Windy Lynn Harris's Blog
September 13, 2017
Ten Ways Short Stories And Essays Can Help Your Writing Career
I had a chance to talk to the folks at Writer's Digest this week. Ever wonder what publishing your short work can do for your career? My thought here: https://oneroofpublish.com/2015/12/04...
July 20, 2017
Magazines That Want To Publish You
Short Story and Essay Markets: July 2017
Hi Writers! There are plenty of magazines acquiring great writing this month. Check out a few of your opportunities here:
The Sunlight Press is looking for exceptional personal essays between 650-1000 words and fiction under 2000 words. Paying market. Details here: http://www.thesunlightpress.com/submi...
(b)OINK is acquiring in-your-face fiction and creative nonfiction pieces. Got something experimental, gut-wrenching, terrifying, or secretive? This is the place to send it: https://www.facebook.com/boinkzine/
Carve would like to read your best short story or essay this summer. This is an established magazine and a paying market. Details here: https://www.carvezine.com/submit/
34th Parallel wants creative nonfiction and short fiction for their next print issue. Details here: http://www.34thparallel.net/submit.html
Punchnel's is currently acquiring short fiction, personal essays, and a long list of other creative stuff: https://punchnels.submittable.com/submit
This month's discussion topic: Winning Over an Editor With a Great Title
Finding the right title for your short story or essay is just as important as finding the right title for your book-length projects. When you submit a short piece, the title is one of the first things a magazine editor sees. It's the first impression of your creative work--a chance to grab their attention and make them want to read on. Never settle for something boring or predicable.
How to get it right:
1) Brainstorm a list of images that appear in your story. Chose the most memorable one and use it as your title. Write your title with strong vivid language.
2) Hunt for a standout sentence from your prose. Use the entire sentence or a phrase from that sentence as your title.
3) Identify the theme of your work. Express this theme in an abstract way, using sensory words.
4) Highlight the unusual. If the name of a person in your piece is uncommon, it might stand well on its own as a title. Consider the name of a town or company or event you mention in your work. One of those might make a great title, too.
Need some inspiration? Open the pages of a magazine and see which titles make you curious about the story that follows. Use that information to help guide you. In the world of magazines, titles are important. Learn to craft a strong one and you'll have editors excited to read your work.
Hi Writers! There are plenty of magazines acquiring great writing this month. Check out a few of your opportunities here:
The Sunlight Press is looking for exceptional personal essays between 650-1000 words and fiction under 2000 words. Paying market. Details here: http://www.thesunlightpress.com/submi...
(b)OINK is acquiring in-your-face fiction and creative nonfiction pieces. Got something experimental, gut-wrenching, terrifying, or secretive? This is the place to send it: https://www.facebook.com/boinkzine/
Carve would like to read your best short story or essay this summer. This is an established magazine and a paying market. Details here: https://www.carvezine.com/submit/
34th Parallel wants creative nonfiction and short fiction for their next print issue. Details here: http://www.34thparallel.net/submit.html
Punchnel's is currently acquiring short fiction, personal essays, and a long list of other creative stuff: https://punchnels.submittable.com/submit
This month's discussion topic: Winning Over an Editor With a Great Title
Finding the right title for your short story or essay is just as important as finding the right title for your book-length projects. When you submit a short piece, the title is one of the first things a magazine editor sees. It's the first impression of your creative work--a chance to grab their attention and make them want to read on. Never settle for something boring or predicable.
How to get it right:
1) Brainstorm a list of images that appear in your story. Chose the most memorable one and use it as your title. Write your title with strong vivid language.
2) Hunt for a standout sentence from your prose. Use the entire sentence or a phrase from that sentence as your title.
3) Identify the theme of your work. Express this theme in an abstract way, using sensory words.
4) Highlight the unusual. If the name of a person in your piece is uncommon, it might stand well on its own as a title. Consider the name of a town or company or event you mention in your work. One of those might make a great title, too.
Need some inspiration? Open the pages of a magazine and see which titles make you curious about the story that follows. Use that information to help guide you. In the world of magazines, titles are important. Learn to craft a strong one and you'll have editors excited to read your work.
