Writing about Novels and Short Stories

Writing about novels and short stories is not easy without drawing a comparison.

Which is the better genre? Which is the more lucrative? Which is the easier one to write?

I was talking to an editor friend of mine today, and she said: "Well, they are different genres which require entirely different skills. Just because you are good at one does not automatically mean you would be good at another. The opposite, that you would suck at both, is also not true. You could be writing a brilliant novel and only an average short story, or vice versa. Very few people, like Thomas Mann , were masters of both, you know."

As to which is the more lucrative, well, that is easy. The novel. Wait, maybe the answer is changing slowly, as this article in the Guardian tells you.

There are a lot of authors who have vacillated between the two forms, or compared the two,
but essentially it has turned out that both forms demand equal amount of devotion from the author. A lot of people make it straight as a novelist, without having published any short stories at all.

I believe that the length of the story is decided by the story itself. If you have a wide, sweeping story to tell, which has a cast of hundreds, you can hardly fit it into a short story. On the other hand, if you see events not as a continuous motion but as fragments of time, short stories are your best bet.

I have loved reading novels, always. But then, there is nothing to beat a collection of short stories or an anthology when you are in the mood for a multi-flavored literary snack, is there?

Sphere: Related Content

Writing about Freelance Writing Charges

Tips to Decide Freelance Writing Rates

Writing comes easily to a good writer, but "freelance writing" is rarely about writing alone. If you are a freelance writer, you have to do more than write: find clients, send queries and samples, chase payments.

In the course of doing these "non-writing" jobs, a newbie writer's first question usually is :

BUT, HOW MUCH SHOULD I CHARGE FOR MY FREELANCE WRITING?

Here are some tips to help you decide your charges throughout your freelance writing career:

Freelance writing charges for newbies: If you have just started out writing, one of your first objectives should be to build a portfolio of writing. Write aggressively and charge less, so you have a bunch of published samples to show for your efforts. Some new writers start off with as low as 1 cent a word.

Freelance writing charges if you have a little experience: If you already have a few articles behind you, and feel confident about handling a project, hike up your rates a little. This is the stage to start looking for higher-paying markets.

Freelance writing charges online and off-line: Off-line publications usually have stricter requirements and bigger budgets than online publications. You can try and build a portfolio online before bidding for off-line projects.

Freelance writing charges depend on quality and research: If you write good English and are capable of writing articles researched in depth, you can charge more for your work. A lot of website owners are looking for uniquely written and keyword-rich content, and could not care less for quality and research. These clients are good to write for when you break into the market, but if you want to make serious money without suffering burnout, search for quality work as soon as you have some work behind you.

Freelance writing charges depend on location: If you go to a freelance writing site that is based on bidding like Guru.com and Getafreelancer.com then you have to settle for low pay. Most writers on such sites are from countries like India where the low cost of living allows them to quote below par rates for their work.

Freelance writing charges depends on ownership of rights: If you are willing to give up the ownership to your writing completely, you can charge more. If you are determined to keep the article rights to yourself so as to be able to use it again, you have to drop your prices a little.

Freelance writing charges may vary according to deadline: If your client gives you a short deadline you are within your rights to charge a premium for the prompt service.

Freelance writing charges change according to client relationship: If a client gives you regular work, and pays on time, you should give him/her a break on the price. Makes long-term business sense. If the client gives you a byline in a big magazine when you are a relative beginner, it is a very good thing for your portfolio. Grab that irrespective of the remuneration.

It is very hard to set a bar on rates to be charged. But a beginner freelance writer online can hope to make make 1-3 cents a word, an experienced one can make anything from 5-20 cents. A freelancer for magazines would usually get 50 cents to 2 usd per word. Rates could also be lumpsome for the project, on a per page basis or at an hourly rate.

The rates for freelance writing do not follow any hard and fast rule. It is a world where you have to use horse sense to get yourself the best rates possible, keep abreast of the rates going in the market, and keep searching for better-paying clients.

The winning mantras for freelance writing: know your skills and don't sell yourself short.

Sphere: Related Content

Writing about Reading Across Genres

I am not writing much right now, other than work and poems on my other blog, obviously. But I am reading like only a grumpy old bookworm can. I am losing my temper when I am denied my reading.

I currently have a thriller, a collection of short stories, a fantasy, a scientific journal, a biography, an epic poem( ...err, is it really that many? I checked, and it is!) and God knows what else. I seem to be back in the days before a graduation in English literature robbed me of the pleasure of reading. I fit in a lovely short story reading in the middle of writing this post too!

Reading books with different voices, locales, ideas and themes really helps....it kind of goes into a compost heap somewhere. When I am writing some of my own stuff, strange connections between diverse bits of info get wired together in my mind, and surprise me. Words of wisdom don't hurt either.

I love being surprised by my own writing, it usually means I am doing well. For now, my writing seems to have taken a short hiatus. I am still content, reading some really convoluted short stories by Updike on the nature of love, seems to keep me from fretting over my temporary writer's block!

Sphere: Related Content