bluejester12
in this genre tends to be abstract or confusing. At least half the short fiction I read I can't figure out what's going on or dont know what the point really is.
bluejester12 said:I'll try.
Keep in mind Im not good at science and gravitate to fantasy.
I havent read a mag in awhile because Im overseas. From what I remeber from Asimov's and Magazine of SF&F, they have a mix--I understand at least half, thought most of the stories aren't to my taste. I remeber one feature by Lucius Shepard awhile ago (Radiant Green Star?) in Asimov's that was so confusing I couldn't make it past the first page! Here was a feature by a supposedly great author and I couldnt figure out the first run-om paragraph.
Lately Ive been checking out www.strangehorizons.com Go check out the fiction tehre for exzamples of what I'm talking about. I read 2.5 stories and I couldnt gather why things were happenign the way they are. Most of the people post say "I love this story!"
It makes me feel partly stupid. Ive never been good at "complicated" writing, images and symbolism. Im more into classics like Blade Runner, Ender's Game and Martian Chronicles.
Im only reading short fiction to see where to market my fiction, but many times I dont think I'll make it because my stuff is pretty straightforward.
Do you have to write abstractedly to be accepted nowdays or to be original? I hope not.
Wow, sorry for the rant. Thanks for reading!
Anaparenna said:Doug Lain's recent story "Coffe Cup/Alien Invasion Story" caused a lot of talk that I'm still piecing through about metafiction and spec-fic.
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ET3D said:I liked Dreams of Decadence, but DNA Publications mags are mostly dead now.
bluejester12 said:I didnt even want to finish it.
Im sticking with short fiction mostly because Im not good enough to write a novel and it seems that the best way to write a novel is to learn short fiction. Luckily, most novels are understandable. Im into Tad Williams right now.
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Writing Again said:I would not say a short story has to be better than a novel. A short story has to be good at what it does in very specific ways and is very unforgiving if it is not.
A novel can be strong in any given area and weak in any other and the two will balance out. If you happen to be brilliant in one or more areas, say great dialogue, then you can be weak in several other areas and it may not even matter. In this manner a novel is very forgiving.
bluejester12 said:Well, in my reading the short stories tend to be abstract and overdosed with images then the novels I read. Far harder to digest.
Structure-wise, they are different, but better IMO to learn craft of dialogue descriptions etc. in a short story then do an entire novel over several times.
Jamesaritchie said:I don't think you learn much about writing novels by writing short stories, either. They're two very different forms of writing, and many very good short story writers can't write a publishable novel, and some excellent novelists can't write a good short story.
bluejester12 said:in this genre tends to be abstract or confusing. At least half the short fiction I read I can't figure out what's going on or dont know what the point really is.
bluejester12 said:Spacejock, feel free to email me about your publication.