The Glory of the Short Story

Although my partner in crime, AJ Caywood, already did a marvelous post on short stories, I don’t think we can talk too much about these miniaturized adventures. For Anna’s take on shorts, zip over to her post with the following link:
http://wordcrazyauthors.blogspot.com/2009/11/short-story-writing.html

The creation of the short story is a dying art. It’s being killed off by an unwelcoming market and dwindling audience. Publishers (especially print, but also electronic) shy away from accepting short story submissions, since they aren’t nearly as popular and lucrative as novels. It seems the only authors publishing shorts are the well established writers who have already proven their marketability, the desperate authors who offer their shorts for free, and the smattering of authors who enter and win short story contests.

I find this tragic. As a reader, I dearly love devouring short stories, quick reads that usually have some insightful impact or delightful twist. Shorts seem to pack more of a brutal punch than longer works, probably because they’ve got a lot to say in a tiny space. There’s no getting used to the characters, settings, and plot pace—it all comes at you at mach speed and whirls you along for the ride. As a writer, I revel in the challenge of creating shorts. Can I get the reader involved and engaged in the characters and plot in such a confined word count? Shorts also give me a chance to get out my creative juices when my longer works have me temporarily stymied.

But what are short story writers to do when the current market has such a strong bias against shorts? Write nasty letters to the publishers? Well, that might release a therapeutic amount of hostility, but it won’t change that downward trend—no one responds well to anger. Instead of writing letters to publishers as an author, try writing (polite) letters of protest as a reader of short stories. Articles and letters promoting shorts could help, too, on blogs, forums, e-zines, etc. And try actually reading short stories, as many as you can. We are the market. If we can generate more interest, perhaps the publishing world will revisit and rehabilitate the dying art of short stories.

Peace and Love,
-M
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Very Merry Un-Birthday

I’m excited to announce the release of my latest work, a short story based on my first published novel, The Huntress. This short titled Very Merry Un-Birthday is the fifth in the Huntress short story series published by DLSIJ Press. It’s available at the DP Online Bookstore as an ebook.

In Very Merry Un-Birthday, Regan continues to baffle her shipmates with her strategies to strengthen familial bonds, in a story that combines humor with heartwarming character interactions. While this short is part of the growing Huntress universe, it can be read separately, as can each of the short stories. There is a chronological order to the shorts, but it’s not critical to read them that way. For readers who want the timeline breakdown, however, the Huntress universe progresses as follows:

The Huntress
A Stone’s Throw
A Far Cry
Heart of Stone
Leave No Stone Unturned
A Very Merry Un-Birthday

I’m always thrilled to receive feedback, so please feel free to post or email me your opinion of this work. (michelleoleary1@yahoo.com) For the fans of Mea, Stone, Regan, and the rest of the Huntress crew, there is a sixth short waiting in the publishing wings and a seventh in the creation stages. So keep an eye out for more!

Peace and Love,
-M
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Bringing Readers and Authors Together

One of the big challenges for authors is connecting with an audience, finding readers who are interested in their work and are willing to follow their exploits. Many readers are looking for the next great read and like to explore different authors and their works.

The following list are reader sites that allow authors to either create their own pages or input information about themselves and their written work, often offering some interactivity like comments, blog posts, and works-in-progress.

Amazon's Author Central: https://authorcentral.amazon.com

Authors Den: http://www.authorsden.com/

GoodReads: http://GoodReads.com/

Library Thing: http://LibraryThing.com

FiledBy: http://FiledBy.com

WeRead: http://WeRead.com/

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/

Hope this helps both readers and authors! If anyone knows of other similar sites, please share.

Peace and love,
-M
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Writing Inspiration

I’m sure every creative writer has been asked at one time or another, “Where do you get your ideas?”

For many writers, the answer is as much a mystery to them as to their readers. It’s easy enough to say that the world around us is an endless source of inspiration, from the goofy neighbor that’s just asking for characterization, to books and movies that offer infinite imagination, to historical and current political and social issues. Sure, the world is a hotbed of ideas. But how does a long-ago bloody battle and creepy historical figure get translated into a full-fledged, infamous story about vampires? Where is the point in a writer’s mind where interesting facts become a fictional story?

For some aspiring writers, this is a question of deep, abiding interest. How do they take information and morph it into an absorbing story? It’s a very good question that unfortunately has as many answers as there are writers. One of the basic foundations of creative writing is to write what you know, which is a great place for any new writer to start. But this method is complicated when entering the realms of fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, horror, etc. Personally, I’ve never visited another planet. But most of my characters have.

For me as a scifi writer, books and movies play a large part in building my foundation of knowledge and creative imagination about science fiction. But I still can’t tell you how I go from a kernel idea to a convoluted storyline complete with cast of characters. (I suspect magic. Or perhaps a mental defect.) As a very visual person, I often “see” the action in my mind, like a movie unfolding. This helps to put me into the world, to build the scenes and flesh out my characters. It also helps me remain in a specific point of view, or smooth out a switch in point of view, which can keep reader confusion down and enhance their immersion in the story…but I digress.

