advice

This week’s article is going to come with a mainly editorial, rather than writer’s, hat on. It’s important to know that we expect some short stories to be submitted to other publications as well as to Firewords. We don’t think it’s right for a journal to demand any kind of exclusivity before they have even…

1. Start smallWhen motivation is high, it’s easy to jump in feet first and commit to more than you can realistically achieve. It’s a vicious cycle because when you fail, you lose the motivation and beat yourself up. I would recommend starting with a manageable target like 7 days of daily writing.7 days may not…

1. Start smallWhen motivation is high, it’s easy to jump in feet first and commit to more than you can realistically achieve. It’s a vicious cycle because when you fail, you lose the motivation and beat yourself up. I would recommend starting with a manageable target like 7 days of daily writing.7 days may not…

The word count range that a short story fits into is a hard one to pin down. They can range anywhere from a couple of hundred to 10,000 words and up. But where does a short become flash at the lower end, and when does it become a novella at the high end?Edgar Allen Poe…

The word count range that a short story fits into is a hard one to pin down. They can range anywhere from a couple of hundred to 10,000 words and up. But where does a short become flash at the lower end, and when does it become a novella at the high end?Edgar Allen Poe…

It’s great to write from your own experience; true events that are unique to you and that no one can take away. This is not about perfectionism in writing but about having fun and enjoying the memories of experiences you have had, even if doing so is far from perfect. Only last week, I wrote…

It’s great to write from your own experience; true events that are unique to you and that no one can take away. This is not about perfectionism in writing but about having fun and enjoying the memories of experiences you have had, even if doing so is far from perfect. Only last week, I wrote…

Many writers use pen names. I’ve actually never written anything under my real name. But why do writers feel the need to use an alternative guise?Speaking for myself, the main reason was confidence. A writer bares their soul when they put pen to paper. It doesn’t matter what the subject matter is, what the genre…

My intention is not to insult you with that tongue-in-cheek title but to make you think. How much are you pushing yourself and your writing abilities?This is your chance to do something out of the ordinary in one easily-attainable step.Why do we gravitate to our comfort zones?It’s not rocket science: a comfort zone feels safe…

While I will go on to say what makes the most effective cover letter, it is important to remember that your short story will speak for itself. The ‘greatness’ of a cover letter may slightly colour the editor’s preconceptions and help to either add or detract from how memorable your writing is, but shouldn’t have…