Guest Blog: Vicki Batman: You're Not So Tall: Is Writing Short Valuable?

When I started writing, I began with a book. I worked and worked it for many years, entered contests, got some critiques, etc. In my head, I was on the fast-track to becoming discovered.

God, I was delusional. LOL

It's true, most newbies think they are the cat's meow, the next big thing. I tried to hold my realities in check by working on several other manuscripts. I continued submitting and got lots of rejections.

In the contests, however, I discovered I wasn't doing badly at all. And I noticed a woman in my local RWA chapter and I seemed to be scoring approximately the same scores. I wondered if she would be interested in critiquing with me. So I put on my brave shirt and asked her. She said yes and would I want to look at her six very short stories.

Little did I know I would slip and slide down the rabbit hole into the pool of short fiction.

After critiquing my friend's stories, I began writing my own and submitting to magazines. Many acceptances later, I branched into other forms of short fiction.

Woman's World magazine has been around forever. Their stories take 800 words—PERIOD. The challenge is writing that short. It means really looking at action verbs, no adverbs, the perfect adjective, a descriptive noun. Getting the story pared to the bones and yet, still be an intriguing read.

I find short stories are a moment in time and are very satisfying, just as satisfying as a good book if written well.

Nowadays, authors are encouraged to write short fiction to publish between books so the reader stays interested. Short stories can be an extra freebie to entice new readers. It can expound on, say, a secondary character, a chance to hear their story. A giveaway in a contest. And just a plain ol' piece of short fiction because we all know we have a minute or two to read something during lunch or carpool—right?

People always ask when are you writing a book? He-he-he. I have and good news abounds.

Do you read short stories? If not, why not?

BIO:
Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to TRUE LOVE, TRUE ROMANCE, TRUE CONFESSIONS, NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING, LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, MUSEITUP PUBLISHING, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

BLURB: Bug Stuff...and other stories
Three short romantic comedies from sassy writer gal. Included are:

"Just Desserts": a political dinner gone disastrous brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.

"Bug Stuff": A cute accountant unites with his co-worker to fight a pesky adversary.

"With This Ring": When a wife forgets her little black dress, all turns into something utterly romantic and unforgettable in the end.