The Short Story About Publishing Success
In October 2018 I travelled to the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali to talk to writers for the eBook Revolution Podcast.
In the first episode of this series from Bali, you can hear author Julia Prendergast talk about the trials of writing creative literary fiction and the joys of short stories.
You can listen to podcast right here.
Julia reminded me just how potent an art form short stories can be. From a method of circumventing writers block, to a springboard to creating long form fiction, short stories are an excellent discipline to master. (I’ve also published an anthology called Beautiful Lies).
Use Short Stories to Kick Off Your Writing in 2019
Short story competitions are a fantastic way to create a real deadline. There is the added advantage of receiving immediate feedback on your story’s potential. If you get short or long listed – or even win – that’s great feedback right there.
Don’t take my word for it, listen to the podcast – and you’ll discover Julia has been using this tactic for years with great success.
New writers sometimes try too hard too soon. Going for the great big novel straight out of the gate is a bit like learning 3 major chords on guitar and trying your hand at a Miles Davis jazz improvisation. You’ll start with a burst of enthusiasm but ultimately run out of puff.
Short stories are a more achievable goal for new fiction writers. Mastering the short story form is a way to practice your writing craft.
Julia’s new book The Earth Does Not Get Fat started out as a few different short stories that later found their voice as components of a bigger story.
Set yourself up for 2019 – try your hand entering a few short story writing competitions. It may just be the motivation you need to put your writing out into the world.
Here’s list of short story writing contests to inspire you in your writing goals for 2019 and maybe get your story published.
And perhaps, like Julia Prendergast, you’ll find yourself invited to speak about your novel at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.
Short Story Competitions 2019
- Newcastle Short Story Award
- Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize—2019
- Australian Writers Centre – Furious Fiction
- To Hull and Back – Short Story Competition
- The Writing Quarter Competition
- 2019 Nelson Algren Literary Contest
- The Desperate Literature Prize for Short Fiction
