Winter Blooms Issue & Blank Canvas Issue
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THE
ART OF SHORT FICTION What
is it? Author
Charles Blackstone tells.
WRITING GREAT SHORT STORIES Elizabeth Kadetsky who teaches at Sarah Lawrence College and at Columbia University’s School of Journalism serves up some advice.
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CRAFTING
CHARACTERS THAT JUMP OFF THE PAGE Punching
up your
fiction?
Where there's a tipster, there's a way. Discover Robert Gregory Browne's
secrets to
getting multiple book deals.
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BIOFICTION
INTRODUCED Even as she receives 5 stars
on Amazon for Trine Erotic while editing/publishing
Entelechy: Mind & Culture, Alice Andrews takes time
to chat about the esoteric world of this mind-bending read.
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Here's our winner of TOP PICK!
“Duotrope Digest ”
"...think of Duotrope’s Digest as a matchmaker of sorts.
If you write fiction or poetry, we can help you find appropriate markets
for your work."
--Shannon Wendt, Duotrope creator
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Kelly Sonnack 's TOP PICKS
We'll pick at least one from this list...
Note: For greater objectivity, these submissions were read by our guest editor without names nor any information about the author.
Hi Shalla,
I've had some time to go through the submissions for my guest editor stint. Here is my ranking:
1. The Root of Evil - Original story, believable characters, perfect length, and a clever subtleness/quietness to the humor which I really enjoyed.
2. Three Dozen Mangoes for Mr. Diefenbaker - Interesting premise, but at times the conversation didn't seem realistic the way it kept veering off track. I see potential here if it was more focused.
3. The Wild Cats of Tehran - There's a good story in here, but it feels a bit buried with other details and events that distract rather than strengthen the underlying story. At times, it feels like a wandering narrative. If more focused, this would be a lot stronger.
4. One Billionth of a Lifetime - Interesting and dark but some of the storytelling seems inconsistent - there are parts where I wanted to know more, and then parts where I felt scenes went on a bit longer than necessary
5. Today, Quite Early - I found the maid narrator interesting, but I wasn't sure what I was meant to take from it, as the reader. There were times when I wanted more information, and others when I felt like the narrator was repetitive and moving rather slowly. A more consistent pace would help to strengthen this piece.
6. Last Light - Is this a vampire story? I wasn't sure the reader was given everything they needed to understand the plot or to "figure it all out". Does Natilie turn into a vampire because of the spill earlier in the story, or is she already a vampire? Build the suspense and give us more clues and we will come away feeling more satisfied.
7. The Good Provider - I wasn't sure why the choice was made to tell this from the cat's point of view. What dimension does this add to the story? Interesting premise and story, but I was sometimes distracted by the narrator.
8. Even in Your Fantasies - I have a difficult time getting into stories told in the 2nd person, and so do many readers because they can sound like someone telling you what to do. The last paragraph in this story is the most interesting and poetic and I would have liked to see the story go from here. Before this, it doesn't seem like a very original premise. Many people have lovers whom they try to find closure with - what makes this story unique?
9. Green Tea - I don't think I fully understood the ending or what the significance of the Green Tea was. I found both characters a bit un-likeable, and at times felt this was a bit message-heavy. What should the reader be taking away from this story - what are you sharing with us that is new and enlightening?
10. Fear in Black and White - I felt like this poem was a bit simple and was hoping for more complexity. My question is: What's being said here that hasn't been said before? Or: What is being said here in a different way than how it's been done before?
11. Stinkman - The climax in this story didn't feel very climatic, and I think it may need to be more so to hook the reader. There is a lot of background that doesn't seem to add to the central storyline. There are a lot of war stories - what makes this one unique?
I hope these comments are helpful to the readers - let me know if there's anything else you need from me.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Warmest,
Kelly
Actively Building A List
I love manuscripts that have a clever, or witty sense of humor.
The Los Angeles Times dubbed the Dijkstra Agency "the most powerful literary agency on the West Coast" and why wouldn't it? Kelly Sonnack's agency is known for establishing and guiding the careers of many fiction and nonfiction authors, including Amy Tan, Mike Davis, Lisa See, etc. SHALLA CHATS with literary agent, Kelly Sonnack, from the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency (info also on Publisher's Marketplace)
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On Sale! Available at www.amazon.com SHALLA Magazine has arrived
& we're always getting better & better, & better...
Everyone's a Critic! Where our guest assistant editors choose their top 10's or top 5's or... Read what they say about each one!
Literary Agent Kelly Sonnack's TOP PICKS
Who will we nominate for the Pushcart next?
Mark Treitel 's TOP PICKS
1.
THE REQUIRED ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER by Richard Fein 2. Soap by Jared Wahlgren 3. HILLS LIKE PINK ELEPHANTS by Bruce Stirling
PICKS
Who were nominated for the Pushcart in 2009?
EXCLUSIVES Advice to Writers: from an Editor/Book Publisher In summary, three vital concepts for the process: Persist; Trust; Revise! SHALLA CHATS with Seamus Cashman of Wolfhound Press
SHALLA MINGLES with Mr. Fitness, Alex Cristo “Writers: Get Fit!”
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