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erinnamettler

~ Brighton based author of Starlings

erinnamettler

Tag Archives: writebythebeach

A Short Story Thread

06 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by erinnamettler in Brighton Prize, Fifteen Minutes, Short Stories, Unbound, Uncategorized

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agents, books, Brighton, editing, feedback, inspiration, publishers, shortstories, Twitter, workshops, writebythebeach, writing

I did one of those Twitter thread thingies today – about writing and submitting short stories. I have pasted it below.
15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler

On March 17th I’m giving a talk on #shortstories @bh_writing conference in #Brighton as a director and judge of @BrightonPrize Here’s a thread about what I wish I’d known when I started out 10 years ago.

1:04 PM – 6 Feb 2018
  • 10 Retweets
  • 7 Likes
  • Laura WilkinsonDamian HarrisLiz ChapmanLouise TondeurLouise AmosBridget WhelanIvy Ngeow15 MinutesZeno Literary Agency
1 reply10 retweets7 likes
  1. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    #shortstories are a particular form, good ones are not practice for writing a novel. Don’t send the first chapter of your novel (or a bit from the middle) into a comp as a #shortstory. We can spot it a mile off.

    1 reply3 retweets2 likes3
  2. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    If you want to write them, read them. Read William Trevor, Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, read @saltpublishing ‘s #bestbritishshortstories, read books on craft like the @Writers_Artists one.

    2 replies 4 retweets 6 likes
  3. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    If you are subbing to a comp or a journal read the latest copy, the previous year’s anthology.

    1 reply1 retweet 2 likes
  4. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    Write! Practice makes perfect. Find other writers that you trust and workshop the hell out of it. Set deadlines. Meet regularly. Have enough awareness to know you don’t have to do everything they suggest but if 2 people point out a problem – it’s definitely a problem.

    1 reply2 retweets1 like
  5. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    When you send your story into the wild, make a note of it but then forget about it. Don’t check mailbox every hour. Everyone who sends something to @BridportPrize or @GrantaMag thinks they will be successful. The odds are against you. A shortlisting is pretty amazing.

    1 reply2 retweets3 likes
  6. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    Winning a prize is usually down to luck. Just write the best story you can. Even with a great plot, dialogue, characters, descriptions winning is down to the personal preferences of the judges/editors.

    1 reply2 retweets3 likes
  7. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    Don’t contact them and ask why you weren’t selected. Don’t insist they’ve made a mistake – this will make you memorable, but not for your writing.

    1 reply2 retweets2 likes
  8. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet
    More

    Build an online presence as soon as you begin your career. Be active on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram. Interact with the community. It’s where you’ll meet people going through the same as you are and where you’ll get submission news.

    1 reply2 retweets2 likes
  9. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    You should be spending at least as much time editing as writing.

    1 reply1 retweet2 likes
  10. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    Talking of editing, as you become more successful you will be professionally edited – get used to it. An editor just wants to make your work the best it can be. The first time your work comes back with mark-ups it can be a shock but it’s not personal, it’s a negotiation.

    2 replies3 retweets3 likes
  11. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet
    More

    Read your work aloud. It is probably the best way to edit. Then read aloud at events. It’s scary but you connect with readers and increase your visibility and confidence. @rattletales is looking for subs to @brightonfringe now! www.rattletales.org

  12. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    Rejection is only experience. If you seriously want to give up after a handful of rejections maybe you should. Submitting short fiction is not for those who are easily discouraged.

    1 reply3 retweets4 likes
  13. 15 Minutes‏ @ErinnaMettler 4h4 hours ago

    Hootlet

    I’ll be talking about this and more at #writebythebeach. There will be talks from best-selling authors, workshops, panels and 121s with top literary agents!

    http://bit.ly/2hvNIi9

     

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Contact me

For review copies of Fifteen Minutes, details about mentoring and anything else – erinnamettler@gmail.com.

Starlings long listed

Starlings has been long listed for the 2012 Edge Hill University Short Story Prize in a year with a record number of entries, sharing company with entries from Edna O'Brien, Hanan Al-Shaykh and Robert Minhinnick.

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Erinna Mettler

Erinna Mettler at the Neptune

Erinna Mettler at the Neptune

Starlings

Starlings on the shelf in Waterstones

Starlings on the shelf in Waterstones

Clarkson was good

Image of Clarkson was good

CLARKSON WAS GOOD published in THE TRAIN IN THE NIGHT AND OTHER STORIES published by Completely Novel in 2010.

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