Getting short stories published!
The place for you to showcase your work and get feedback on it. Post your blogs, literature, youtube videos, music and anything else you think would fit. Important: Please read the Welcome sticky before posting, there are several specific rules for this forum.
| Announcements | Posted on | |
|---|---|---|
| TSR launches Learn Together! - Our new subscription to help improve your learning | 16-05-2013 | |
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Junior Member
- Posts: 49
Getting short stories published!Hi there, I'm will and I'm 16. I've always had a passion and natural flair for writing and there are a plethora of short stories on my computer that no one has ever seen. I am just inquiring as to where I would start with regards to sending them off to someone too look at, and if they are terrible then at least I'll know.
Thanks
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App -
- Reputation:
- Respected Member
- Posts: 158
I'd love to read them, I just hope they have better grammar than in your post "off to someone too look at"(Original post by Mr_WillCarroll95)
Hi there, I'm will and I'm 16. I've always had a passion and natural flair for writing and there are a plethora of short stories on my computer that no one has ever seen. I am just inquiring as to where I would start with regards to sending them off to someone too look at, and if they are terrible then at least I'll know.
Thanks
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
Haha kidding, but yes I would like to read them
-
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
- Posts: 899
Re: Getting short stories published!I have something better for you:
Manuscript Format for publications
I found the following article on manuscript format etc. for submitting to publishers.
http://www.dm.net/~richard-parks/mss-prep.htm
I learned a lot from this, so if your thinking of submitting a manuscript to a publisher, you might find it handy.
If you find it hard to collate your chapters, you might want to try this FREE software.
I use yWriter5 and it couldn't be easier (it even has a youtube video to guide you!)
http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html
From day one of your story/novel made easy, with export to pdf file double spaced and ready to go!
Backup, and all regular features of a 'pay to buy' package with no fees at all!
Self publishing?
http://www.trafford.com/PublishingGuide.aspx
This is a complete service, but have your cheque book ready
How to self publish - free guide
http://www.ehow.com/how_107987_self-publish-book.html
lulu.com offers a free membership and you can even see what your book looks like finished!
http://www.lulu.com/uk/publish/books...gb_home_nav_bk
Step by step to upload your script, pick a cover, then d/l a printable copy...
I tried it for fun (you can d/l then u/l one of their scripts if you don't have one yet, just to see what it looks like).
Piers Anthony's page with updated notes on publishing sites.
http://www.hipiers.com/publishing.html
Useful if you are considering a publisher!
Build a website with Ms Word in under 2 hours!
http://www.informit.com/articles/art...91847&seqNum=1
I tried it and the results are here http://www.sisco.me.uk
Free hosting from host-ed.net (use filezilla or similar for FTP management)
Want to know how to start a novel?
Here is a great way if you don't know your own way yet...
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
By award winning author Randy Ingermanson, Ph.D.
Manuscript Editing is made easy with this program on the net.
It costs, but try a chapter or paragraph of your story for free trial.
I didn't believe the amount of repeated words I used!
http://www.autocrit.com/
If you tried to build a website in Ms Word in a previous link...
You might want to learn how to build a professional site with HTML, CSS, etc...
http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp
FREE tutorials for all levels from basic to advanced!
Certification is available, but at $75 per certificate, I prefer the knowledge and skills!
Want a Logo or just some basic image editing?
http://www.myimager.com/
It is all FREE on this site!
Pop up adverts pay for it, so make sure you have "AdBlock Plus" or similar enabled
FREE website hosting and building with templates
Choose which application you want free!
This site even includes FREE Ms Wordpress (My free choice!), for any budding website developers!
I can not find a better deal on the Net!
http://www.limedomains.com/
This is a great tutorial on youtube by Jimmy Ruska. The right hand side of the page click "More info" and there is EVERYTHING you could possibly need by way of help-sheets and tutorial help.
Go here to view the tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQMnpUsj8I&NR=1
Complete tutorials and certification can also be gained at:
http://www.w3schools.com/
FREE tutorials for all levels from basic to advanced!
Certification is available, but at $75 per certificate, I prefer the knowledge and skills!
I used them for my basic knowledge (You do not have to sit the exams and the courses are FREE!) -
- Reputation:
- Respected Member
- Posts: 158
Are you going to post some then(Original post by Mr_WillCarroll95)
If any of you are still watching this thread, I plan on posting some tomorrow. Sound good?
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App?
-
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 2,052
Re: Getting short stories published!(Original post by The Marshall)
I have something better for you:
Manuscript Format for publications
I found the following article on manuscript format etc. for submitting to publishers.
http://www.dm.net/~richard-parks/mss-prep.htm
I learned a lot from this, so if your thinking of submitting a manuscript to a publisher, you might find it handy.
