FUN WITH SHORTS

For some time now, I thought it would be fun to take a break and write some short fiction. It's been a long while since I've had one on the market. I've been writing a story for the next SWORD & SORCERESS. Started with a half-page I noodled around with a couple of summers ago, more atmosphere than anything, and devoid of plot. I thought about it a bit, then had a dream filled with vivid images. Sat down the next morning with notepad and pen and brainstormed a plot. Drafted it fairly quickly and am now shaping it into a story. It needs another go-through before I set it aside for a couple of weeks. Fortunately, the reading period for the anthology doesn't begin until late March. I think it's good, or will be once it says what I want it to say.

But cripes, I'd forgotten how hard short fiction is. Excruciating, is more like it, after the huge innerspace of novels! Brain is stretching and contracting and flexing old muscles. I want to dive back into the comfort of a trilogy! I mutter that it's good for me, and it is. My short fiction is much better for having written novels, and I am convinced the reverse will be true, especially writing this just after final revisions/polishing, when my editorial carving knife is well whetted.