Episode 323 - Navigating the Short Fiction Market with Authority with Angelique Fawns

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Angelique Fawns discusses NAVIGATING THE SHORT FICTION MARKET WITH AUTHORITY, including how a broken ankle and a thousand dollars in failed contest entries led to a thriving short fiction career; why the intersection of your day-job skills and your creative passion is where authority gets built; how compiling a free resource for short story markets created a recognized platform; the surprising traction that comes from letting your authentic creative identity show; and how to think about diversifying income streams through teaching, speaking, and licensing.

Angelique Fawns has a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa and almost 30 years’ experience as a commercial producer. She's the author of three guides featuring the speculative fiction market, creates a horror fiction podcast called Read Me A Nightmare, and has sold over 100 short stories. You can find her fiction in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Amazing Stories, DreamForge, and a variety of anthologies.

Episode Links

www.fawns.ca

SERIES PAGE - selling stories - ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDX1PD6

Horror lite series page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMM44YPZ  

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07ZHJGCX1  

https://www.facebook.com/amfawns

https://twitter.com/angeliquefawns

https://www.instagram.com/angeliqueiswriting/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/961450101062117/

https://angeliquemfawns.substack.com

Summary

Matty Dalrymple talks with Angelique Fawns about how writers can build authority by niching down in short fiction, using market knowledge strategically, and gradually expanding their scope as their expertise grows. The conversation focuses on practical, experience-based lessons drawn directly from Angelique’s career path, with an emphasis on paying markets, transferable skills, authenticity, and long-term sustainability for writers.

BACKGROUND AND EARLY MISSTEPS
Angelique describes how her path into short fiction began not with a strategic plan, but with circumstance. After breaking her ankle and being unable to commute to work, she finally had the time to write short stories, something she had wanted to do for years. Like many new writers, she started by searching online for submission opportunities and quickly encountered contests. In her first year, she spent about a thousand dollars entering contests and did not make a single sale or win. That experience was discouraging and led her to question whether there was a better way to approach short fiction publishing.

This early frustration became a turning point. Instead of assuming failure was inevitable, Angelique began researching markets more carefully and connecting with other writers. Through a short fiction writing group called DreamCrafters, she learned about professional and semi-professional markets that paid for fiction and did not charge submission fees. This research led to her first professional sale to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, which validated both her writing and her decision to rethink how she approached submissions.

LEARNING THE MARKET AND CREATING A RESOURCE
Angelique explains that once she understood how short fiction markets worked, she realized there was a lack of clear, focused resources for writers who wanted to avoid pay-to-submit opportunities. She began compiling lists of paying markets, organized by pay rate, submission requirements, and suitability. What started as a tool for her own use eventually became her first guide, The Guide of All Guides, which listed more than sixty-five markets in order of pay.

A key point she emphasizes is the importance of understanding market fit. Knowing that certain publications will never buy particular types of stories, such as zombie fiction or grimdark work, saves writers time, money, and emotional energy. Angelique reinforces this by interviewing editors to understand why specific stories were accepted. For example, she interviewed Janet Hutchings after selling her story “Three Calendars” to Ellery Queen, and later spoke with Jackie Sherbow after she became editor. These interviews helped demystify editorial decision-making and provided concrete guidance writers could apply to their own submissions.

NICHING DOWN AS A PATH TO AUTHORITY
Matty highlights how Angelique’s work illustrates the value of niching down. Instead of positioning herself broadly as a writer, Angelique focused on a very specific niche: short fiction markets that pay and do not charge submission fees. This narrow focus made her expertise clear and actionable. As Matty notes, when a writer defines their authority that precisely, they are competing with very few others for attention, which makes it easier to become known and trusted in that space.

Angelique agrees and explains that she never set out to brand herself as an authority. She simply created the resource she wished had existed when she was starting out. Her guiding rule became simple and firm: “We do not pay to submit.” By consistently reinforcing that principle and backing it up with practical information, she attracted an audience of writers who shared the same frustration she once had.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS FROM OTHER CAREERS
A recurring theme in the conversation is the value of transferable skills. Angelique draws a direct connection between her background in journalism and commercial production and the way she organizes short fiction markets. She compares her monthly Substack lists to a SharePoint document, where deadlines, deliverables, and key details are tracked in one place. This organizational approach helped her succeed in a demanding day job and proved equally effective in managing submissions.

Matty relates this to her own experience, noting that skills such as organization and connecting people often translate well into authority-building activities like podcasting, teaching, and writing nonfiction. Both emphasize that writers should look closely at what they already do well and consider how those skills can support their creative goals.

CONTESTS, PAYING MARKETS, AND STRATEGIC CHOICES
The discussion also addresses contests and submission fees in a nuanced way. Angelique makes clear that while she avoids pay-to-submit opportunities as a general rule, not all contests are inherently bad. Some prestigious contests offer significant exposure and career benefits that may justify a fee. The key is intentionality. Writers should understand why they are entering a contest and what they hope to gain from it, whether that is credibility, promotion, or networking.

Matty echoes this perspective, explaining that she has pursued contests selectively as a strategic investment rather than a source of income. Angelique’s lists help writers distinguish between opportunities that align with their goals and those that simply drain resources.

GENEROSITY, MARKETING, AND AUTHENTICITY
Both Matty and Angelique discuss how generosity plays a central role in building authority. Angelique notes that she is far more comfortable promoting a free resource she knows will help others than marketing herself directly. This mindset reframes marketing as service rather than self-promotion. By offering valuable information freely, she builds trust and goodwill, which in turn supports her broader platform.

Angelique also shares how interviewing other writers, particularly those running Kickstarter campaigns, allows her to help others while learning from their experiences. Instead of repeatedly asking audiences to buy something, these interviews focus on process and craft, with promotion occurring organically.

Authenticity emerges as another critical factor. Angelique admits that she long hesitated to fully embrace her identity as a horror writer because of concerns about how it might affect her journalism work. Over time, she realized that horror was the lens through which she processed the world. When she began sharing her darker stories more openly, including through Substack and LinkedIn, engagement increased rather than decreased. She cites her two-dollar sale of “Death Metal Fan” to Haunted Montreal as an example of work that resonated deeply with readers and brought her unexpected recognition.

RECOGNITION AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
A defining moment in Angelique’s journey came when she attended Superstars Writing Seminars after receiving a scholarship. To her surprise, people already recognized her name and thanked her for her blog. That experience confirmed that her work was reaching and helping others, even when she was not closely tracking metrics. Similar experiences followed at Canadian conferences such as DreadCon, When Words Collide, and Can*Con, where community feedback reinforced her growing authority.

Matty uses this to underscore how isolating authority-building work can feel, especially when feedback is delayed or invisible. Blogging, podcasting, and writing are often one-way activities, and writers may not realize their impact until someone speaks up.

EXPANDING AUTHORITY AND SUSTAINABLE INCOME
As the conversation turns toward income and sustainability, both speakers stress that authority can open doors beyond book sales. Angelique expresses interest in teaching, speaking, and researching new pathways for short fiction, including adaptations for film and television. She points out that intellectual property is in high demand and that short stories can serve as valuable source material.

Matty shares that many of her income streams have grown out of her nonfiction work rather than the books themselves. Articles, classes, and speaking engagements can all stem from a well-defined area of expertise. Both agree that writers should not be afraid to be paid for their work and that recognizing one’s value is an important step in building a sustainable creative career.

CONCLUSION
Throughout the episode, Matty Dalrymple and Angelique Fawns return to a central idea: building authority does not require trying to be everything to everyone. By starting with a narrow, well-defined niche, offering genuine value, and staying authentic, writers can establish credibility and then expand into adjacent opportunities over time. The conversation offers a practical roadmap for short fiction writers who want to build authority, avoid costly mistakes, and create a career that aligns with both their skills and passions.

Episode 306 - Finding Readers Through Serialization with JP Rindfleisch IX

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JP Rindfleisch discusses FINDING READERS THROUGH SERIALIZATION, including how writing serial fiction differs from traditional novels; tips for keeping readers engaged with serialized stories; the pros and cons of platforms; and how indie authors can use serialized novels to build community, test ideas, and strengthen their overall self-publishing strategy.

JP Rindfleisch IX writes cozy queer fantasy and dark paranormal academy. Best known for Mandrake Manor and Mosswood Apothecary, which started as serials and were later novelized, including a successful Kickstarter for Mosswood Apothecary’s special edition. They also created the Tapas Premium serial The Greatest Storm Mage Needs a Break, co-author NRDS: A Queer Paranormal Comedy Serial, and the Leah Ackerman Dark Paranormal Academy book series. JP also founded Rockford Area Writers, an 80+ member community supporting local authors in Rockford, Illinois, and is an editor over on Dialogue Doctor with Jeff Elkins.

Episode Links

https://shop.jprindfleischix.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jp_rindfleisch/

https://www.tiktok.com/@jprindfleisch

https://www.youtube.com/@jprindfleisch

Summary

​In this episode of The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with JP Rindfleisch IX about the opportunities and challenges of serializing fiction, the evolution of serialization platforms, and how authors can leverage serialization both creatively and professionally.

SERIALIZATION AS A PATHWAY INTO WRITING
JP began writing serials through a mix of serendipity and collaboration. Initially co-writing the Leah Ackerman series, his entry into serialization came when Kindle Vella launched. A colleague suggested starting a podcast about serials, which quickly led to JP co-writing a serialized project called NRDS with Jeff Elkins. This experience revealed that working chapter by chapter felt more manageable than drafting a full novel at once. Serialization gave JP confidence that story arcs could hold together while allowing flexibility to adapt as he went. The result was a writing process he now uses consistently.

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF SERIALIZATION
Matty raised the issue of Kindle Vella’s closure and whether this reflected declining reader interest. JP noted he wasn’t privy to Amazon’s internal decisions but pointed out that Vella’s bonus program provided unique financial opportunities for authors, which are now gone. He emphasized that the retirement of platforms like Vella or Radish doesn’t signal the end of serialized fiction. Instead, it reflects business shifts, as serialization remains vibrant on platforms like Wattpad, Royal Road, Substack, Patreon, and Tapas. Serialization thrives globally, particularly in Eastern markets, and continues to grow in Western markets.

BENEFITS OF SERIALIZATION
For JP, serialization offers accountability and close connection to readers. Publishing episodes in real time enables feedback that can influence story direction. For example, when readers expressed interest in the history of a town in Mosswood Apothecary, JP expanded the worldbuilding in response. Reader polls also shaped details like what kind of spirit creature would appear, while leaving the overarching arc intact. This interactive model turned serialization into both a creative driver and a form of market research, revealing what readers wanted and reinforcing his storytelling choices.

He contrasted this with novel writing, where feedback usually arrives after a complete draft. Serialization allowed him to test ideas, adapt quickly, and maintain creative momentum. For authors with strengths in ideation and input, JP suggested this approach can prevent burnout from excessive worldbuilding without storytelling payoff.

CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY AND OUTLINING
JP uses a structured yet flexible process: outlining each chapter with a sentence summary, then expanding it into beats and full drafts. He always plans for “pillars”—key moments he wants to reach—while giving himself permission to deviate from the outline. This balance allows room for reader-influenced adjustments while keeping the story anchored. He typically knows the final scene of a serial before starting and writes toward that conclusion, adjusting the path along the way.

CO-AUTHORSHIP AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Matty observed that serializing with a co-author introduces layers of collaboration—not just with the co-writer but also with readers. JP explained that his early co-authored serial NRDS didn’t yet have strong community feedback, so the challenges of merging co-author and reader input didn’t fully overlap. Later projects written solo let him navigate reader engagement more directly.

BUILDING AN AUDIENCE THROUGH SERIALIZATION
JP argued that authors can both leverage an existing audience and build a new one through serialization. Platforms like Wattpad and Tapas expose writers to readers who may not encounter their novels elsewhere. He advised caution about platform risks—Vella’s closure is a reminder of the instability of relying solely on third-party services. Still, serialization can help funnel readers into longer-term relationships on an author’s own site or subscription platform.

PLATFORM SELECTION AND STRATEGY
JP’s platform journey started with Kindle Vella for its financial potential. He later attracted the attention of Tapas, where one of his stories became a premium project. Tapas offered tiered monetization and exposure to audiences familiar with manga and anime storytelling, aligning well with his cozy queer fantasy works. He described Laterpress as another author-friendly option, enabling direct sales and subscriptions through customizable web pages.

Other platforms like Wattpad, Royal Road, Substack, and Ream also offer serialization opportunities, each with different models of monetization and control. JP emphasized that owning one’s own platform provides security but requires active marketing. Platforms like Tapas or Vella supplied built-in visibility, while independent publishing demands authors take full responsibility for promotion.

ONGOING VISIBILITY AND MARKETING
JP highlighted how platforms continue to market completed serials differently from ongoing ones. On Tapas, ongoing series benefit from episodic promotion, while finished stories are marketed through completion-based campaigns, driving continued readership. He observed that serials can provide steady income during release and long-tail discoverability afterward.

For marketing, JP once used Facebook ads for Kindle Vella but finds ad economics harder to justify on other platforms. His current focus is on social media and TikTok for promoting completed novels, with plans to direct more attention to membership platforms once he has sufficient content built up.

CONTRACTUAL CAUTIONS
When evaluating platform contracts, JP advised authors to watch for clauses around rights ownership, contract duration, and right of first refusal for future works. He stressed the importance of understanding what publishers or platforms can claim, and when rights revert to the author.

CRAFT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SERIALS
On the craft side, JP distinguished between novels and serials. While novels can have uneven chapter lengths and pacing, serials require installments to function as satisfying units. Readers expect consistency in length—his chapters typically range between 1,400 and 2,000 words—and each installment should deliver progression or a hook. Converted into novels, serials often read faster because of this rhythm.

Serialization also demands balancing immediate arcs with overarching ones. Using NRDS as an example, JP and Jeff structured it with cycles: large group scenes every few episodes, ghost-hunting missions, relationship-building moments, and overarching arcs involving children’s spirits and town politics. This cadence kept readers engaged while weaving in humor and emotional depth.

BREATHERS AND PACING
Matty noted that novels often allow for quieter chapters, but serials demand each installment feel complete. JP explained that even breather episodes must stand alone. He pointed to “filler” episodes in anime—moments of respite that can still provide value if handled well. For instance, he included a picnic scene in Mosswood Apothecary that provided calm before upcoming conflict while still entertaining readers in its weekly context.

INCOME, COMMUNITY, AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY
JP acknowledged that income was an early motivation, and Kindle Vella’s bonus program even approached his day-job salary at times. While that program no longer exists, serialization still helps him complete stories, build community, and generate content he can later novelize and sell. He sees each serialized work as intellectual property that can extend into multiple formats, from novels to potential adaptations.

FINAL ADVICE
For authors considering serialization, JP recommended adjusting mindset from writing novels to crafting installments with their own arcs and hooks. He emphasized consistency in word count, pacing, and engagement, along with openness to reader interaction. Serialization offers unique opportunities for accountability, audience building, and creative experimentation, but requires careful planning, marketing effort, and attention to contractual terms.

Overall, Matty and JP’s discussion highlighted serialization as a dynamic publishing option. It provides a way to connect with readers in real time, test ideas, and repurpose stories across formats, making it a valuable tool in an author’s publishing strategy.

Episode 285 - Writing Short with Art Taylor

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Art Taylor discusses WRITING SHORT, including common challenges faced by novelists transitioning to short stories. Art emphasizes the importance of economy, efficiency, and focus; shares practical advice on trimming word count while maintaining narrative impact, such as eliminating redundant phrases and opting for active voice; and explores how key elements—like conflict escalation and character development—must be handled differently in short stories.

Art Taylor is the Edgar Award-winning author of two short story collections—The Adventure of the Castle Thief and Other Expeditions and Indiscretions and The Boy Detective & The Summer of ’74 and Other Tales of Suspense—and of the novel in stories On the Road with Del & Louise, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. He is a professor of English at George Mason University.

Episode Links

https://www.facebook.com/ArtTaylorShortStories

https://www.instagram.com/arttaylorwriter/

https://bsky.app/profile/arttaylorwriter.bsky.social

Episode 212 - What Writers Can Learn from The First Two Pages with Art Taylor

Episode 193 - The Path to Short Story Publication with Michael Bracken

Episode 098 - Redefining Indy Success through Short Fiction with Ran Walker

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with guest Art Taylor about the intricate art of crafting short stories. Art, an Edgar Award-winning author, provides insightful guidance for writers, especially those accustomed to long-form fiction, who wish to delve into short fiction. The discussion focuses on strategies for creating compelling short stories by emphasizing economy, efficiency, and focus.

Art begins the conversation by reflecting on the common struggle many novelists face when writing short stories. He shares anecdotes from his own experiences and from those of colleagues in the writing community. Art explains that the challenge often lies in adapting to a smaller "canvas." Whereas novels allow for elaborate character development and expansive subplots, short stories demand brevity and concentration on a singular narrative arc. He also notes that while characters in short stories can be as rich as those in novels, achieving this requires a different approach. 

Delving deeper into the essence of short story craft, Art highlights three critical principles: economy, efficiency, and focus. He defines focus as maintaining a singular narrative arc without diverging into unnecessary subplots, and economy as ensuring every element in the story has a purpose. Efficiency, on the other hand, involves ensuring that every component of the story fulfills multiple functions. For instance, a piece of dialogue should not only advance the plot but also reveal character traits and enhance the story's atmosphere. 

Art also shares practical exercises to help writers condense their work. He describes a classroom exercise where students are tasked with composing a six-sentence story to outline the core elements: character, desire, action, conflict, climax, and resolution. This exercise forces writers to distill the essence and framework of their narrative, whether they're just beginning a short story or refining an existing draft.

He further discusses the concept of an "armature" in short story writing—an idea borrowed from sculpture. Just as a sculptor begins with a skeletal framework to support their creation, a writer should identify the core structure of their story. Art introduces a six-sentence breakdown of "The Speckled Band" by Arthur Conan Doyle, demonstrating an example of how to incorporate layered plots and suspense within a concise format.

Throughout the episode, Art offers several strategic trimming tips. He advises writers to escalate conflicts rather than repeat them, and to be mindful of pacing and rhythm. He suggests using dialogue to create a natural ebb and flow, providing necessary pauses for the reader to reflect. Additionally, he warns against excessive density in writing, which can exhaust the reader, and emphasizes the importance of finding a balance that keeps the reader engaged.

Art and Matty explore potential pitfalls for writers transitioning from long-form to short-form fiction. Art warns against creating vignettes—beautifully descriptive but narratively shallow—and encourages writers to ensure their stories include a complete arc with a clear conflict and resolution. He suggests writers use feedback from others to gauge where their story might lag or require more development.

In discussing the technical aspects, Art recommends writing with clarity and precision by eliminating unnecessary qualifiers and avoiding passive voice unless strategically used.

Overall, this podcast episode provides a comprehensive discussion on the nuances of short story writing. By offering detailed methodologies, illustrative examples, and helpful exercises, Matty and Art successfully guide long-form writers through the transition to mastering short fiction. Aspiring writers and seasoned authors alike can gain valuable insights into the art of distilling expansive ideas into powerful short stories.