Or maybe I was just avoiding the question. Because the truth is storylines and ideas often pop into my head from no source that I can pinpoint. And with my highly character driven writing style, my stories often seem to get written without much discernable input from me. Scary? Um, yeah, I’ll admit it can be disconcerting. But it’s also the most fun I’ve ever had.

For those still looking for a source of inspiration, keep reading and keep writing, as often and as varied in subject as you can. Very likely inspiration will find you. ;)

Peace & Love,
-M
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Ringing in the New Year

2010. Wow. I always heard that time flies faster the older you get, but this is ridiculous! I blinked, my son turned four, and 2009 disappeared. By the time I'm a granny, I'll have to stop blinking or I'll miss everything!

Do I make New Year's resolutions? No, because then I'm never disappointed in myself. This year I did say I would try to be a better mom (you know, be more patient and understanding), but I always say that, so that's nothing new.

The one thing I did do to start off 2010 right was to finish writing another full length novel--Woohoo!! Of course, that's the easiest part of being an author. Not that writing is easy (though it's so much fun), but then comes editing, proofreading, querying, hopefully publishing, promoting, and marketing. Ugh. It's all part of the job, but it's not nearly as entertaining as the creation of beloved characters and story. Then again, the compensations are meeting new readers and getting invaluable feedback, plus hopefully receiving an income from the work.

I have great hopes for 2010. I hope I can see my son through preschool and into kindergarten without either of us going crazy. I hope my friends and family find the happiness they deserve. And I hope I become rich and famous. Okay, maybe not famous, but I can handle rich.
;)
Happy New Year and All the Best.
-M
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Christmas Is Coming...

But I'm afraid it's not the goose that's getting fat! One of the glorious and horrible things about the Holiday Season is the quality and quantity of food. Everyone has that special dish that they only make during this time of year, whether it's an entrée, side dish, or (God help us) dessert. My mother is famous for her kahlua truffles, my sister has a Jell-O mold that's addictive, and my other sister makes a special bread without which the holidays just wouldn't be the same. And none of them are making me any skinnier.

As complaints go, though, it's a pretty stinkin' minor one. Weight comes and goes, but family memories are forever. And the pleasure I get from consuming all these delicious, once-a-year dishes more than makes up for any weight gain. (Seriously, as a chocoholic, one kahlua truffle is worth at least a pound all by itself. ;) The comfort of great food only underlines my gratitude and joy in being with my family and friends during the holidays, and in providing my son with the chance to be with them as well. I spent too many years away from home to take it and my family for granted.

I've learned that creating wonderful memories with those you love is the best part about life, whether it's during a holiday or an average day of the week. There is nothing more important than being with loved ones, and during stressful occasions (like mad shopping rushes or staring aghast at the weight scale) I remind myself that it could be a heck of a lot worse.

So remember to feel the love, have a Happy Holidays, and pass the fudge. ;)
Peace & love,
-M
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Twitter Haiku Challenge!

Twitter is a fun social network, great for meeting new people, exchanging ideas and info...and finding new addictions. My latest addiction was founded by a Twitter user named @baffled, who began a daily challenge to create haiku poetry (senryu is also accepted) incorporating a word-of-the-day. You can find @baffled on Twitter, or do a search on Twitter under the topic #haikuchallenge to see the latest entries. Even people who don't Twitter can join in the fun by going to Baffled's site: http://haikuchallenge.tumblr.com/

What follows are my challenge entries so far for December. I hope you enjoy reading my haiku/senryu poetry, and please feel free to comment on likes or dislikes! I'm greedy for feedback. ;)

Challenge word haze
Moon glows undaunted
Through haze of jealous thin cloud
Celestial pride.

Challenge word field
Fawn takes light steps in
Wide field of unbroken white
Innocent courage.

Challenge word course
Glacial cold seeks and
Follows its instinctive course
Ancient memory.

Challenge word myth
Ancient icy wind
Smothers world in white, turning
Footprints into myth.

Challenge word wager
Sun meets horizon
Wager lost against twilight
Night reaps its rewards.

Challenge word barely
Sweet treasure's wrapping
Brushed aside, barely breathing
Succulence revealed.

Challenge word delicious
Delicious slow touch
Inviting eyes, wicked smile
Wordless seduction.

Challenge word courage
Dragonfly hovers
Meeting my curious gaze
Small jeweled courage.

Challenge word beyond
He is light and joy
Child of a sorrowful womb
Love beyond tears.

Challenge word void
Brave stars fill the void
With their slow and distant dance
Hope enclosed in night.

Challenge word doubt
Full arching willow
Reaches beyond doubt to sky
Then falls weeping.

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