tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6325134526804156156..comments2024-03-18T19:00:03.047-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: 100 and CountingLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-79835028916530343712018-08-11T15:02:56.704-04:002018-08-11T15:02:56.704-04:00Craig and Marian -- Forgive me for being so late i...Craig and Marian -- Forgive me for being so late in responding to your kind comments.<br /><br />Craig, I check that WWWriters Yahoo group now and then, and yes, there's some valuable info there for folks who want to write for that market. As for Drabbles, I love writing those super-short stories as well. I've sold about half a dozen stories that were less than 100 words--one was 51 words, one was 26. Thanks so much for stopping in here at SleuthSayers, old friend!<br /><br />Hi Marian--thank you for the comment. As you know, anytime you get a handwritten note from the editor about a submission, be sure to try them again (along with a reminder that the editor had written you a note). But I certainly understand your need to crank out those novels--I admire you for that. And thanks for the kind words about my WW stories. Glad to hear you enjoy them!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-51188826661184200272018-07-12T22:18:17.712-04:002018-07-12T22:18:17.712-04:00This is excellent information, John. Thank you. I ...This is excellent information, John. Thank you. I was submitting to them for awhile and got a really nice handwritten note from the editor pointing out what she liked about the mystery I submitted. They didn't accept it because they had just contracted a similar one. I stop submitting to fill contractual obligations for my novels, but your article has me digging my WW files out of the drawer. Love your stories in the magazine.<br />Marian Lanouettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11989754229732790216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-65525816553205578302018-07-12T22:14:21.424-04:002018-07-12T22:14:21.424-04:00An amazing feat, John. Congrats. I sent a mini-mys...An amazing feat, John. Congrats. I sent a mini-mystery to Patricia, but they didn't bite. They do, however, have a very active writers group on Yahoo! that Patricia monitors and participates in. It's called WWWriters.<br /><br />And Elizabeth, I'll see you in the Drabble anthology! All stories have to be EXACTLY 100 words.<br /><br />John, I love you bemoaning writing under 1000 words. My shortest was for a 6-word story anthology. Here it is: "I missed her. Shot him instead."<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />CraigCraig Faustus Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10977748649878766205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-87247429691376484912018-07-05T21:36:32.161-04:002018-07-05T21:36:32.161-04:00Thanks, Michele!! I wish you every success with W...Thanks, Michele!! I wish you every success with Woman's World. Keep me informed!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-1480594745907129082018-07-05T10:40:28.401-04:002018-07-05T10:40:28.401-04:00John, excellent & very helpful info for us wri...John, excellent & very helpful info for us writers. I've been a WW subscriber for years and just recently decided to attemp writing for them. Your info is perfect timing!Thank you, MicheleAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03455444581484909096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84251176424347237622018-07-01T13:48:56.155-04:002018-07-01T13:48:56.155-04:00Deborah, you are too kind. I have been superfortu...Deborah, you are too kind. I have been superfortunate at WW, but remember too that i've had at least as many rejections as acceptances! Probably more. At some of these markets, including the regular mystery markets, I think I succeeded because I just continued sending them stories until I finally wore them down.<br /><br />And Michael, it's anybody's guess why editors like some stories and don't like others. A lot of my WW stories bit the dust because (as you said) the fiction editors liked them but the ed.-in-chief didn't. And, as you also said, it's always good to try those rejected stories at other markets afterward. As for the changes in editors, I've been lucky there: I didn't think anyone could ever fill Cathleen Jordan's shoes, at AHMM, but Linda Landrigan has, and the same goes for Johnene Granger and Patricia Gaddis at WW.<br /><br />Thanks, both of you, for your comments!!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-72651602605802087462018-07-01T12:53:31.750-04:002018-07-01T12:53:31.750-04:00I've read many of the mini-mysteries in Woman&...I've read many of the mini-mysteries in Woman's World, and I've read your advice on writing them, John, but writing them still flummoxes me. I've only ever come close once, with a Christmas mystery that the previous editor liked but the publisher nixed.<br /><br />I've written and submitted far more of the short romances, with even less success, but most of them have sold to other (lesser-paying) markets either as is or slightly lengthened.