First off, this isn't a monograph written by a single author, it's a collection of essays. Who wrote the essays? Here is where my main argument for the relevance of this book is made: Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Richard Matheson, etc.. Yes: these are classic weird writers who have had success and whose work populates many of the "must read" lists of this genre.
With that said, there is a lot in this book that doesn't seem relevant today, namely, advice on navigating the the road to publication: e.g. preparing a manuscript, locating an agent, market studies, etc.. I have another book coming for that: Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer, by Jeff VanderMeer.
But there is a lot this book still has to offer, something that comes through in the introduction. Written by Robert Bloch, it is titled "How to Write Horribly for Fun and Profit." It offers some pretty good advice that he distills into one statement:
"My primary advice to science-fiction writers and would-be writers is to evaluate story ideas objectively and write them up in whatever length is most effective" (8).
I find this advice refreshing. Often times I wonder if what I'm writing is the most effective length. Frankly, I struggle with longer fiction because I rarely think my story idea necessitates a novelistic treatment.
I've written short stories a brief as 3000 words and as long as 10,000 words. One of my short stories wouldn't end and crept up to 16,000 words. I'm currently engaged in writing what I intended to be a novella (my aim was 30,000 words) and I'm 10,000 words in and realize this is going to be much longer.
The key, I think, is to at least have a plan for length before you begin. And also, that more often than not a story idea can sustain, at most, a short story form. Or less, a flash fiction.
I understand reservations and feel them myself.
The difficult thing about short fiction is its marketability. I get the impression the short fiction market is difficult to break into, though I believe current developments in e-publication and e-readers is making the writing, publication, and selling of short stories easier to do.
Because of their lack of marketability, I think folks are reluctant to write in and master the short stories; accordingly, they want to write novels. And this is because of market realities. And so the issue becomes, are you interested in marketability or aesthetics?
Bloch's advice is that aspiring writers should write their stories in the form they need to be written, market considerations aside. I find that really refreshing. It gives me license to say, "The hell with it. I'm writing a short story because that's the kind of treatment that conforms best to this premise."
Until I'm confident I've become a good writer, aesthetic considerations trump market considerations.
I think you bring up a good point, articulated wonderfully by Bloch: just write however the story needs to be told. While publication should certainly be a concern for writers (who eventually want to go that route), as a beginning writer, the most important thing is just to write. Forget about magazines; forget about editors. Get your ideas done -- and then take the time to revise/edit as necessary for the publication you want to submit to.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no need to defend the book _How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction_, because of its publication date. One of the most helpful books on just writing fiction was written in 1934 by Dorothea Brande. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Writer-Dorothea-Brande/dp/0874771641/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1325630235&sr=1-1.
Thanks! Re. your 1st paragraph - good things to keep in mind, particularly after a rejection from a magazine (got one today).
ReplyDeleteI also wonder about the new opportunities digital publishing will open up. I've read a few posts/articles (that I can't locate now, sorry) suggesting that short fiction (whether we're talking actual short stories or novellas) are becoming more popular for two main reasons: 1) people can easily load them onto their ereaders and read them when the time permits (like loading podcasts), and 2) people have become used to reading in smaller chunks, thanks to blogs, etc. I don't think (and certainly, hope it's not true) that this will signal problems for novels, but I do think/hope it will make the short form more accessible. I could even imagine short fiction being released over a period of time (almost serially), and then gathered into a single ebook for re-release at the end of that "run." Also, its seems like ezines (which are also gaining popular appeal and critical clout) are less concerned about length than print markets are forced to be, given the limits of a physical publication.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I hope the novella and the novelette returns. I'm not sure why, but genre novels have become increasingly long-winded. Not sure how the "long novel" has come to dominate professional genre markets. For my part, lower word count limits force me to compose tighter, more entertaining narratives.
ReplyDeleteRe. e-zines: I find this movement very intriguing. It's an exciting time to be an aspiring fiction writer. Being able to reach an audience has become so easy; the difficult task, I think, is "standing out" now that publication is but a click away.
I agree that our "reading styles" and preferences are changing; and it would indeed be nice if e-publication, e-readers, etc., cause our preferences to drift toward "tighter" narratives, more economic prose, etc..