This week: Am I Good Enough? Edited by: Leger~  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that, I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~
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Am I Good Enough?
It's a question I often ask myself. Should I bother to enter this story? I like this poem but I have no clue what I'm doing. Will anyone else like it? And then there are the next thoughts...should I show this to other people? What if they think it's garbage?
I came across a quote that inspired this newsletter:
Comparison is the thief of JOY.
I've been thinking about it since I read it. Isn't it true? Why do we need to compare ourselves to others? It doesn't make much sense, does it? I try not to read other entries when I'm working on a submission for a contest. I don't want their stories to influence the one in my head. My muse loves to go off on crazy tangents and I end up with a story I didn't start out writing.
The characters in my head are rarely based on ones from movies or books. Sometimes I fall in love with a character in books. Not like LOVELOVE but the way the author crafted that character and how well they fit into the story.
"Life without a tale is like a sea without salt."
—Saltheart Foamfollower to Thomas Covenant (Covenant Series, Stephen Donaldson)
So don't worry about your work, we are always growing and improving our craft. We all look back at earlier works with a little cringe. But remember, the next story is going to be better and more imaginative. The next entry to a contest will be tight and well-edited. And certainly, you'll be better equipped to share your characters with the world.
This also goes for reviews. Remember that we are all learning and expanding our base of knowledge. Share your opinions and your helpful suggestions. Don't try to rewrite their stories and poems, just offer your thoughts on what you see and how you think it might be improved. Write your comments in a way you would like to see them in your inbox. Be kind. Be helpful. Be honest.
And Write On!
This month's question: Do you compare your writing to other authors? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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| |  | Onward (13+)
If civilization is to evolve, Man must move onward. Featured in "Farspace 2" anthology.
#1499836 by Futrboy  |
Excerpt: Somebody swallowed hard. Normally, that would not have been noticed by most people, but in the tense and deathly quiet atmosphere of the darkened control room, it echoed. Fortunately, though many ears caught it, all eyes in that room were fixed on the images of the long, empty corridor relayed by the robot being guided down the steel gray opening.
| | Homage (13+)
1st Place Winner of Short Shots 7/09; published in Literary Foray anthology 2010
#1583786 by NickiD89  |
Excerpt: Murph squinted across the inky water, past the pier from where the fireworks would be launched, to the growing number of boats just off shore, dotting the water like dandelion seeds floating on a carefree breeze. The patch over the place where his right eye should have been distorted his field of vision and intensified the headache he’d had for three months now. The urge to tear it from his face was strong, but a trained, stoic expression masked the impulse as well as the internal reprimand for forgetting, for the hundredth time that day, that removing the patch wouldn’t solve the problem. He wondered if he’d ever get used to the newly acquired handicap, or adjust to civilian life. A gust of ocean air stirred the dog tags hanging around Murph’s neck as he turned and made his way toward the pier.
Excerpt: Ricky sat at the counter and watched the storm outside. It seemed as if things were falling down the street, as if the world outside had been turned on its side. He was imagining what that would be like, if the world had turned on its side and anything not fixed to the ground could free fall across the streets and smash into buildings. He was imagining cars and buses cart wheeling through the town and wondered what he would do if suddenly caught in such an unprecedented global disaster, when he heard his name.
“No more tonight, Ricky,” said his co-worker.
Excerpt: Ray greeted me with a warm embrace, his face even thinner and lined with the regrets of the years; but his eyes remained clear and focused with a laser intensity. Unlike me, he’d managed to keep the weight off, looking almost frail, but his attitude was brisk. Like mine, his hair was now short and grey.
'Mick,' he said, letting go and clearing his throat. 'Good to see you again.'
| | | Doomsday? (13+)
Dreamweaver Anthology: An asteroid heads towards earth, the stranger brings a solution.
#2252773 by LightinMind   |
Excerpt: Black as the night, its igneous surface melted by the heat of another sun the asteroid hurtled towards the light and out of the darkness of deep space. For thousands of years, it had kept this trajectory, its purpose clear. This was a planet destroyer, and it was bound for earth.
Excerpt: EVA OS ONLINE
“Eva.”
The words were so soft. I could feel a glow of warmth around them as they bloomed in my mind. Eva. That was me. I had a name. I existed.
“I am Eva.”
This voice echoed, cold and empty in contrast to the other.
Excerpt: My head pounded with the beat of my heart, throbbing like a rotten tooth. The inside of my mouth felt like the Gobi Desert. Thinking of food caused my stomach to roil. I’d gotten to bed at one A.M. and had only slept for six hours. Yet, despite all of this, Ray had insisted on banging on my door and forcing me awake.
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This month's question: Do you compare your writing to other authors? Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
Last month's "Short Stories Newsletter (January 4, 2023)" question: Have you considered creating/publishing an anthology?
