Steven R. Southard's Blog, page 21

You’ll Never Get Rejected

Interesting fact—over the years, I’ve submitted stories 441 times, and in all of the responses to all of those submissions, I’ve never been rejected. Hard to believe? Consider this—no matter how many times you submit your writing for publication, you will never be rejected either.

To clarify, my stories have been rejected plenty of times. Yours might be rejected as well. But I, as a person, have never been rejected by any editor. Nor will you.

When one of your stories gets rejected, it ...

Chapter Ending? Read On!

For novelists, chapter endings can be tricky. If you’re agonizing over how to end a chapter, read on to see what I’ve learned.

For readers, the end of a chapter seems like the end of a lap in a race. They enjoy a brief feeling of accomplishment having reached a milestone marker, but the moment passes upon realizing how much more remains to be read.

For writers, a chapter ending serves two purposes. First, it must close out the chapter. That seems obvious, but I mean it in a deeper way. ...

The 1G Nostalgia Formula

Fresh out of story ideas? Try the 1G Nostalgia Formula. (My name for it. Trademark application pending.)

Here’s how the 1G Nostalgia Formula works. Take today’s date and subtract twenty-five to thirty years (about one human generation), and set your story in that time period.

As you do this, research as much as you can about that era—clothes, catch phrases, news, culture, sports, songs, movies, etc.

Why do readers find such stories appealing? For the young, it’s a chance to satisfy...

Author Interview—Daniel Johnston

My interviews tend to feature fiction writers, and an occasional poet. Today, to vary things up, I’m interviewing a nonfiction author. Daniel joined a writing critique group I’m in.

Daniel Johnston’s area of expertise is the business relationship between governments and oil companies. He’s traveled widely, worked for dozens of governments, and testified as an economics expert in 35 legal disputes. He teaches graduate level seminars to petroleum accountants. He’s written numerous books ...

How I Blog

Want to start your own blog? Try blogging like I do.

In the past 11 years, I’ve written over 650 blogposts. When I started, experts advised fiction writers to blog as a way to increase their online footprint and drive book sales.

These days I’m not sure that matters much. YouTube might be a better venue, if you can create standout videos. But hours spent blogging (or shooting videos) are hours not spent writing fiction. Still, it’s become a weekly routine for me.

Before I began in 20...

9 Other Reasons to Join a Critique Group

In this blog, I’ve often suggested you join a critique group to improve your writing. Such groups can help you in other ways, though, aside from just learning to produce higher quality writing output (though that would be reason enough). In varying degrees, I’ve received all of these benefits from critique groups.

You can read about many of these additional perks in this fine post by poet Bruce W. Niedt. To his list I’ve added a couple more.

Writing Opportunities. Critique group member...

Author Interview – Nigel Blackwell

Today I’m interviewing author Nigel Blackwell, a fellow member of one of the writing critique groups I’m in.

Nigel Blackwell was born in rural Oxfordshire in England. He has a love of books, a PhD in Physical Chemistry, and a black belt in pointing out the obvious. He is presently working on both short stories with supernatural and mystical elements, and thrillers. By The Light is the first book in this range. In the past he authored Paris Love Match, the story of what happens when an engi...

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Stories from the Grand Hotel

If you’d love to write a story, are unsure what to write about, and you think every possible story has already been written, don’t worry. So long as you don’t plagiarize, there’s room in the world for your story.

It may seem like writers before you already used every possible plot, character type, setting, theme, mood, and style. Maybe they have, but not in the combination you’ll use. None of the previous authors brought the distinct flair to their stories that you’ll bring to yours.

What ...

Writer Me

In admiration of the brilliant Zillow commercial called “Susans,” here’s my take:

Photography Assistance by Sean Strange

Okay, listen up. Need ideas for the next story to write. Thoughts? Writer’s Block Me?

“I got nothin.”

Shouldn’t ever start with you. Daydreaming Me?

“Huh? Did you say something?”

Sheesh. Perfectionist Me?

“Working on the last story. It’s still not quite right.”

Never will be. Impatient Me?

“Just scribble something and submit it already.”

Right. Pr...