Benefits of writing for EA

[Gil (imported)]

I've had fair success over the years writing non fiction pieces, but never (till recently) had any success when it came to fiction. The problem with fiction versus non fiction for me is coming up with "what happens next?" in fiction. This isn't an issue with non fiction because you know from the outset where the piece is going - unless you did a really REALLY shabby job with the research.

Any attempt at fiction for me always started with what sounded like a good story idea, followed by a lot of pointless and tedious flapping about trying to flesh things out, and terminating with frustration and disappointment.

But setting out to write stories for EA has cured me of the "I can't write me no fiction blues"! While the "end" of these stories presents a pretty large target, it is at least a target. Something I've not had just winging it with fiction. And the target keeps me going and I actually finish my stories. They don't (most of them) ever make it to EA though.

When I'm done, I sanitize and abstract the story till it becomes a main stream short story - something you would let your 13 year old niece read. The result was my first sale of a fiction work! It started out as a story for EA about a spy who gets captured. You can guess how that originally turned out.

The sanitized version was accepted for publication. Not by a mainstream publication. In fact, this outfit pays in copies instead of cash. But its a start!

I am Zooooooo 'appy!

[Slammr (imported)]

I've had fair success over the years writing non fiction pieces, but never (till recently) had any success when it came to fiction. The problem with fiction versus non fiction for me is coming up with "what happens next?" in fiction. This isn't an issue with non fiction because you know from the outset where the piece is going - unless you did a really REALLY shabby job with the research.

Any attempt at fiction for me always started with what sounded like a good story idea, followed by a lot of pointless and tedious flapping about trying to flesh things out, and terminating with frustration and disappointment.

But setting out to write stories for EA has cured me of the "I can't write me no fiction blues"! While the "end" of these stories presents a pretty large target, it is at least a target. Something I've not had just winging it with fiction. And the target keeps me going and I actually finish my stories. They don't (most of them) ever make it to EA though.

When I'm done, I sanitize and abstract the story till it becomes a main stream short story - something you would let your 13 year old niece read. The result was my first sale of a fiction work! It started out as a story for EA about a spy who gets captured. You can guess how that originally turned out.

The sanitized version was accepted for publication. Not by a mainstream publication. In fact, this outfit pays in copies instead of cash. But its a start!

I am Zooooooo 'appy!

I agree with you, Gil. Other than writing reports for work and school papers, I had never attempted to write a story before writing one for the Archive. Although I haven't yet submitted a story for mainstream publishing, at least I feel I'm ready to. My first stories were all written in first person because I had no idea how to write any other way. As with everything, one learns by doing. Perhaps, as you said, the castration theme provides a focus which allows a first-time writer to come up with a story. After writing castration stories though, I -- at first -- had difficulty moving beyond that theme. I wasn't sure how to write a story which wasn't so focused. I've moved past that now and have even written stories which contained not a single profanity, ones suited for a teenage girl (granddaughter) for whom they were written. I'm grateful to the Archive for providing me the motivation to begin writing and a place for me to submit my stories. I really enjoy writing. It's my favorite pastime.

[Bagoas (imported)]

I agree with both of you. Before writing for EA, I tried to write science fiction, a genre of which I happen to be fond. I encountered two problems. Even though I had outlined the plot, I couldn't stick to it, so that the story rambled about aimlessly. Also, I tended to bog down in long-winded explanations of technical points (perhaps because I was a college professor.)

The simpler plots of the short stories I write for EA are much easier to follow, both for the reader and for me. Also, I don't feel compelled to explain the base-3 monetary system of the inhabitants of Zorv or the grammar of the Areopolitan language, not to mention the limitations of teleportation.

The brevity of short stories (which I've been accused of carrying to an extreme) is an advantage in that the light at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible.

[Bagoas (imported)]

Considering that the last post in this thread is two months old, perhaps it is time to consider closing it.

[Jenny (imported)]

I tend to agree with Bagoas, that writing short stories is much easier, I have written several short stories two have been published in the local press, Now writing a longer story such as a novel, is much harder I have been writing a supposed novel for three years now, and every time I re read it I alter it and find it hard to bring it to a conclusion, but who knows it may be finished one day

Jenny

[Gil (imported)]

I tend to agree with Bagoas, that writing short stories is much easier, I have written several short stories two have been published in the local press, Now writing a longer story such as a novel, is much harder I have been writing a supposed novel for three years now, and every time I re read it I alter it and find it hard to bring it to a conclusion, but who knows it may be finished one day

Jenny

I agree with you and Bagoas both WRT the realtive ease of writing short stories. I admire the ambition of anyone who takes on an entire novel. That is real work. The closest I've come is a novella - six chapters ~20K words. It died on the vine, but I go back and mine it once in a while for characters, scenes, etc.

BTW, how does one close one of these threads?

[Paolo]

You have to be an Administrator to close a thread.