short stories
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Don’t overdo your ending Don’t go beyond your story’s natural ending e.g. in a horror story, it’s more effective to finish with the girl thinking she’s got away only for the monster to appear right at the end, its jaws drooling, than it is to go into graphic detail about how the monster finished her…
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The People’s Friend: This long-running magazine is primarily known for its short stories, which are character-driven, traditional, feel-good tales. The fiction team are hugely encouraging and often offer advice if you’re close to being accepted. The magazine also publishes features and poetry. They have recently given their website an overhaul and there are some useful…
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Crystal Magazine: If you’re a new writer and aren’t sure about sending your stories out, then why not try the small press? Crystal Magazine is a small press publication aimed at new and established writers. The editor, Christine Carr, is particularly encouraging to new writers who lack confidence and who are looking for that first…
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I’d like to welcome Murray Clarke back to my Guest Writer Spot. He’s had stories featured on this page a number of times and always knows how to tell a very entertaining story. Sit back, relax and enjoy! FEAR OF FLYING By Murray Clarke The well-spoken, middle-aged gentleman was sweating profusely, trembling and finding it…
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Choosing a setting for your story: The setting in a fiction story can help to shape the mood of the story. A story set in an abandoned warehouse immediately evokes a sense of eeriness and isolation, of neglect and dreariness. Make sure you choose a setting which suits the type of story you’re writing. Different…
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A huge thank you to those of you who have read my current book of short stories – A Walk in the Woods. The paperback will be coming out soon – I promise! Some of you may not know that I wrote another book of short stories – The Siege – some years ago, under…
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I’d like to welcome Marian Wood to my Guest Writer Spot. I met Marian at the recent Annual Bloggers Bash in London. We both thoroughly enjoyed the day and came away feeling very inspired about our writing. Marian is sharing one of her stories with us today. Before you read her story, here she tells…
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Have you entered a writing competition recently and not come anywhere? You’re not alone. I remember that sinking feeling, when I clicked on a link to the shortlisted entries and my name wasn’t among those on the list. But I wasn’t about to give up and kept studying prize-winning stories. What was it about them…
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As many of you know, my book of short stories, A Walk In The Woods, recently came out. I loved working with my illustrator and watching my ideas for the cover slowly take shape. I wanted the cover to reflect the first story, and to have a woodland scene as well as the little girl…
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I know that many of you are inspired by a theme so here’s one for you from The Fiction Desk: Houses and homes. Want to know more? Here’s what they have to say: ‘There should be plenty here for short story writers to get their teeth into: from domestic dramas to haunted houses, it’s an…
Esther Chilton 