11:00:56.646-04:002017-03-27T11:00:56.646-04:00Thank you, RT: I suddenly feel infinitely better ...Thank you, RT: I suddenly feel infinitely better about my career as a short story writer! I've never cracked Ellery Queen, but AHMM has bought almost 30 of my stories, and I get the occasional sci-fi (and other) market. Maybe I'm not as slow as I thought...Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-48252529027430530412017-03-26T19:55:36.553-04:002017-03-26T19:55:36.553-04:00I'm an even slower writer! Or rather slow self...I'm an even slower writer! Or rather slow self-editor and rewriter.<br /><br />It should be mentioned that RT writes his articles weeks in advance, so it's coincidence (or great minds in the same gutter, er track) that his article followed Melodies' article yesterday.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84436844709519410102017-03-26T19:06:09.411-04:002017-03-26T19:06:09.411-04:00I monitor blogs and on-line communities for both a...I monitor blogs and on-line communities for both aspiring writers and wanna-be actors. NO ONE Ever mentions numbers! Elect this man to Congress!<br /><br />I agree with BK - I write both novels and shorts, because I want to write both, to tell stories that require both lengths. I don't pay attentions to trends - you are probably too late to cash in by the time you notice a trend anyway. I write what I want to read, try to market smartly and hope for enough money to pay for the books I buy.Steve Pease as Michael Chandosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89017351400478344032017-03-26T13:38:44.671-04:002017-03-26T13:38:44.671-04:00I can't argue with anything you say, RT. I'...I can't argue with anything you say, RT. I've published a lot of stories (mostly in AHMM) and only two novels, and so far the short stories definitely show more profits, especially when I deduct the costs of printing bookmarks and paying for ads and such--I never did that for short stories. But I'll probably keep trying with another novel or two, partly because I enjoy writing both stories and novels, partly because hope springs eternal, in defiance of all the evidence, that the next novel will actually sell a decent number of copies.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-77635702523225603472017-03-26T12:21:23.934-04:002017-03-26T12:21:23.934-04:00I enjoyed reading all your comments, and also pick...I enjoyed reading all your comments, and also picking up new information and insights from them on market trends.<br /><br />Steve, I am now zero for four with Ellery Queen, 100% rejection. Guess some markets are just tough to break into. I've discussed this situation with authors published in AHMM only, those published in EQMM only and those published in both. There doesn't seem to be any enlightenment as to the why.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8164866840506906602017-03-26T11:09:24.994-04:002017-03-26T11:09:24.994-04:00The market for short stories is broad (across mult...The market for short stories is broad (across multiple genres), but payment rates have bifurcated. When I started writing professionally in the late 1970s there were bottom-end markets paying nothing or a fraction of a cent per word, and top-end markets paying 10-20-30 cents/word (or more). Both extremes still exist. What's missing are the mid-range markets that were once my financial life-blood. Once upon a time I could count on receiving multiple hundreds of dollars for the short stories I sold. These days, cracking triple digits is less common than I'd like.<br /><br />I'm writing and selling more now than ever before, but because the average pay per story has decreased, my annual writing income has not shown much movement. Sigh.<br /><br />I don't know what my acceptance rates are for any particular publication (that would be a nightmare to figure out), but at one particular publisher I have at least 109 consecutive acceptances without a rejection.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-17051512013091146612017-03-26T09:27:50.059-04:002017-03-26T09:27:50.059-04:00Well done, RT. You make some really good points h...Well done, RT. You make some really good points here. And yes, congrats on your track record at AHMM. I wish I had a 70% acceptance rate, anywhere!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-73303566778181428842017-03-26T08:59:15.217-04:002017-03-26T08:59:15.217-04:00Interesting piece, R.T., and real food for thought...Interesting piece, R.T., and real food for thought. I envy your sales rate at Alfred, and yes, they DO treat writers well, which is a delightful rarity now.<br /><br />I don't write many short stories either, partly because they're hard for me and partly because I'm trying to push the novels, but short stories have been my best money makers, too. <br /><br />I keep telling myself I should write more short stories, but it's hard to believe that when a rejection arrives ten months after a submission. And Janice is right: the long wait time is at least partly because there are so few decent-paying markets now that they get swamped with submissions.<br /><br />Short stories SHOULD be easier because the traditional markets will do the formatting, printing and distribution that I have to do for the self-published novels, but they involve different planning and thinking...at least for me. <br /><br />BTW my rejection rate at Alfred Hitchcock is about 80%, and 100% for Ellery Queen (0 for 26). The good news is I have three stories sold this year to new markets. Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-62660470340628194092017-03-26T08:48:45.467-04:002017-03-26T08:48:45.467-04:00Oh, how that death spiral story sounds so grim. An...Oh, how that death spiral story sounds so grim. And I know what you mean about short story payment versus novel advance/royalties. Thanks for the perspectives here!Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-21011377458095722602017-03-26T08:07:03.430-04:002017-03-26T08:07:03.430-04:00the only problem with short stories is that the ma...the only problem with short stories is that the markets are few in number and ever precarious. <br />That said, I have to agree that at the moment, short stories in decent markets probably do pay much better than most novels.janice lawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29768030967756265592017-03-26T08:05:08.717-04:002017-03-26T08:05:08.717-04:00Nice article, RT. Look forward to reading more of ...Nice article, RT. Look forward to reading more of your stories.O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-3640318106645582532017-03-26T07:42:48.326-04:002017-03-26T07:42:48.326-04:00I love how you lay it out, R.T.! I'm primaril...I love how you lay it out, R.T.! I'm primarily a short story writer. Short stories have always been my first love as a reader so it seems to follow that I would prefer writing them. However, I have cranked out a small hand full of novels and none have fared very well. So I have come to the same conclusion you lay out in such a practical manner, that novel writing (in my case, at least) hardly seems worth the effort. Thanks for the facts and figures here, R.T. Great post! David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89501409596166336542017-03-26T05:47:25.387-04:002017-03-26T05:47:25.387-04:00Great piece, RT. Very informative, but very soberi...Great piece, RT. Very informative, but very sobering. I like to do both, novels and short stories, you make a lot of good points re: the novel markets these days.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.com