If you find it hard to collate your chapters, you might want to try this FREE software.
I use yWriter5 and it couldn't be easier (it even has a youtube video to guide you!)
http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html
From day one of your story/novel made easy, with export to pdf file double spaced and ready to go!
Backup, and all regular features of a 'pay to buy' package with no fees at all!
Self publishing?
http://www.trafford.com/PublishingGuide.aspx
This is a complete service, but have your cheque book ready
How to self publish - free guide
http://www.ehow.com/how_107987_self-publish-book.html
lulu.com offers a free membership and you can even see what your book looks like finished!
http://www.lulu.com/uk/publish/books...gb_home_nav_bk
Step by step to upload your script, pick a cover, then d/l a printable copy...
I tried it for fun (you can d/l then u/l one of their scripts if you don't have one yet, just to see what it looks like).
Piers Anthony's page with updated notes on publishing sites.
http://www.hipiers.com/publishing.html
Useful if you are considering a publisher!
Build a website with Ms Word in under 2 hours!
http://www.informit.com/articles/art...91847&seqNum=1
I tried it and the results are here http://www.sisco.me.uk
Free hosting from host-ed.net (use filezilla or similar for FTP management)
Want to know how to start a novel?
Here is a great way if you don't know your own way yet...
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
By award winning author Randy Ingermanson, Ph.D.
Manuscript Editing is made easy with this program on the net.
It costs, but try a chapter or paragraph of your story for free trial.
I didn't believe the amount of repeated words I used!
http://www.autocrit.com/
If you tried to build a website in Ms Word in a previous link...
You might want to learn how to build a professional site with HTML, CSS, etc...
http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp
FREE tutorials for all levels from basic to advanced!
Certification is available, but at $75 per certificate, I prefer the knowledge and skills!
Want a Logo or just some basic image editing?
http://www.myimager.com/
It is all FREE on this site!
Pop up adverts pay for it, so make sure you have "AdBlock Plus" or similar enabled
FREE website hosting and building with templates
Choose which application you want free!
This site even includes FREE Ms Wordpress (My free choice!), for any budding website developers!
I can not find a better deal on the Net!
http://www.limedomains.com/
This is a great tutorial on youtube by Jimmy Ruska. The right hand side of the page click "More info" and there is EVERYTHING you could possibly need by way of help-sheets and tutorial help.
Go here to view the tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQMnpUsj8I&NR=1
Complete tutorials and certification can also be gained at:
http://www.w3schools.com/
FREE tutorials for all levels from basic to advanced!
Certification is available, but at $75 per certificate, I prefer the knowledge and skills!
I used them for my basic knowledge (You do not have to sit the exams and the courses are FREE!)
you're great!
-
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 2,052
Re: Getting short stories published!when are you going to post stuff?(Original post by Mr_WillCarroll95)
If any of you are still watching this thread, I plan on posting some tomorrow. Sound good?
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App -
- Reputation:
- Exalted Member
- Posts: 380
Re: Getting short stories published!This might be useful if/when you actually get around to subbing stuff
https://duotrope.com/ -
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Junior Member
- Posts: 49
Re: Getting short stories published!Ok guys, I apologise I haven't submitted anything yet as I have just been bogged down in stuff. I'm aware that the following excerpt from one of my stories will most likely be littered with grammatical errors and/or vocab. that doesn't feel right. But I guess that's why i'm here
This story is one of many, I can send more, and is just an extract from the beginning. If you would like more, let me know. Finally, this is untitled, so suggestions will be welcome Thanks in advance guys.
Space.
A cold void of undiscovered potential, an abyss of discovery waiting for excavation; the theatre for exploration.
As the spacecraft soared through the sheet of black, its engines roared into life and shook the cabin. The ship was a marvel of engineering and ingenuity, its metallic white plating shining in the occasional light of a star. Along its side, in a shade of scarlet, ‘X-20 Herald’ could be seen shining with brilliance. The craft was more than just a ‘spaceship’, it was a frigate. It was a grand floating civilization, housing over 500 crewmen and their families, offering safety in a world that they knew very little of. Aboard the ship, in the darkest bowels of its underbelly, a warmth so great that it could be felt in the crew’s quarters emanated from the engines housing. A noise so loud that it shook the cockpit, and a light so brilliant that it carved their luminous path through the cosmos. The X-20 Herald was a regal feat in science, and those aboard knew how privileged they were to be aboard.
