Are you ready to abandon your short stories? Before you toss your newest story in the trash Wholesale Chris Carpenter Jersey , revisit it using many of the same guidelines editors keep in mind when they review your work. If you follow these guidelines, you will be many steps closer to placing your short story in a well-known literary journal.
You can make submissions on your own, or hire some help. Every story, on average, must be submitted to 100 markets before it is accepted. For short story authors Wholesale Vince Coleman Jersey , these numbers are sad, but true. Even the best stories must cover a lot of territory before they appear on the printed page. A reputable author's submission service may offer you more time to write while they take care of the submissions. Remember that a good submission service screens potential writers for quality work. They don't take everyone.
Once your story has passed the following tests, it's time to send it out into the world.
1. Is there an opening hook that grabs the reader? Does it surpriseamuseintrigue? Does it establish the mood of the story?
2. Are the characters interesting to read about? Are their interactions with each other believable? Are they properly motivated? Do they each have flaws as well as virtues? (Or vice-versa in Horror stories.)
3. Does each character have his or her own voice? Is dialogue flowing and natural, not stilted? Does the dialogue move the story along?
4. Are secondary characters, if any Wholesale Mark McGwire Jersey , vivid without overwhelming the main characters? Do they serve a useful purpose in the plot? Do they add interesting elements to the story?
5. Does the narrative show action, not just tell about it? Do descriptive passages evoke vivid mental images? Is the balance between narrative and dialogue appropriate for this work?
6. Is the emotional situation andor appropriate level of tension set up between the characters? Is the conflict clearly presented?
7. Is the story paced so it holds the reader's attention? Are transitions smooth? (Does the action proceed logically?) Are flashback scenes and background information worked into the plot appropriately for fiction of this length?
8. Are facts, figures, locales, believable andor correct? Are the language Wholesale Whitey Herzog Jersey , actions, and attire of the characters appropriate for the time period and setting of the story?
9. Is the writing fresh, free of clich's? Does it show the author's own unique style? Are viewpoint changes clear and well handled?
10. Is the grammar correct? Is the spelling accurate? Is the manuscript professionally prepared?
11. Reveal your characters primarily through their actions, not by telling your reader about them. Keep in mind that good fiction reveals rather than explains. Your goal in each piece of fiction is to provide your reader with actual experience, not merely with concepts and outlines of events.
12. Read each of your drafts carefully Wholesale Lou Brock Jersey , aloud. If you can't experience a scene as if you were living through it yourself, work on it some more.
13. Your ending must leave your readers satisfied?even if it is unhappy, unexpected, or inconclusive. Above all, your readers must feel the piece was worth their time and attention. Pay special attention to your final sentence Wholesale Mike Shannon Jersey , image andor line of dialogue, because your readers certainly will.
14. Remember that stories over 4,000 words are very difficult to place.
Building a list of publication credits in your cover letter will open new doors for your writing. In addition to your stories being well crafted, they must be submitted regularly and extensively. Beat the odds with strong writing COMBINED with a powerful and tenacious submission strategy.
If you need help building a personal submission strategy, contact Writer's Relief Wholesale Tim McCarver Jersey , Inc. Their author's submission service has been around for more than ten years.
Boost Your Child s Brainpower by Simply Letting Them Spend More Time on a Playground Family Articles | July 19, 2008 We all know kids love playgrounds. Now, research shows that playing on the playground can boost brainpower too! Playing has been linked to emotional, social, motor and cognitive development. Playgr...
We all know kids love playgrounds. Now Wholesale Ken Boyer Jersey , research shows that playing on the playground can boost brainpower too! Playing has been linked to emotional, social, motor and cognitive development. Playgrounds facilitate the benefits of pure, spontaneous and active free play. Some ways they do it are listed below.
Play and Free Play
While we take the playing done by children for granted, we seldom ponder the mechanics of it. There are many ways that children play and they have unique benefits to the child's development. Physical play such as running Wholesale Enos Slaughter Jersey , jumping, dancing promotes physical fitness. Fantasy play such as dressing up or pretend play expands the mind and imagination. Young children play in a very simple manner, their games and scenarios becoming more complex as they grow and develop.
Although structured, organized activity has its place in a child's day; it is really through free, spontaneous play that a child is able to develop critical thinking Wholesale Roger Maris Jersey , problem-solving and imagination. Since most children are naturally active, they often combine their natural tendency physical activity with playing. Playgrounds provide an optimal environment for a child to be active, explore his environment, interact with his peers and play in his own unique style.