Sometime in the next few weeks I'm going to self publish a collection of my flash fiction stories under the title MicroWeird: Tiny Tales of the Strange. The stories are already collected and edited, though I'll give them one more read through, and I've got an idea for the cover but need to work on that a bit more. Xavier is closed for Easter Break during the week of March 25-29, so the final touches will probably get done then.
The plans are for 16 stories, with a total word count of around 10,000. Not counting the "about the stories" section, which I always include, the stories will average about 600 words a piece. Quite a few are shorter, and a couple are less than fifty words long. Only three of these have been published before, and only one of those three in anything folks reading this blog may have seen. The price will be 99 cents.
Most of you know I tend be varied in what I write, but this collection has some stories in it that are weird even by my relaxed standards of the strange. Although most of the stories have been written over the past few years with a "Microweird" kind of publication in mind, two of the tales were written during the years before I ever published anything at all. Two others were written and submitted time and again without getting accepted. One of those went to seventeen places without a taker. You might think I'd take that as a sign that it's not very good, but the problems with that are: 1) I think the story is really good myself, and 2) readers I've shown the story to love it. I just think most of the editors I've sent it to have had no idea what to do with it.
Of course, most of these tales will have a "twist ending." In fact, it was working on the newer stories in this collection that led to Fiction Techniques #3: The Twist Ending, which is one of the writing tip articles I recently put up on Amazon.
So, COMING SOON: Just when you thought Gramlich couldn't get any stranger. MicroWeird!
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There was never any doubt. Thanks for sharing the output of your creative imagination.
ReplyDeleteLet me just say, I LOVE this idea. I am inspired. I'm thinking collections of flash fiction in other genres now. Looking forward to this one, Charles. :)
ReplyDeleteI love twist endings, especiallly when I know they are coming and can't figure them out until the end. I Am looking forward to this, and good luck!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a twisted good read! Let us know when it's out.
ReplyDeleteAnd you really need that break, don't you?
I'd go with the title Tales From the Razored Zen.
ReplyDeleteTwist ending are something i love!
ReplyDeleteRon, thankee for the kind comments.
ReplyDeleteTom, cool!
Sean, I'm pretty sure most will come as pretty big surprises, although one seems a bit too predictable to me. I guess we'll see.
Alex, will do. And yes, I need some time to sit and focus on getting some projects 'finished.'
Bernard, a good suggestion. Hum, I will consider it.
Deka, me too!
Looking forward to it. I love great flash fiction.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is one of the great things about self publishing: It would be quite difficult (though not necessarily impossible) to place such a work with a traditional publisher.
can't wait!
ReplyDeleteTy, absolutely. I mixed a little bit of flash fiction in with my three anthos from Borgo but it had to be in small doses.
ReplyDeleteLaughinwolf, thankee.
Cool! I will look forward to it. Weird as in good weird, I take it?
ReplyDeletesounds good, and good luck with selling!
ReplyDeletePaul, the Struggling writer has recently posted about flash fiction.
writing short is not that easy as it may seem. sometimes it is way harder.
I like that title! And I like the idea of micro-stories. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteCharles, a short story collection with word counts of 50 to 600 definitely appeals to me. It's a very good concept. I look forward to the release of "MicroWeird: Tiny Tales of the Strange".
ReplyDeleteRiot kitty, well not kinky weird. More like surreal, with some humor.
ReplyDeleteSzelsofa, it definitely can be tough. Every word counts to the maximum.
Sage, thankee, man.
Prashant, in a couple more weeks, I hope!
Microweird. Good title. Be looking forward to this one.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it, Charles.
ReplyDeleteRandy, thankee, man.
ReplyDeletePatti, I appreciate that.
Charles this sounds great. Testament to your versatility.
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ReplyDeletesounds like a cool collection. the shorter the story, the more it's likely to grab my attention.
ReplyDeleteI think all writing and no play makes...Jack?
ReplyDeleteBut writing too many tales with a twist has succeeded in twisting me a bit.
I am sarting to distribute O Henry chocolate bar wrappers as calling cards. :)
You, weird? Perish the thought.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it.
Richard, thanks, man.
ReplyDeleteGreg, I'm trying to cover all the bases!
Ivan, I'd like an O'Henry chocolate bar. I believe.
G.B., I know. It was a real stretch for me. :)
Heh,
ReplyDeleteO'Henry. Right.
Happy St. Paddys' Day
Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteIvan, indeed.
ReplyDeleteX. Dell, thanks, man.
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ReplyDeleteLove the title ~ smashing ~!
ReplyDeleteI really love this title! MicroWeird!
ReplyDeleteBring it on! I'm very much looking forward to reading it.
Cris, I'm glad someone besides myself was able to help you. :)
ReplyDeleteErik, thanks, man!
Vesper, I appreciate that!
Charles-the name 'Microweird' is totally cool! Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it!
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