Keys to Writing Success - Part 8

Recently I read about a writer who had written a short story and was wondering where he should send this. He mentioned it was a rather unusual story and with hidden meanings.

On reading this I do wonder if his story stands any chance of publication. The reason is, if you are hoping to get published rather than write for personal pleasure, then you do need to consider the market first and where you intend to submit to. That way you can tailor your work to meet the needs of a magazine or publisher and their intended audience.

For those writing for publication, this is an important principle - start by considering the needs to the market (including what readers and editors are looking for,) rather than writing and then wondering what to do next. I write about this in greater detail in Achieve More Acceptances and this and other principles given can certainly help make the path to publication that much smoother.

Bear this Key to Writing Success in mind. It is an important one and can serve you well.

Good Luck.

Story ideas - The Colin Dexter way

A little while ago I attended a talk given by the crime writer and creator of Morse, Colin Dexter. And during a fascinating evening he told of how he devised many of his stories. He said that he took an incident from real life but changed just one thing. And from that change, events took a new (and sometimes sinister) turn.

It's a wonderful way to come up with story ideas and if you are ever in need of a plot, do bear this method in mind. It could be an incident you read in a paper or something you actually experienced but just change one thing or detail ... and then wonder what the consequences are.

Good luck and happy plot creating!

Achieve More Acceptances - A Review

When I wrote Achieve More Acceptances my aim was to help writers make more of their talents and to get published more easily. And I was very gratified to receive the following review from writer John Craggs earlier this week.

'I finally got to finish reading AMA, (Life got in the way for a while...), and thoroughly enjoyed it, much of the time nodding in agreement

I could have done with something like this all those years ago when I first started trying to sell my work. Good solid practical information which double-guesses most of a would-be writer's questions.

The concept of the 'golden opportunity 'was very worthwhile. I've had a few of these, where a little extra effort or thought have really paid off. I suspect a lot of people let these chances slip by either through procrastination, fear of rejection, or giving up too easily.

I'm not teaching any classes at the moment, but AMA has been added to my small list of books I'll cheerfully suggest to writing students. Come to think of it, this will be the first 'download' I've ever suggested. (Sign of the times.)'

Achieve More Acceptances is currently available for the very reasonable price of $7 (about £3.60) and to order or for more details please email me at neil@neilsomerville.com

John Craggs is the author of some highly entertaining books, 'A Hamper of Havoc' and 'British Bike Bodgers Booklet' and both can be ordered via www.lulu.com. He also writes a fortnightly humour newsletter and to subscribe you can email John at gyppo1@ntlworld.com with 'MSD SUB'