Science Fiction, Odd Stories, Fantasy, and Horror here at Six Sentences?

[Fred Meyer]

I haven't seen much science fiction, odd stories, fantasy, and horror here at Six Sentences, much more literary fiction and drama than anything else. Are the former genres just more popular elsewhere? Not really the focus here? Welcome here, just haven't had many submissions? Something else?

Thanks,

Fred Meyer

[Fred Meyer]

From another discussion:

"Truth be told, I really like all of it; I am highly eclectic. I would like to see 6S be a veritable smorgasbord of all genres and forms: six sentence essays, political commentaries, reviews, sci-fi, spiritual, Christian, conservative, liberal, etc. I would love to see 6S become a huge melting pot! I am just tying to figure out if everything is welcome or if there is a particular emphasis?"

[Lorianne]

I think its safe to say that if you can do it in 6..its not only welcome here, its embraced. Many of the writers here are experimenting and some are still finding their niche, so if you write any of the genres you mention, i say bring it on! good writing is good writing, no matter the genre.

[John Wiswell]

I think you can write about anything, but the weirder it is, the thinner the responses you might get. My first six-sentence story, "Tectonic Psychology," was about the continent of Africa waking up and moving around the globe. It was rejected from the Six Sentences proper, but McEvily asked me to post it here, and got some very warm responses. Since then I've written humorous theology (The Reason), non-fiction about reading (Six-Sentence Non-Fiction about Reading Fiction, naturally), literary-esque reflective (I Can't Waltz), responses to mythology (At Last, Atlas), humor (Oh, Baby), and Fantasy (Hunting Dreams). No reason you can't write everything you want, especially at six sentences. It's not like you'll alienate your vast readership here. Yesterday I put up one about a guy arguing that we should burn books since they keep getting possessed by ghosts, flying off the shelves and attacking his kids. That story got about the average number of responses compared to the more normal types of stories that went on the site at the same time, so I'd say different things are welcome.

There is a lean on this website. As Lorianne said, many people are finding their niche, and when people are finding their niche they are more likely to write about themselves or things very directly relating to their feelings. As a graduate of many writing workshops I can atest that when that happens, the chances of attempts at Literary writing increase. But you can write silly Christian sci-fi essays in the guise of book reviews here if you want. I'm about to go take a stab at this Smoking Girl Challenge, which clearly requires more humorous responses.

[Lorianne]

all true.... but if you're looking to be read, the most direct route to that seems to be to read. its a social site & so reading & commenting on others work seems to be the ticket to making connections & getting your work read also. there are writers here who have blogs with longer works & other publications which i now regularly read. unlikely i would have found any of them or their work had i not put my own stuff here & taken the time to read and comment on theirs.

[John Wiswell]

That is most certainly and inarguably true. It's a writing community. Beyond the pragmatic desire to win readers by reading others, you ought to want to see what other people are doing. Share and share alike, and it ought to come around. I've found most people on here, even writers of prickly prose, to be quite warm when you extend yourself to them.

[Fred Meyer]

Thank you both. Time to get to work writing! Do either of you belong to a writing group here on 6S, where you help, encourage, and critique one another?

[John Wiswell]

I can't say anything about groups, outside of "friending" people, in which case they're much more likely to respond to your work since they have that official connection to you. In general it's whoever you're friends with and whoever happens to be on in the hours following whenever you post that reads and responds, and more the latter than the former. There's generally some reciprocal support as well; don't be surprised if someone you complimented pops and up comments on the most recent thing you posted. This is more social behavior than official grouping, though. Similarly when something goes out like the current Smoking Girl Challenge, to write about a particular picture of a smoking girl, there's a temporary and unofficial group that is attracted to everyone who writes one.

Encouragement will pretty much come in the Comments section of anything you write that anybody enjoys. Paroose the Comments of any of the most recent stories to see how enthusiastic most 6-goers are.

However, very little criqituing goes on in Comments. If somebody doesn't like something they're more likely to clam up and skip to the next story - who wants to hurt a stranger's feelings over six sentences, after all? You could certainly request somebody give you rounded feedback. I know if I came across one of your shorts with a note at the end to rip your guts out, I wouldn't, but I would try to give more constructive feedback about what worked and what didn't.

Hope that helps! Cheers!

[Fred Meyer]

Thanks. Good and helpful words.

So, is it acceptable to post a story to my own page here at 6S at the same time I submit it for publication?

Or, should I submit for publication, then wait for a response before I post to my page here?

I am guessing the latter, but I am not sure exactly how things work here.

Thanks,

Fred Meyer

[John Wiswell]

Everything we post here are technically on personal blogs. This is your stuff you post, Fred. You have every write to submit it somewhere else, though if that place doesn't want it to have appeared anywhere on the internet, it's obviously wise to hold back posting it here. Since this is sort of a writing community (as opposed to the main Six Sentences page, which is a destination and can have its contents compiled into a book), they shouldn't have any qualms with you parking your short-shorts here first to get responses and whatnot. Vestal Review, a magazine of short-short fiction, actually expects you to find peer feedback places and refine your material before submission. The big factor of a publication or site is its guidelines. Always go by what they say.

[Fred Meyer]

I posted a Six to my blog. It will be part of a Six Sixes. Let me know what you think.

[ROBERTA]

Fred, go for it! I'm fairly new here and have seen some diversified writings along the way. You'll find followers for sure. Enjoy..

[Carolyn]

Fred, if you are looking for a writing group, Writers Digest has a writing community online, with different forums for the different genre. You can post what you've written and get feedback by your peers. They know of Six Sentences, by the way, and even congradulated me on getting published here (6SV1) (Published is published. It's clips/credit on a resume).