Short/Flash fiction critiquing before submitting

[ed9428]

Hi all.

Would a magazine accept a short story that has been critiqued in whole online? Or would they be concerned that it has basically already been published?
Just asking as I have just started writing and never been critiqued. I am dubious of family and friend critiques as they may be a bit bias, not wishing to be harsh, but I really would like some good honest opinions. I figured strangers would be my best bet.

Thank you.
Ed.

 

[Brian G Turner]

That's why we recommend only posting a snippet for short stories - to not fall foul of that, and if there are any obvious issues they'll show in the feedback. And if there are no real criticisms then it would be more likely for people to accept beta-reading it in private, if approached.

 

[ed9428]

Thanks Brian.
I'm even considering just handing over a complete story for feedback and just not submit it to magazines, might be worth it just to see if I'm at all on track with my writing. I have a piece its only a little over 500 words so no big deal if I let it go.
I don't think I would feel confident to approach someone for a beta reading yet as there is not much I can offer in return. I have critiqued on this forum and found it enjoyable so maybe after I give a few more critiques I can offer a private critique in exchange for one.
Anyway thanks for the help.
To be honest I joined this site for the critique section but have found it has alot more to offer than just that, i think giving critiques may also help my writing just as much as recieving.

 

[The Judge]

I think giving critiques may also help my writing just as much as recieving.

Just to confirm that this is absolutely the case. Anything which makes you (ie one, not just you personally!) sit and think about writing and its mechanics is good, and few of us are disciplined enough to take a section of a published book and analyse it in any detail. Also, it's surprising how often you can see mistakes in other people's work and it's only then you realise you do exactly the same but you just hadn't noticed before!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Why not put something up for the challenges? After the voting ends you can put it up in the improve our challenges thread and get a mini-critique? You have until midnight to do 75 words on change in social sci fi.

 

[ed9428]

Never thought about analysing published work. I've consciously read things taking note of areas I struggle in which is kinda the same but never analysed a whole section.

Put me on the spot springs. Never written social Sci fi, could be interesting to see what I come up with.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Thanks Brian.
I'm even considering just handing over a complete story for feedback and just not submit it to magazines

I'd post a section. If there are no huge issues then send it to beta readers or an editor for feedback on the whole, IMO.

 

[ed9428]

Your right Brian.
I wasn't convinced about giving up a story. I don't believe I have anything worth publishing yet, but if I ended up with something decent after critiquing I would wish I could submit it.

 

[C.E. Gee]

Hi all.

Would a magazine accept a short story that has been critiqued in whole online? Or would they be concerned that it has basically already been published?
Just asking as I have just started writing and never been critiqued. I am dubious of family and friend critiques as they may be a bit bias, not wishing to be harsh, but I really would like some good honest opinions. I figured strangers would be my best bet.

Thank you.
Ed.

I've never seen an indication that magazines pay any attention at all to critique groups such as "Critters" and the like. Also, back in the late 1990's I belonged to Critters and saw no stories (including my own!!!!) that any magazine would publish.

Also, I'm not superstitious, but I've heard from other writers of fiction that it's bad luck to disclose details concerning a work in progress.

As an interesting experiment, when people calling themselves SF writers tell you the plot details and the like about one of their works in progress, tell them "I'd like to read one of your stories. Where are you published? I'd like to get a copy." In my case said writers tell me they've yet to be published or they are "self-published."

NAMASTE

C.E. Gee aka Chuck

 

[TheDustyZebra]

As an interesting experiment, when people calling themselves SF writers tell you the plot details and the like about one of their works in progress, tell them "I'd like to read one of your stories. Where are you published? I'd like to get a copy." In my case said writers tell me they've yet to be published or they are "self-published."

Well, now, one can be a writer (and call oneself such) without having been published -- that's where all the published ones come from. It is first necessary to write before one can be published.

We do have a lot of people coming here who worry about disclosing any details of their writing for fear of having someone steal their ideas. That's generally met with a knowing chuckle, as we all have more ideas than we could possibly need already. Besides, if someone else were to take your idea and write it, it would not be your book or your story, it would be something completely different with a common idea. We prove that every month in the Challenges, when 42+ of us take a theme or a picture and write 42+ totally different stories about it.

 

[Glitch]

Participating in the challenges and getting work critiqued before submitting short stories or novels is a good idea.

Would a magazine accept a short story that has been critiqued in whole online? Or would they be concerned that it has basically already been published?

In answer to your opening question. If you post your story online where it is publicly viewable then you can no longer sell your first electronic rights. It doesn't matter if it's a blog, forum or if the story is taken down.

The magazine I run has the following clause in the author agreement.

the story has not, and no substantial part of the story has been previously published or made available for public viewing;

 

[tinkerdan]

This is an interesting response and for me it was one that was a problem::

As an interesting experiment, when people calling themselves SF writers tell you the plot details and the like about one of their works in progress, tell them "I'd like to read one of your stories. Where are you published? I'd like to get a copy." In my case said writers tell me they've yet to be published or they are "self-published."

::When I started writing seriously I was looking for beta readers and those I first asked(closer to me personally) all responded similar to this in saying that the'd love to read it after it was published. (No concept of beta reader.)

But in the case you mention perhaps it was just someone wanting affirmation about how cool their story idea is and I usually have this response.

It's not the idea that matters; it's the treatment you give it.

This was particularly important to the person; who knew I had published two books and claimed to have a great idea but no time to write it and they were wondering about ghost writers and having the idea stolen.

My response was that people aren't actively looking to steal ideas. (Incidentally this person never told me their idea.) And again I said it's the treatment and with that in mind if you give your idea to someone else to write it won't be your book even if you put your name on it and there is a likelihood that they won't even come close to your expectation unless you spend a lot of time over their shoulder.

My suggestion was for him to join a writing group and start writing and learning how to put this thing together because his story was never going to be written until he got started. He seemed happier with my advice than I expected, but I haven't heard anything about progress yet.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Well, I'm trad published and still brainstorm about ideas, and seek early beta feedback. I guess it depends on the writer - for me, it opens paths I might not have seen that I might explore.