  Short Stories
This week: NotNoNaNoWriMo Edited by: Legerdemain  
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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.
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NotNoNaNoWriMo
I know, I know...it's horror/scary month and NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. All trinket madness aside, I know this is a busy time on the site for our members. New contests sprout up and the site starts gearing up for birthday and holiday fun. And there you are in the middle of it, churning out fun stories and coming up with tons of plot ideas.
So once again, I'm sending some advice. One...write it down. Hey, I know I'm old. But even when I was young, other stuff interferes with corralling an idea and getting it on paper. Your phone comes with a notepad, close the Pokemon app and take a quick note. Now I know from experience, a few days/weeks/months later that note might not make sense, but sometimes it does! And it's always fun to revisit an idea you didn't have time to write out and see if you can fashion it into a short story.
This is especially helpful for those getting ready to enter NaNoWriMo over at http://nanowrimo.org/. Lots of people will be busy churning out the next popular novel and making a bajillion dollars. Okay, maybe a few bucks. And hey, what happens if your story is finished before 50,000 words? Don't throw it out! Finish NaNoWriMo with a sequel or another story including one of the original characters, plus...here are lots of contests and publishers looking for short stories. A quick Google today with the keywords "where to submit short stories" and "short story publishers" will give you a list to begin your search. Three things...if they want money to enter the contest, think carefully, see if you truly have a chance to win. Second, if the prize is merely a vanity press book of your work that you have to buy, ask yourself if seeing your name in print is worth that amount of money. And third, if you decide to enter, read the publication you're entering so you can gear your entry to win. Make sure you follow ALL the rules.
This month's question: What resources do you use to submit short stories? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
Quick note: For those looking for the next installment on my occult series posted in the Short Stories newsletter by accident, it will be out next week in the Action Adventure newsletter. Do be sure you're subscribed.
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This contest uses only spoken words or internal dialogue!
This is a group for people who would like to take part in National Novel Writing Month but don't want to follow all of the rules. The overall goal is to write 50,000 words in the month of November, but on novels that have been started already. However, other goals are acceptable as well. If someone wants to they can go for 25,000 words in the month of November.
Also, if you want to follow the rules for nanowrimo, that is fine too. We welcome all.
This activity challenges you to write and review once a week for the three coldest months of the year. During December, January, and February you are asked to enter a writing contest per week. You must also review the fellow writer who posted his/her story in this forum right before you. Win the exclusive "Season of Writing" merit badge for participating at least 11 weeks.
Excerpt: “Kiss me Jack…our last for tonight.” She leaned towards me, her eyes full of impulsive desire.
I avoided her gaze, attempting to regain my thoughts. “It’s not right, what we have between us.” My voice faltered against the whipping winds.
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#2099759 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Sandra Jennings looked at her watch for the fifth time in the last three minutes.
Her concentration in and fixation on the passage of time pushed aside the reason for her meeting with Joanna Farnheim.
Excerpt: The scene is simple: a young man sits at a Formica table in a concrete grey room. On the table, out of reach, are a glass of water and a jug for refills. Watching through the mirror near the door are two men. They've been standing there over half an hour.
Excerpt: “9-1-1 Dispatch, what’s your emergency?” The dispatcher’s voice was calm, as one might expect of someone in her position.
“There’s a man in my house! He’s smashing things, destroying what I love!”
“Are you in any danger sir?”
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https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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This month's question: What resources do you use to submit short stories? Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
Replies from "Short Stories Newsletter (August 24, 2016)" question "Have you had a secondary character run off with your plot line?"
Steev the Friction Wizurd  responded: Yes! My secondary characters often become my main characters. The reason is that I am not a "pre-planning" writer but I am a "spontaneous" writer. It's much easier to control your characters if you know in advance what you will be writing. Unfortunately, I don't know.
So I start writing at a random location and perhaps the character I am writing about will be the main character. But it's not unlikely that the story will lurch away from him. Sometimes the entire beginning of a story has to be cut because it's no longer relevant to the story! 
There is an In&Out about plotting where secondary characters are constantly taking over the story. See "Fortunately/Unfortunately"
Elfin Dragon-finally published  answered: I usually use comedy to break the tension in my stories and that's when a secondary character can sometimes run off with my plot line.
StephBee - House Targaryen  replied: I think the only secondary character that I had which came close to running off with my plot line was "Viktor" from my novel, "The Wolf's Torment." He goes from being a "nice" person to morphing into the bad guy due to circumstance beyond his control. His manipulations really play havoc with the relationship Mihai and Theresa are trying to build.
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Short Stories: October 19, 2016 Issue [#7927]
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