This question this month is: When do you know your story is ready?
Well, I could go on all day. I have a list of things, some detailed and some not. There's a difference between a story being ready to go to beta readers as compared to being ready to go to my publisher or if you're self-published, ready to put it out into the world. Rather than take all day, I'll give a few big points I check for before letting anyone else read it.
Is every scene necessary or is it just filler? Does it move the story forward or impart important information?
Does the story make sense or do parts confuse the reader?
Are my characters interesting and do they have depth?
Does each chapter ending lead the reader to continue to the next?
Do I start the story where it should start?
Is my ending satisfying?
Those are only a few of the things I search the manuscript for before I consider it decent enough to take the next step.
My plans for this week. I want to finally watch Luke Cage on Netflix. I want to walk outside if the sun ever comes out again.
And to share some wisdom with the world.
Ideas should be clear and chocolate thick. Spanish Proverb
"Minds are like parachutes-- they function only when open." Sir James Dewar
Don't forget to visit more IWSG blogs and get your anthology submission ready. And in a slight change to submissions guidelines, the length of your short story can be between 3,000 and 6,000 words. Get writing!
How are you dealing with the insanity of election season? Is fall bringing you some cooler weather and some pretty leaves? Want to add to my general checklist?
