What I Learned from "Murder Shorts - Short Stories"

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I attended "Murder Shorts - Short Stories" at Malice Domestic 2017. Here's what I learned from this fun bunch of short story authors: Leone Ciporin, Teresa Inge, KM Rockwood, Alan Orloff, and Maggie King.

  1. The group liked the short story format. They felt they could experiment more as writers in this compact format.
  2. Short stories are seeing a resurgence. Check out Spine Tingler Magazine, Flashbang.com, Mystery Weekly, and Woman's World. They all pay for mystery submissions.
  3. Visit Sandra Seaman's blog to see calls for publication for short stories.
  4. Readers care about the characters in short stories. The characters are often ordinary people in ordinary settings.
  5. Characters are important in short stories. Description and dialogue help create the picture for the reader.
  6. I loved Alan Orloff's advice for writers - BIFOK! (Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard). You just have to sit down and write.
  7. You have a small space in a short story; every word must count.
  8. Use both sides of your brain when you write. Your creative side writes and plots, while your analytical site proofreads and edits.
  9. Don't edit as you write. Just write. Revise later.
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