Commander. James Ford was the main behind the ship. He ran a system check every day on all the mechanics inside the vessel. He checked the engines were running at their optimum, that the crew were working efficiently and not procrastinating, that the pilot and his co-pilots were staying vigilant on their voyage and most importantly that the ship was in no danger and that it still remained the safe haven of solitude that it had been for decades. That very morning, the commander had gathered the crew and their families in the Conference & Strategy room to discuss the plans for the coming weeks, for soon they would be arriving at their first objective.
“Good morning to you all, I hope that the past few weeks haven’t been too arduous on yourselves and your loved ones. “ He spoke with a friendly but gruff voice, the scars of war still present in the depths of his throat.
“Soon, we shall be arriving at Fenton V, and will be docking up on the 7th. This, as you know, is where we must begin our search. I cannot portray my gratitude for what you have striven to do on this ship over the last few weeks, and I assure all of you that our reward will be greater than any of you can imagine. This journey will be hard, and many of you may find coping with life in this desolate wasteland a task too great. To those, I promise we will be there for you. We will watch over you, and care for you as if you were our own family. And when we finally seize are prize, and reenter this ship on that fateful day, all of you will be filled with the glow of success, and the throes of victory. But until then, keep at it, and remember that this ship is ours to protect and not just mine, not just the pilots, but ours. Thank you, that will be all”
After a short burst of applause and murmuring between the families, the Commander called out once more, and instantly disrupted the proceedings.
“One last things, may I see Pilot. Ollis and Technician. Grady before they depart please.”
The families left and their conversations on anxiety and excitement could be heard for the next few hours. Ollis and Grady approached the Commander, saluted him and then stood formally awaiting their orders.
“Ok gentlemen, I’ll speak to you both now you in private so that we can begin our mission as efficiently as possible. This mission belongs to me as much as it belongs to you, I am relying on you to bring every ounce of success our way and keep this ship running without a hitch. Ollis, you and your men have done a grand job in the cockpit of the Herald for as long as I have served alongside you, and I ask that you work them as hard as you can for the weeks ahead. Without you, this ship would have no heart, no power, nothing. We need you to remember this, when navigating this many lives through territory as dangerous as this. So with that I say good luck.” A brief salute followed before Ollis departed back to the command bridge.
“And Grady, I say similar to you, your team brings the safety and seclusion to the Herald that it is so renowned for, and –“ Ford was cut off by an apologetic Grady
“Sir, I apologise for interrupting you but we have discovered many problems with the ships shield array in the last week and haven’t had apt opportunity to discuss these issues with you.”
“Haven’t had time! Have I been a mere hologram for that last few weeks, or have you just been a fool not to tell me?” The gruff side of his voice now surfaced more prominently, and it was clear he was losing his temper.
“It was ever since we passed the interstellar system above Mygon sir, the radiation in the air affected the frequency output of the shield array and caused it to go temporarily offline, it wasn’t until three days later that we managed to syphon enough energy from the engines to repower them.”
“You mean to tell me that for three days this ship was in complete peril, and you didn’t tell anyone?!” The final few words were bellowed into Grady’s face, and he went red with embarrassment.
“And what is more, we have been travelling slower through dangerous zones because you had taken energy from the engines? You bloody idiot Grady! Do you understand what danger you put us all in?”
“Sir, I am sorry, deeply sorry and I know that I have been naïve, but we have discovered something a lot more worrying, and a momentary lapse in the shields isn’t our problem.”
“Then what is the bloody problem!?”
“ Command Centre Alpha on Fenton V has radioed back in over 5 days”
The air in the Conference room became paper thin, and the Commander began to choke on all that he tried to say I response.
“W-What do you mean by ‘no response’? None at all, or just not specific orders regarding our mission?”
“None at all, sir. Their radio frequency isn’t accessible either, its like it was just, wiped out.”
“This mission just got a lot more bloody complicated. I want you to alert Sgt. Donohue and his men, we need to be prepared for possible hostility when approaching Fenton V. And make sure that all turret defense systems and shield recalibrations are working efficiently; we cannot afford any lapse in our defenses again. Not after what you have told me” He trailed off with a cold undertone, and Grady jumped to attention and ran out in pursuit of his orders. Grady ran through the crew lounge at lighting pace, and pushed through the ovular automatic doors that opened up onto the command bridge. He rushed into a side door just off the cockpit and entered a small chamber, the size of a small broom cupboard.
“Welcome, Technician. Grady” A soft, AI voice echoed into the chamber. -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 2,052
Re: Getting short stories published!i voted you up, look.(Original post by The Marshall)
And all I get is a negative vote. ok.
