first draft of a short story - makes me feel drained

Susan Lanigan · Apr 2, 2009

I've just finished the first draft of a story, coming in at 4,300 words. This one wasn't the hardest one to write, but it's pulled the most out of me, if you know what I mean. I have really been through the wringer writing it. It's a demanding, sophisticated story and I know it will be a good one when I've refined it but Christ I am flattened. 13 days from idea to execution...

I just feel the need to talk about it somewhere. Has anyone ever felt they are like Jacob wrestling. There was a malign power in that story and I swear some of the cold has ended up inside me.

shokadh · Apr 2, 2009

So...when do we get to read it?

Susan Lanigan · Apr 2, 2009

not until it's published

yeah, hubris much on my part!! But if I clean it up I think it has a good chance. It's better than the one that nearly got accepted for Clarkesworld.

shokadh · Apr 2, 2009

Aw...well there goes my chance to rip and shred something. (guess I'll just have to take it out on the furniture, like my cats do.)

shok

Robert E. Keller · Apr 2, 2009

Hey Susan, how do you know if a short piece nearly gets accepted for Clarkesworld? I've submitted a few stories there. My latest went from unread slush and then was under review for about a day. That's about all I know about that magazine's submission/review process.

Robert E. Keller
www.scrollsofatlantis.com

Mythical Tiger · Apr 3, 2009

You better drink your electrolites.....................

~Sam^_^

Susan Lanigan · Apr 3, 2009

Robert E. Keller said:
Hey Susan, how do you know if a short piece nearly gets accepted for Clarkesworld? I've submitted a few stories there. My latest went from unread slush and then was under review for about a day. That's about all I know about that magazine's submission/review process.

Robert E. Keller
www.scrollsofatlantis.com

The text is slightly different in the rejection. Instead of "not quite right", they say "close but not quite right" and instead of "do keep us in mind" they say "please send us more stories".

Also they're liable to hang on to it a bit longer than 1-2 days if they're undecided.

Of course what I term a "near acceptance", others might just call a slightly better quality rejection

Susan Lanigan · Apr 3, 2009

Mythical Tiger said:
You better drink your electrolites.....................

~Sam^_^

screw electrolites. Extra strong coffee is the business

Robert E. Keller · Apr 3, 2009

Susan Lanigan said:
The text is slightly different in the rejection. Instead of "not quite right", they say "close but not quite right" and instead of "do keep us in mind" they say "please send us more stories".

Also they're liable to hang on to it a bit longer than 1-2 days if they're undecided.

Of course what I term a "near acceptance", others might just call a slightly better quality rejection

It sounds to me like they really enjoyed your story, but simply decided to pass on it for whatever reason. You should definitely follow that up with another.

Robert E. Keller
http://www.scrollsofatlantis.com

vrabinec · Apr 3, 2009

I just finished my first attempt at a short story and found it remarkably difficult, even though the thing was about as straight forward in plot as it gets. The start point and set up are much more difficult to pin point IMO than they are for a novel. Thing is, I know that organizing the thing has helped me in how I view my other WIP's. And, now I'm addicted. I had twenty freakin' plots hit me in the week after I finished it.

By the way, R.E. Keller, I checked out your site. Love the work. But I'd like to know why you're giving it away. I plan to get a web site of my very own, but I'm not sure what to include and what not to. My thought was, any samples of writing would be limited to what you'd see if you did a "search inside this book" feature on Amazon. But you've got completed works.

Robert E. Keller · Apr 3, 2009

vrabinec said:
I just finished my first attempt at a short story and found it remarkably difficult, even though the thing was about as straight forward in plot as it gets. The start point and set up are much more difficult to pin point IMO than they are for a novel. Thing is, I know that organizing the thing has helped me in how I view my other WIP's. And, now I'm addicted. I had twenty freakin' plots hit me in the week after I finished it.

By the way, R.E. Keller, I checked out your site. Love the work. But I'd like to know why you're giving it away. I plan to get a web site of my very own, but I'm not sure what to include and what not to. My thought was, any samples of writing would be limited to what you'd see if you did a "search inside this book" feature on Amazon. But you've got completed works.

The only unpublished samples I have are tiny ones from my novels and a tiny sample from a Scrolls of Atlantis story. The others--short stories--are all published in magazines, and when you click on the links, it takes you to them. I only have two stories pending in print magazines (Murky Depths and M-Brane SF) so the rest are published online. But thanks for visiting my site, and I hope you'll stop by again.

Robert E. Keller
http://www.scrollsofatlantis.com

Ulee_Lhea · Apr 4, 2009

Susan, I'm glad to hear someone else say it. After a tough day of writing, I'm as tired and mentally worthless as if I ran ten miles. It does something strange to my brain. Suddenly the real world gets fuzzy. I'm looking at everyone through smoky glass. I can't relate to real people well for a few hours after I put down a tough manuscript.

A few beers usually helps, though.

first draft of a short story - makes me feel drained

Susan Lanigan

shokadh

Now serving Table for 300

Susan Lanigan

shokadh

Now serving Table for 300

Robert E. Keller

Likes heroic fantasy and hot coffee

Mythical Tiger

I RUN WITH THE TIGERS

Susan Lanigan

Susan Lanigan

Robert E. Keller

Likes heroic fantasy and hot coffee

vrabinec

Dipwad

Robert E. Keller

Likes heroic fantasy and hot coffee

Ulee_Lhea

Fear no darkness.