SSS

THE ‘SHORT STORY SATURDAYS’ SLOT IS NOW CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS BUT…

I review short stories on Book Reviews (one collection a fortnight) and
welcome <500-word stories for the weekly Flash Fiction Fridays

and / or you can also now get your stories critiqued by other writers / readers
on Morgen’s Short Story Writing Group!

I created Short Story Saturdays because I’m often asked to do book reviews. I can’t, unfortunately, because I just don’t have the time but I love short stories (reading and writing) so this is, for me anyway, the perfect solution. From 11th February 2012 until 5th January 2013 I posted reviews or stories in their entirety and these are listed below…

For writers / readers willing to give feedback and / or writers wanting feedback, there’s also this blog’s Feedback page.

POSTED – short stories (in their entirety, not reviews!)

001: My review of A Coffin and Bubble Gum written by Mesis September – 11th February 2012
002: My review of Dreaming, Not Sleeping written by supernatural mystery, horror, scriptwriter and interviewee Julia Kavan – 18th February
003: My review of A Fine Day by multi-genre writer and interviewee Jim Sellers – 25th February
004: My review of Clouded Vision by crime novelist Linwood Barclay – 3rd March
005: My review of Mercy? by short story and article writer Sean Durity – 10th March
006: My review of The Best One Yet by Kelley Hunter – 17th March
007: My review of Claws by crime writer, interviewee (and H.E. Bates Short Story Competition 2012 judge!) Stephen Booth – 24th March
008: My review of A Good Hanging from crime writer Ian Rankin‘s A Good Hanging & Other Stories – 7th April
009: My review of The Awakening of George Mahooney by Kathryn Elizabeth Jones – 14th April
010: My review some of the ‘Sexy Shorts‘ short story charity anthologies – 28th April
011: My review of Sister Golden Hair Surprise and the Cruiser by romance, paranormal erotica and young adult author Linda Palmer – 5th May
012: My review of Heart Over Head Over Heels by James Eddy – 25th August
013: My review of The Little Man Who Was Almost There by Thomas Locicero (available within his Under the Tree anthology eBook) – 6th October
014: My review of Torn (available within The Kaynos History Tales) by thriller and fantasy writer Tracey Alley – 13th October
015: My review of The Outside World (available within The City Heroes & Other Stories from the Heart of Africa) by children’s author Omoruyi Uwuigiaren – 3rd November
no reviews on 10th or 17th November as I was first-round judging on the H.E. Bates Short Story Competition.
016: My review of Bewilder by James Eddy – 1st December
017: My review of Fireflies by Sullivan Leigh – 8th December
018: My review of Samantha and the Cockerel from the collection of short stories ‘Canterbury Tales on a Cockrow Morning’ by memoirist, poet, short story author and interviewee Maggie Harris – 15th December
019: My review of Near Death Experience by thriller and fantasy writer Tracey Alley – 29th December

POSTED – short stories (in their entirety, not reviews!)

001: A Walk to Destiny by Jane Risdon – 24th November 2012
002: The Gift by children’s author J.D. Means – 22nd December
003: Short story: The Bus Driver Who Stopped and Then Didn’t by Dan Purdue – 5th January 2013

London Writers’ Club’s ten short tips for short story writing are worth bearing in mind when writing / revising your story…

Location – remember to fix your short story firmly in a place.
Time – what’s the time span of your short story?
Title – even a short story must have a brilliant title.
Every word must count – less is more on the adjective front.
Sometimes simplicity rules in a short story – don’t be over wordy.
The first sentence must capture the reader’s attention.
Don’t have too many scenes – it can’t be a series of tiny photos, let the scenes breath.
Think about themes/tones/concepts – these must colour your story.
Be careful with dialogue – don’t put words in your characters’ mouths to pad out the story.
Finally, read and reread your story – be ruthless with your editing.

… the same can be said for longer pieces of course.

You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore and Kobo. My eBooks are now on Amazon, with more to follow, and I also have a quirky second-person viewpoint story in charity anthology Telling Tales.

I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me.

I also welcome flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for my Post-weekend Poetry page and for the following online writing groups: