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I gave this downloadable presentation on No Gatekeepers: Indie Publishing Your Short Fiction at the Writer's Digest Conference 2022. Thanks to Writer's Digest for allowing presenters to share our presentations publicly!
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"An incredibly well-organized book with everything you need to know about making the most of short fiction. Recommended!"
—Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn
"I believe that career authors should be open to all of the opportunities available to them within both independent publishing and traditional publishing. I'm so impressed by Dalrymple and Lefebvre's comprehensive and authoritative list of short fiction options that writers can exploit. If you are serious about upping your short fiction game, then this is the book for you."
— J. Thorn, TheAuthorLife.com
"A fantastically informative short book for writers of all levels. An absolute must read for any author of short fiction wanting to make the best use of their stories. Whether that’s increasing readers, sales or assets. Highly recommended for new authors or seasoned pros alike."
—Sacha Black, The Rebel Author Podcast
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Are you a short fiction writer wondering what opportunities are open to you?
Are you a long-form fiction writer wondering if short fiction is worth the investment of your time?
This book will provide the answers—and the time is right.
The Guardian reported in 2018 that in the previous year “almost 50% more short story collections were sold than in the previous year. It was the best year for short stories since 2010. Booksellers are reporting a surge in popularity for the form, commentators note publishers are buying more collections and issuing them with greater care and enthusiasm.”
Kristine Kathryn Rusch has written that “The one bright spot in traditional publishing, and this bright spot isn’t just bright, it’s luminescent … is short fiction.”
Short fiction is uniquely suited to our increasingly fast-paced lives and decreasingly available free time. Readers are looking for stories they can consume during their train ride to work, while waiting to pick up the kids from soccer practice, over their lunch break—even over their coffee break.
To apply the nautical metaphor that Matty uses for the writing craft and the publishing voyage, sometimes what the reader wants is a trip on an ocean liner, but sometimes what he or she wants is a jaunt in an elegantly crafted dory.
Despite the technical environment that has provided all the tools readers need to easily consume short fiction, as well as the societal environment that makes it an appealing option, the short fiction market is far less crowded than the novel market, at least in the independent publishing space. The writer who knows what’s possible with short fiction can meet an underserved need.
We are enthusiastic about the opportunities short fiction offers the enterprising author for creating income and connecting with readers, and offer this book to help you make the most of those opportunities.
Matty Dalrymple
Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Are you a long-form fiction writer wondering if short fiction is worth the investment of your time?
This book will provide the answers—and the time is right.
The Guardian reported in 2018 that in the previous year “almost 50% more short story collections were sold than in the previous year. It was the best year for short stories since 2010. Booksellers are reporting a surge in popularity for the form, commentators note publishers are buying more collections and issuing them with greater care and enthusiasm.”
Kristine Kathryn Rusch has written that “The one bright spot in traditional publishing, and this bright spot isn’t just bright, it’s luminescent … is short fiction.”
Short fiction is uniquely suited to our increasingly fast-paced lives and decreasingly available free time. Readers are looking for stories they can consume during their train ride to work, while waiting to pick up the kids from soccer practice, over their lunch break—even over their coffee break.
To apply the nautical metaphor that Matty uses for the writing craft and the publishing voyage, sometimes what the reader wants is a trip on an ocean liner, but sometimes what he or she wants is a jaunt in an elegantly crafted dory.
Despite the technical environment that has provided all the tools readers need to easily consume short fiction, as well as the societal environment that makes it an appealing option, the short fiction market is far less crowded than the novel market, at least in the independent publishing space. The writer who knows what’s possible with short fiction can meet an underserved need.
We are enthusiastic about the opportunities short fiction offers the enterprising author for creating income and connecting with readers, and offer this book to help you make the most of those opportunities.
Matty Dalrymple
Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts and the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers; find out more at www.mattydalrymple.com. She also writes, speaks, consults, and podcasts on independent publishing as The Indy Author™; find out more at www.theindyauthor.com.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author (as Mark Leslie) of numerous horror short stories and curator / editor of horror anthologies. He writes, speaks, consults, and podcasts based on his more than a quarter-century of experience in writing, publishing, and bookselling. He established the Kobo Writing Life author program and is the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. Find out more at http://markleslie.ca/.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author (as Mark Leslie) of numerous horror short stories and curator / editor of horror anthologies. He writes, speaks, consults, and podcasts based on his more than a quarter-century of experience in writing, publishing, and bookselling. He established the Kobo Writing Life author program and is the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. Find out more at http://markleslie.ca/.
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An excellent companion resource to Taking the Short Tack is Douglas Smith's Playing the Short Game: How to Market and Sell Short Fiction, which delves into the details of traditional publishing with special emphasis on legal considerations to ensure you retain as many rights as possible to your work. For a list of other resources referenced in Taking the Short Tack, see the Resources Summary below. |
On July 28-31, 2022, I will be at the (in-person!) Writer's Digest Conference 2022 presenting two sessions:
- Building Your Platform Through Podcasting
- No Gatekeepers: Indie Publishing Your Short Fiction
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From my appearance on Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn Podcast: "Writing short fiction can be useful for licensing and self-publishing income, or using them to grow your list and connect with readers. There are many more opportunities for shorts in the digital world and in today's interview, Matty Dalrymple gives plenty of ideas that you can use in your author business." (Interview starts at 29:50)
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The Writer's Mindset Podcast - Writing and Publishing Short Stories
I always love chatting with Kristina Adams and Ellie Betts on their Writer's Mindset Podcast, this time about how writing short fiction differs from writing novel length works, ways to market short fiction, and the business of short fiction. |
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Check out my conversation with the charming Sacha Black on The Rebel Author Podcast about how you can use short fiction to create income and connect with readers. |
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I was beyond thrilled to have an article in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of Writer's Digest: "Taking the Short Tack With Short Fiction - Creator of The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple, encourages both traditionally published and self-published authors to consider short fiction as a way to explore new writing ideas, build an audience, and meaningfully connect with other writers."
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Past Talks and Appearances
September 2022
The Writer's Mindset Podcast - Writing and Publishing Short Stories
I always love chatting with Kristina Adams and Ellie Betts on their Writer's Mindset Podcast, this time about how writing short fiction differs from writing novel length works, ways to market short fiction, and the business of short fiction. Want more on short fiction? Click here!
The Writer's Mindset Podcast - Writing and Publishing Short Stories
I always love chatting with Kristina Adams and Ellie Betts on their Writer's Mindset Podcast, this time about how writing short fiction differs from writing novel length works, ways to market short fiction, and the business of short fiction. Want more on short fiction? Click here!
February 2022
Kobo Writing Life Podcast #283 –Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple
I chat with the hosts of the KWL Podcast about insights I've gained from my podcasting career, how I've found success in publishing short fiction, and why I love writing about the supernatural.
Kobo Writing Life Podcast #283 –Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple
I chat with the hosts of the KWL Podcast about insights I've gained from my podcasting career, how I've found success in publishing short fiction, and why I love writing about the supernatural.
October 23 and 24, 2021
The Craft of Short Fiction with Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Matty Dalrymple
This session is just one of a ton of great content offered for free as part of The Alliance of Independent Authors' SelfPubCon. This year's con is focused on The Writing Craft, and other speakers include Joanna Penn, Mark Dawson, Nick Stephenson, Jane Friedman, Mark Coker, Dean Wesley Smith, and Kristine Katherine Rusch.
The Craft of Short Fiction with Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Matty Dalrymple
This session is just one of a ton of great content offered for free as part of The Alliance of Independent Authors' SelfPubCon. This year's con is focused on The Writing Craft, and other speakers include Joanna Penn, Mark Dawson, Nick Stephenson, Jane Friedman, Mark Coker, Dean Wesley Smith, and Kristine Katherine Rusch.
August 26, 2021 - 7pm Central / 8pm Eastern
Talk on Short Fiction for the Bay Area Writers League
Discussion of how writers can create income and connect with readers using short fiction.
Talk on Short Fiction for the Bay Area Writers League
Discussion of how writers can create income and connect with readers using short fiction.
Monday, May 10, 2021 - 7-7:30pm Eastern
Indy Monday - Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction - Indy Anthologies
I'll be discussing the opportunities that short fiction opens to writers, and specifically the mechanics of indy anthologies, including sharing a portion of the book I co-authored with Mark Leslie Lefebvre: TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION!
Indy Monday - Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction - Indy Anthologies
I'll be discussing the opportunities that short fiction opens to writers, and specifically the mechanics of indy anthologies, including sharing a portion of the book I co-authored with Mark Leslie Lefebvre: TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION!
Monday, April 19, 2021 - 7pm Eastern
Indy Monday - Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
I'll be discussing the opportunities that short fiction opens to writers, and will be giving away a copy of the book I co-authored with Mark Leslie Lefebvre: TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION!
Indy Monday - Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
I'll be discussing the opportunities that short fiction opens to writers, and will be giving away a copy of the book I co-authored with Mark Leslie Lefebvre: TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION!
January 2021
Indie Author Lifestyle Podcast: How to Start and Grow a Podcast for Indie Authors
I chat with Angela J. Ford and Stephanie BwaBwa not only about podcasting for authors as well as opportunities for short fiction. Full show notes available here.
Indie Author Lifestyle Podcast: How to Start and Grow a Podcast for Indie Authors
I chat with Angela J. Ford and Stephanie BwaBwa not only about podcasting for authors as well as opportunities for short fiction. Full show notes available here.
Monday, July 27, 2020 - 7pm Eastern
Talk on "Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction"
Main Line / Wilmington-Chadds Ford Writers' Group
Click here for more information and for MeetUp link.
Talk on "Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction"
Main Line / Wilmington-Chadds Ford Writers' Group
Click here for more information and for MeetUp link.
Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 6:30pm Eastern
Talk on "Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction"
Chester County Libraries Virtual Program Series
Talk on "Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction"
Chester County Libraries Virtual Program Series
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 7pm Eastern
Talk on "Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction"
Brandywine Valley Writers Group via Zoom
Talk on "Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction"
Brandywine Valley Writers Group via Zoom
January 2020
Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing podcast,
Mark and I discuss our co-authored book Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing podcast,
Mark and I discuss our co-authored book Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
Short Fiction Submission Tracker
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Download this Short Fiction Submission Tracker to track of your submissions to the traditional publishing market.
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Resources Summary
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This document summarizes the resources referenced in Taking the Short Tack.
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Presentations
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2020 07 27 Main Line/Wilmington-Chadds Ford Writers' Groups: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
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2020 05 28 Chester County Library: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
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2020 05 19 Brandywine Valley Writers Group: Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction
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