tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post753778488170906987..comments2023-06-12T17:08:36.320+01:00Comments on How Publishing <i>Really</i> Works: What Makes A Good Short Story?Jane Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-36206613398472259382008-09-22T15:40:00.000+01:002008-09-22T15:40:00.000+01:00I'm judging a short story comp in November and I t...I'm judging a short story comp in November and I think a tactful precis of those points might come in very handy. Thanks, Jane.Nicola Sladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03076176253820195827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-37900529870105266882008-09-19T20:22:00.000+01:002008-09-19T20:22:00.000+01:00No, not really. Can you try again? BFLNo, not really. Can you try again? <BR/><BR/> BFLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-17603096152819741102008-09-19T09:37:00.000+01:002008-09-19T09:37:00.000+01:00I once entered a competition after which the judge...I once entered a competition after which the judge wrote that apart from the 10 stories he'd shortlisted, the rest of the entrants were 'dross.' My story wasn't shortlisted. <BR/><BR/>It's happened to us all. And remember he was looking for highly literary stories and listing the worst common faults. There will have been a wide variation in the standard of entries. Some will have been total rubbish, some will almost have been there and many, like yours no doubt, BFL, will have just failed to reach his idea of a great story. Personal taste can't help but colour a judge's opinion.<BR/><BR/>The problem is that a judge can't quote extracts from the really bad stories and use them as illustrations of bad writing. If he could then I'm sure you'd see just how bad some stories can be. You can't believe it until you've read some. <BR/><BR/>There, BFL. Does that make you feel any better?Sally Zigmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520579251842006765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-49381440445867121132008-09-18T20:30:00.000+01:002008-09-18T20:30:00.000+01:00I entered that competition. Should I have mention...I entered that competition. <BR/><BR/> Should I have mentioned that? <BR/><BR/> BFL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-20232245850866503772008-09-18T13:57:00.000+01:002008-09-18T13:57:00.000+01:00Thanks, Jane. Steve Moran's piece is comprehensive...Thanks, Jane. Steve Moran's piece is comprehensive and and just about covers every no-no in short story writing. I have judged several short story competitions and read countless short story submissions when I worked as assistant editor of QWF and have seen them all.<BR/><BR/>And as usual, someone commented that his tone was arrogant and patronising. Why is that those who have experience and therefore know what they're talking about are vilified by those who don't? There is a personality type that seems very common amongst what Steve Moran calls tyro writers; those who refuse to listen to those who can teach them something valuable but soak up misinformation from others who know no more than they do themselves. Very odd.Sally Zigmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520579251842006765noreply@blogger.com