tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6354128818472121382..comments2024-03-27T23:53:59.771-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Short Stories or Novels?Leigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-48962967553416546222012-09-10T09:58:53.604-04:002012-09-10T09:58:53.604-04:00I enjoyed the article, Jan. I'm one of those ...I enjoyed the article, Jan. I'm one of those that began as a short story writer. Though I have written three novels, it was only recently that one got picked up--I was beginning to believe that might never happen. And you are quite right about the "real writer" and novels notion--sadly, I'm not sure the average person today knows what a short story is. Whenever I reveal to someone that I am a writer, I expect them to squint and asked, ala Clint Eastwood in The Unforgiven, "Of letters and such?"David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37244600375458276542012-09-10T08:00:56.757-04:002012-09-10T08:00:56.757-04:00In my experience most people start with short stor...In my experience most people start with short stories and then go to novels.<br />I had the opposite experience, writing and publishing novels and then, especially after one of my editors moved to EQMM, writing and publishing stories.<br />Certainly at the moment, if one has no agent, short stories are a much easier bet!Janicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-35438399018157665402012-09-10T06:51:23.362-04:002012-09-10T06:51:23.362-04:00"More chances for people to believe you are a..."More chances for people to believe you are a 'real' writer if you have a novel published."<br /><br />Jan, having had four novels published and a fifth on the way, I should totally relate to that sentence. There are some advantages. <br /><br />The money part sounds true, as my advances (of course, later deducted from royalties) have been substantial from the point of view of a public school teacher. However, if we add it all up, John's probably made more off short stories than I have on novels.<br /><br />Recognition as a writer is nice because it thrills my grandson to be out with me and have his G-Mama acknowledged by strangers, including the servers at his favorite restaurant who call me their "celebrity."<br /><br />HOWEVER, as a regular blogger on SleuthSayers, I frequently feel like a failure as an author. Why? Because I haven't cracked the AHMM and EQMM markets that many of us appear in regularly. I haven't even tried in years because as much as I advise beginning writers that a thick skin is necessary, I STILL have hurt feelings over a rejection. It's easier to write what I know my agent can place. <br /><br />Though Berkley markets Callie books as "mainstream mystery," I've been labeled as a "cozy" writer and I'm advised not to publish anything deeper or darker as Fran Rizer. Writing Callie is fun and easy. (Wonder if I should try a Callie short story?)<br /><br />Wow! You sure got me going this AM. Your experiences in both the short story and novel areas give me inspiration to keep trying, but I can't see myself ever editing an anthology. I once worked as a magazine editor, and I felt horrible every time I rejected a manuscript.<br /><br />Thanks for an interesting read.<br />Fran Rizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655783035179620991noreply@blogger.com