<br /><br />On a slightly different note: Surviving editor changes is a bit of a crap shoot. I've been through several. Sometimes the new editor doesn't like anything and I lose a market. Other times—the best times—the new editor accepts as much or more than the previous editor. So, congratulations on surviving the editor change!Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8377006047327441552018-07-01T12:32:48.521-04:002018-07-01T12:32:48.521-04:00John, congratulations on the triple digit sales! A...John, congratulations on the triple digit sales! As always, you are a great writer for us to read, study and use as a motivator! Great article!Deborah Elliott-Uptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847049319243268520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-32214597587453236012018-07-01T12:25:14.517-04:002018-07-01T12:25:14.517-04:00Hi Kaye! Yes, I hope you'll try submitting to...Hi Kaye! Yes, I hope you'll try submitting to them again. Besides the exposure to a lot of readers, their payment per word is as high as anyplace I've ever seen. Please keep me posted, and thanks for stopping in at SleuthSayers!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-54769660753503400092018-07-01T11:33:32.445-04:002018-07-01T11:33:32.445-04:00Mega-congrats! (Imagine the balloons and stuff fro...Mega-congrats! (Imagine the balloons and stuff from the FB congrats.) That's a stupendous accomplishment. I've tried a few times, but haven't stuck with it. You've renewed my resolve, though, and I will set aside a regular time to work on these. I'd LOVE to get into that market. Thanks for your generous advice!Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-34475260377256087632018-06-30T21:48:46.253-04:002018-06-30T21:48:46.253-04:00Liz, congrats on your drabbles--those are REALLY h...Liz, congrats on your drabbles--those are REALLY hard to write. Yep, 700 words should be a picnic for you.<br /><br />Thanks for chiming in, here!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-7620654100677874902018-06-30T21:25:37.996-04:002018-06-30T21:25:37.996-04:00Congratulations John! Mr. Elizabeth bought me a su...Congratulations John! Mr. Elizabeth bought me a subscription to <i>Woman's World</i>, so I won't miss any of your stories.<br /><br />I like writing drabbles, six-word stories, & other flash fiction, so 700 words is a lot for me to try to fill up! I sold two drabbles to an anthology recently. I sent a mystery to <i>Woman's World</i> years ago & never heard back.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239163766419735693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-61620693581263562792018-06-30T17:51:30.142-04:002018-06-30T17:51:30.142-04:00Thanks, Jan--good to hear from you! I'm also ...Thanks, Jan--good to hear from you! I'm also glad to hear you've tried WW, and I hope you'll try them again. As for how I come up with so many ideas, I really don't know. I'm a little surprised too, that plot ideas seem to keep popping up. I figure one day that well will run dry, but so far--thankfully--it hasn't.<br /><br />Best to you and yours, and do stay in touch. I wish you good luck with all future submissions!!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-55310036295248573162018-06-30T17:39:04.239-04:002018-06-30T17:39:04.239-04:00Congratulations on 100 sales to WW, John. An amazi...Congratulations on 100 sales to WW, John. An amazing accomplishment. And thanks for all the tips and data you gave us. Very helpful. I sent one story for a solve-it mystery a few years ago and received a nice, personal rejection letter. I think I wrote another one, but didn't like it very much, so didn't submit it. I forget the details now. I can't fathom how you come up with enough different puzzle pieces for so many of these stories. You certainly have a knack for it. Again, congrats!Jan Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027877440748580764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37075084092436968772018-06-30T16:55:11.214-04:002018-06-30T16:55:11.214-04:00Hey Earl! I didn't see your comment before I ...Hey Earl! I didn't see your comment before I wrote the earlier reply. Thanks so much for stopping by.<br /><br />I hope you will try WW again--I think you'll find Patricia just as kind and supportive as Johnene was. As I mentioned earlier, I have a ton of rejections, so don't be discouraged.<br /><br />Once again, it's great to have you here, old friend--many thanks. John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22253148582214086712018-06-30T16:51:58.238-04:002018-06-30T16:51:58.238-04:00How kind of you, Jessica! I agree--those stories ...How kind of you, Jessica! I agree--those stories ARE fun to write. As for the rejections, I have a pile of those also.<br /><br />I too am looking forward to the conference--see you then!<br /><br />Jeff, thanks so much. Don't let that rejection bother you--just rework it, as you said, and send it someplace else. Best of luck to you.