But today, another little project of mine has hit a milestone. My scifi short story - The Bones of the Sea - has been up on Smashwords for exactly a year now. The whole thing was an experiment. For one I haven't written short stories since I was at school, so this was a real challenge for me. Having to write super short pieces for my University course really tested me and pushed me into analysing the words I used and how I used them.
It also made for an interesting self-publishing project as I was researching going indie at the time. Bones gave me a short piece to try out the whole formatting, uploading and, to a very small degree, the marketing side of publishing. I'd definitely recommend trying out a few shorts in the process if you're aspiring to be an indie author - it's easier to correct any mistakes! I also think it helps with marketing your works in general. The feeback I got with Bones and the results in terms of downloads and having more than one title available are all good in terms of self-promotion. So even though to me, Keir officially makes me an author, Bones was out there first. :)
The place gave her the creeps. Myasi could admit that to herself now, as she made her third and final survey of the site. The morbid name gifted to the strange construction by early explorers couldn’t have seemed more apt as she sat in the flattened base and gazed up into the lurid green glow of the water. Above her head the twelve skeletal metallic legs of the structure curved up, round and then slightly inward, like a dead spider hunched in upon itself. Or a clawed hand clutching at nothing in its final fatal spasm.
© 2009-2012 Copyright Philippa J. Green All Rights Reserved.
Review by: Laurie Green on Jan. 23, 2012 :
What if...
This well-written story takes you on a journey of discovery, then presents a quandary and a gut-punch outcome that feels all too real. A deft examination of the dark side of human nature, and human-made complications.
If you love a well-crafted Sci-Fi short story, I highly recommend this read.
Review by: Vanessa Finaughty on Jan. 14, 2012 :
This story was rather sad, but mostly because of the sorry truth - that humans tend to destroy anything that's inconvenient to them.
Very well written and entertaining, this story will leave you thinking long after you've read it. A definite must-read for all deep-thinking sci-fi lovers.
Review by: Laurie Green on Jan. 23, 2012 :
What if...
This well-written story takes you on a journey of discovery, then presents a quandary and a gut-punch outcome that feels all too real. A deft examination of the dark side of human nature, and human-made complications.
If you love a well-crafted Sci-Fi short story, I highly recommend this read.
Review by: Vanessa Finaughty on Jan. 14, 2012 :
This story was rather sad, but mostly because of the sorry truth - that humans tend to destroy anything that's inconvenient to them.
Very well written and entertaining, this story will leave you thinking long after you've read it. A definite must-read for all deep-thinking sci-fi lovers.
Review by: Unicorn Productions on May 23, 2011 :
A very captivating sci-fi tale on how humans tend to destroy everything in their wake. If you had to face the protagonist's situation, what would YOU do?
Review by: David Clayton on May. 17, 2011 :
Excellent quick read , beautifully descriptive and complex for such a short story.
A very captivating sci-fi tale on how humans tend to destroy everything in their wake. If you had to face the protagonist's situation, what would YOU do?
Review by: David Clayton on May. 17, 2011 :
Excellent quick read , beautifully descriptive and complex for such a short story.
Review by: Laurel Kriegler on May. 16, 2011 :
A quick read, and very well-written, I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. In it, we get a brief glimpse of Ulto Marinos, a mysterious world on which stranger things exist - namely, the Bones of the Sea. We discover, along with Myasi, the hidden secrets of this strange structure - but will they actually be unlocked?
It is refreshing to meet a new talent in the scifi industry, and I look forward to seeing what other ideas Pippa Jay will bring to the world of reading.
A quick read, and very well-written, I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. In it, we get a brief glimpse of Ulto Marinos, a mysterious world on which stranger things exist - namely, the Bones of the Sea. We discover, along with Myasi, the hidden secrets of this strange structure - but will they actually be unlocked?
It is refreshing to meet a new talent in the scifi industry, and I look forward to seeing what other ideas Pippa Jay will bring to the world of reading.
Review by: Lauri J Owen on May. 16, 2011 :
Like the slow beat of a drum, this story pulls you onward, piece by piece, until the final words blossom on your page. I can't think of more to say than if you love skillfully written science fiction, you need to read this novella.
Like the slow beat of a drum, this story pulls you onward, piece by piece, until the final words blossom on your page. I can't think of more to say than if you love skillfully written science fiction, you need to read this novella.
Goodreads reviews -
I'm more into fantasy than sci-fi but I think Pippa Jay could change all that. This was a lovely well written people and situation based sci-fi shortie (rather than the tech heavy stuff that scares me away) and it was completely free from Smashwords by an author I shall be watching out for. If you fancy a break from the norm give it a whirl.
Thanks for sharing your self-pub experience. I have considered doing something similar, just to see what it is all about. I want to try traditional publishing too, but I'm curious. I do have a difficult time thinking short too though. I may have to practice. :)
ReplyDeleteI always said I couldn't write short stories, and then I came up with Bones. I think it's good to experiment, and to test out all the options, especially now when there ARE so many options.
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