Osirantinous  : I've thought about it (mostly as a way to keep publishing while I was trying to sort out another novel) and even I started compiling some together, but my short stories can be 5000 long so I was looking at an anthology that was close to 100K in its own right!!! So then I looked at creating two anthologies, but finding a common enough theme to do that was hard. And for three sets of my short stories, there's a common character name. Argh, so I'd have to make it clear that it's a different character and he's not two-timing anyone. Long story short, ha ha, I've not done anything more on the project. I do think about it often though but I'm guessing what counts here is not the thought!!
steveu : Yes, I have been considering a short story anthology for quite some time. I even have a title ready (maybe). The hard part is deciding which stories fit with my theme idea and which don't. Sigh.
graybabe Funny you should ask if I published an anthology. I have. It's title is "Purgatory Stories" which is a series of short stories about people whose lives on earth is their purgatory. Thank you for your newsletter.
oldgreywolf on wheels : Yes, writing a somewhat connectable set of short story- to novella-size pieces has proven easier than tackling the big one.
s  : I've made probably half of my sales to anthologies. They are a good way to get out there and you might be lucky enough to get a few bucks for your work. As to personal anthologies, being someone who only publishes with trad publishers, they can be a hard sell, but I do have one that is in "full manuscript" mode with a publisher - 25 stories based on pop and rock songs. Fingers crossed!
hectorscofield: I already have, although not as Hector Scofield.
D. Reed Whittaker : Published 11 books, usually contest entries from various contests on WDC. Books are about 30K words long. As with most things, some are good, some are not so good. Used Draft2Digital. Not a favorite for formatting and changes. About halfway through book 12 (16 K). Don't throw away your contest entries. If you're not entering contests, you should. Great way to get feedback.
Yes, that is a lot of words. Been a lot of contests. It's all been fun.
tj-turkey-jobble-jobble-hard-J  : Why yes, yes I have thought about creating and publishing an anthology; but first I must go shopping...
Starling : I actually have one in my portfolio. "The Rabbit Hole Anthology" [18+]
Enjoy if you want to read. There is an introduction, 10 stories and a closing.
N.A Miller : Most of my material is some contest entries and others are independent works. I am considering an anthology of my collected works to be published. Mostly it is done have to just get into editing and that is taking up most of my time, along with the fees that go with self publishing... its been a long road.
Holly Jahangiri : D. Reed Whittaker , what do you mean when you say, "Not a favorite for formatting and changes"? I would never let automated conversion utilities control my formatting for print OR ebook, and their $30/change fee beats the fees that used to be charged for changing bluelines. That said, best to edit closely to avoid having to change anything, ever, once it goes to print.
I just created this with eight other authors, and aside from those two issues, Draft2Digital was an obvious choice for wide distribution, royalty-splitting, customer support, and more.
https://books2read.com/celebrating-seasons
elephantsealer : It is an idea, of course. Creating an anthology, to be published is indeed a very good idea. Then, I began a search; and believe it or not, publishing, after all, may just be a dream. However, I have not lost hope, as yet. One day....
s : I have a few ready to go, but as I only do trad publishing, I will need a bigger/better name before that becomes a reality.
I was offered one years ago by Static Movement Press, collating all the stories of mine they had published (which was 10) plus 10 new ones. But the company folded before we got anywhere with that, so...
{suer:upstatevenom}: I have considered publishing an anthology, but whenever I write a short story I accidentally nurture it into something too long to be considered a "short story".
Bob : Yes, yes, I have the material for a 70 thousand word anthology dealing with the manipulation of time.
RiDivaz : I have considered publishing an anthology. It's just I'm gonna do that later in life.
Mouse says gobble gobble  : I've got one in mind of a bunch of short stories circling around a mysterious island.
keyisfake : I want to.
Patrick : When I was a young man I tried to become a famous writer, if it wasn't an iconic sort of dream, the Beatles would have glossed over the idea to write a song called "Paper Back Writer".
The bridge, or chorus, is ineffably "dreamy',
but, when the dream and the matching "template" to make it real
training, education, pluck and savvy, was like running against a horse in a race.
um, If I'm not mistaken, the word "anthology",
isn't it a lot more than just how many times you got a check,
I think it resembles a sort of 'tree" of the growth influences and styles the writer went through in his career.,,,,
Hmmm Listen to me, or don't,
it is easy to get swept up in to a career, without "one', people, feel naked, unaccomplished, an unhappy, however,
The great John Updyke, gave a one hour interview, he was a really nice man and reminded me of my Father who worked as a paper salesman to support nine irish children, he had a certain respectability and was an adult with a pretty good job, however, he
like Mr Updyke were somewhat anurred to thee voice of God,
The still and not terribly overt whispering of the soul..(not that again) yeah yeah,
for the absolute realization of our "true selves',, little scary but just jump.. you won't regret it, I'm not afraid to swear,,,new things, by taking an object of worsship, it is not an overt voice that calls,
The world screams, coerces and captures many, it is rather like war, unfortunately...
There is no other reality of this pursuit because it is something that is given credibility by the template of the only trustworthy, directional instrument...the avatar Christ the only one who came down from heaven from the father..no others, trust this, the holy bible is trust worthy...no lies..
in the end, anyone who finds, the secret, is Jesus..but wow hold on..and trust these word unfortunately it is rather hidden, but just by faith jump believe u will Be received,, will have by a relationship with the one sent, my master Jesus,,lot to swallow, but go slow..its a sleeper, it whisper, but it and only it has power in the world to come after death.....yeah yeah, so you say? but dont pass these words up.
a career a title in this crackerbox of lies is the only thing that gave me peace, how bout you.. you got any?,,, thank you pax in Christos not "avatar'../ "God' in the flesh to free us in,, true identity... begin by faith...Cmon?
Thanks to everyone submitting a response. I appreciate you all! Let's get those collections published!
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Short Stories: February 01, 2023 Issue [#11790]
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