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-32397027594404961752018-06-30T16:17:19.956-04:002018-06-30T16:17:19.956-04:00John, this is terrific information and it's ve...<br />John, this is terrific information and it's very generous of you to share it. I only submitted to WW once and received a polite rejection from Johnene. The tips you've given here are an encouragement to try again. And maybe again and again. Many thanks for posting this. Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37038679319340694782018-06-30T15:40:45.891-04:002018-06-30T15:40:45.891-04:00Wow! Congrats on the streak, John! Well-deserved! ...Wow! Congrats on the streak, John! Well-deserved! I write a lot of flash fiction but not a lot of mysteries, and the latest I sent to WW was apparently rejected---I either sent it to the wrong place (their submissions guidelines are impossible to find!) or they rejected it without comment! Oh well, re-tool it and send it someplace else I always say! Again, congrats and as usual, thanks for the info!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-78133558765608237642018-06-30T15:29:29.965-04:002018-06-30T15:29:29.965-04:00Congratulations on 100! Quite an accomplishment. I...Congratulations on 100! Quite an accomplishment. I’ve got nothing but a pile of WWs and an even bigger pile of rejections, but the stories are fun to write even if they are rejected. BTW, I’m looking forward to meeting you and hearing you speak in October when you come to our Bayou Writers Conference in Lake Charles. Can hardly wait!Jessica Fergusonhttp://jessicafergusonwriter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-68443762989711521572018-06-30T14:26:32.387-04:002018-06-30T14:26:32.387-04:00Hey Lisa! Yep, it's a different kind of writi...Hey Lisa! Yep, it's a different kind of writing, but mostly it's just a very short tale with a clue or two contained within the story, just enough to help the reader figure out the answer--or figure out how the hero(ine) came up with the answer. I think planting those little clues is most of the fun in this kind of storytelling.<br /><br />If you submit something to them--and I hope you will--good luck!!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16224419550999801662018-06-30T14:08:17.663-04:002018-06-30T14:08:17.663-04:00These mini-stories sound difficult to write, yet a...These mini-stories sound difficult to write, yet are super fun to read!<br /><br />I had a couple of flash stories go up in April, 1,000 words each. That's tough enough! But to have these extra guidelines, clues, and a sort of open-ended end...well, what a challenge!<br /><br />Will give it a whirl though and see what comes out!LIsa Ciarfellahttps://www.writingfictionnow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15352367567856545402018-06-30T10:13:17.437-04:002018-06-30T10:13:17.437-04:00Thanks, Jacqueline, for your kind words, here and ...Thanks, Jacqueline, for your kind words, here and elsewhere! <br /><br />I think many writers find the idea of a super-short story too daunting to try--but it really is great fun. To get an idea of how to do that, I often tell writer friends to read the stories of Fredric Brown--he was a master of the short-shorts, in both mystery and SF. Bill Pronzini also wrote some great mystery short-shorts.<br /><br />Thank you for stopping in at SleuthSayers!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-46034341026978277652018-06-30T10:07:32.310-04:002018-06-30T10:07:32.310-04:00Melodie, I had a story in Star Magazine as well, l...Melodie, I had a story in Star Magazine as well, long ago.<br /><br />I admire your ability to write those romance stories. The two I sold them were fun, but I did find them harder to write than the mysteries. And I agree with you: I still prefer the traditional mystery story format over the interactive approach--but creating the puzzle is enjoyable enough that I continue to like it. And yes, those checks are always welcome!<br /><br />Thanks for the comment!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-19889179299272527292018-06-30T10:05:11.519-04:002018-06-30T10:05:11.519-04:00John,
This is a very valuable article--so helpful...John,<br /><br />This is a very valuable article--so helpful to those who would like to try the short mystery genre. It takes an amazing talent and imagination to create as many stories as you have done. You're an inspiration!Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-56623155594315757702018-06-30T09:50:28.731-04:002018-06-30T09:50:28.731-04:00John, I also wrote for Women's World and Star ...John, I also wrote for Women's World and Star Magazine before I became a crime novelist - but in my case, it was mainly romance. Once they changed over to the solve it format for the mysteries, I stopped submitting. Just wasn't my talent. But I say the same as you: extremely professional.<br />I still have letters to the editor from those days...ones responding to my stories, that gave me resolve to keep writing forever. <br />I like what I'm writing now - However, I do miss those cheques for $1000! Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.com