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Been reading some great stories for @fandsf magazine and @blackpotmojo asked a very good question: what would you say are the top 10 things to avoid in a short story submission? Here are mine: (cont)
1.stories that start with exposition that is all tell, no show.
2.Characters with no “character”, all archetypes or stereotypes
3.Stories where women only serve a man’s character development, especially if she/they die
2.Characters with no “character”, all archetypes or stereotypes
3.Stories where women only serve a man’s character development, especially if she/they die
4.Stories where the author is trying to hard: lots of big words for no reason, purple prose, trying to pack too much info into one sentence
5.Stilted dialogue
6.Jokes that fall flat
7.Hard sci-if with too much jargon, especially if it’s not adequately explained...
5.Stilted dialogue
6.Jokes that fall flat
7.Hard sci-if with too much jargon, especially if it’s not adequately explained...
...7.either with skillful exposition or context cues
8.Stories that don’t stick the landing: where it doesn’t feel like the story came full circle, said anything significant or had a natural conclusion.
8.Stories that don’t stick the landing: where it doesn’t feel like the story came full circle, said anything significant or had a natural conclusion.
9.A lot of questions in quick succession up front with no answers or “lamp shading” or hinting at answers to come
10.Weak pacing/not enough tension and/or conflict to keep the story interesting, especially in the middle
10.Weak pacing/not enough tension and/or conflict to keep the story interesting, especially in the middle
