short stories

darkestlord

hi everyone,
I put this in general questions and got no response so i put here, sorry if not allowed but here goes.
Just did a creative writing course a few months ago and i have wrote three short stories about 4000 words each, i entered one into rte competition.
I think there really good (but i would) and i would like to know if i have a talent or not.
So i want to know if it would be worth sending to an agent or to a publisher.
Do they normally take short stories or would it be wasting their time.
Any advice really appreciated.
Thanks

smcgiff

darkestlord wrote: »

hi everyone,
I put this in general questions and got no response so i put here, sorry if not allowed but here goes.
Just did a creative writing course a few months ago and i have wrote three short stories about 4000 words each, i entered one into rte competition.
I think there really good (but i would) and i would like to know if i have a talent or not.
So i want to know if it would be worth sending to an agent or to a publisher.
Do they normally take short stories or would it be wasting their time.
Any advice really appreciated.
Thanks

Unfortunately there really isn't a market for short stories unless you’ve already established yourself as a novelist. Maeve Binchy and Jeffrey Archer come to mind. And because of this agents will have little or no interest in receiving short stories. Agents aren't there to tell you whether you're any good or not, but to find you a publisher.

So, you’ll just have to stop being lazy and write a proper length story or develop your existing stories!

Good luck

Toche Guevara

smcgiff wrote: »

Unfortunately there really isn't a market for short stories unless you’ve already established yourself as a novelist. Maeve Binchy and Jeffrey Archer come to mind. And because of this agents will have little or no interest in receiving short stories. Agents aren't there to tell you whether you're any good or not, but to find you a publisher.

So, you’ll just have to stop being lazy and write a proper length story or develop your existing stories!

Good luck

Not entirely true. Genre fiction magazines like Interzone (sci fi) do publish non-established authors, and such magazines are read by literary agents and scouts.
A lot of modern, popular sci fi authors have a couple of interzone credits tucked away in thier bio

smcgiff

Toche Guevara wrote: »

Not entirely true. Genre fiction magazines like Interzone (sci fi) do publish non-established authors, and such magazines are read by literary agents and scouts.
A lot of modern, popular sci fi authors have a couple of interzone credits tucked away in thier bio

That's good advice. Magazines are probably what he should aim at. But he wont get an agent that way.

mct1

Hi darkestlord

If you're looking for feedback on your writing, then I would suggest a couple of options.

Both the Jaqui Bennett Writers Bureau and the Writers Bureau (2 separate UK based organisations, both well respected) offer an editorial/appraisal service by professionals for a modest fee. I know people who've used these and recommend them highly.
www.jbwb.co.uk
www.writersbureau.com

If you just want the views of fellow writers (some will have stuff published, some won't), then you can post your short stories for free feedback on the Writers' Dock or Critique Circle websites. I have used both of these and find them very helpful indeed.
www.writersdock.org
www.critiquecircle.com

The best of luck.

darkestlord

Just wanted to say thanks for everyones advice.