Instant Gratification: Short Story Writing
For the past couple of months I’ve been writing stories in my Flagler Beach Fiction Series, starting with ten stories set in Kokomo’s Cafe and I just finished the ten stories set in Golden Lion Cafe. Each story is about 2,500 words. I sell two stories (5,000 word total) each Friday or Saturday for 99 cents and then once all ten are released via eBook I do a complete eBook and Print book of them before moving onto the next book’s stories.
It’s allowed me to get quite a few releases out for each book (5 eBook 2-story releases, 1 complete eBook and 1 complete Print book for each, so 7 for each)… at this point it will be 7 books, so in theory I’ll have 49 releases just for the Flagler Beach Fiction series. That’s quite a lot of places for new readers to start with me, and it keeps my loyal readers constantly having new things to read. Each week, in fact.
Besides that series, I’m also releasing other things as well, but right now the short stories seem to be taking precedent. The last two stories in the Keyport Cthulhu series, “Dagon” and “Evil” are being worked on for a release soon, and I have other short pieces currently being edited or first drafts completed.
Which all makes me very happy, because I’ve preached this a million times but it bears repeating: keep giving the people what they want.
Now, for the downside…
Dying Days: Origins… my unnamed zombie novella set in a diner… Death Cult: Death Metal 2… Dying Days 4…
All of these longer pieces are suffering because I’m only nibbling on them each day, adding 250-500 words if I’m lucky. I’m ignoring them because it will take me weeks to finish each, and (in theory) I can knock out a short story in 2-3 days and get it into the edit/rewrite/final draft system and get it either out for submissions to an anthology or a publisher, or self-publish it myself.
I also keep adding more and more projects, which I cannot stop doing. I have an addiction.
But, after going through and seeing the two dozen index cards I have set up with all my various projects, I’ve decided to do something radical about it.
I’m just going to keep writing whatever I want to write, and if it’s a new batch of short stories… so be it. I just hope you keep reading everything I’m putting out.
Armand
August 5, 2013 at 1:39 PM
I completely understand what you mean about addiction! I’m currently in the middle of writing three books; two which are novels and the third, a collection! I’m also enjoying the time I’m spending with my webseries/stories as well. Can’t seem to stop, nor decide what I want to spend more time with, for that matter! I’m with you on this; pander to your desires and write whatever fancies you the most, at any given time, and the rest will fall into place.
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August 5, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Thanks! Yeah, I need to follow along where the stories take me and not worry about anything unless I get actual deadlines to adhere to.
Armand
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August 6, 2013 at 8:45 AM
My question is how distracted do you get writing in a public place like that?
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August 6, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Please, Todd, no questions… actually, I don’t get distracted. I need the background noise and the music they play I don’t normally listen to on and conversations going on… as long as people aren’t talking directly to me I’m fine. At home, when it is dead silent, I cannot write. I need something going on in order to do it…
Armand
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