RobertS
06-10-2004, 12:14 PM
To all:
I'm an accountant and an aspiring writer. I've written a rather long short story (about 11,000 words) that is as yet unpublished. (The process of trying to have a short story published in a reputable publication is a very long and trying one, as most magazines will not accept simultaneous submissions. Additionally, it is difficult for a previously unpublished author to break through into print, as magazines receive anywhere from 200 to 500 unsolicited submissions a month. The fact that a story is as of yet unpublished, does not necessarily mean it lacks merit.) As such, I'd be appreciative if anyone would like to read it. My motivation for writing the piece was not monetary. I simply would like the story told. It is told in a fantasy guise, but is loosely based upon actual events. The fantasy aspect is simply a device to make the plot tenable. Aside from the fantasy device itself, the story contains no fantastic elements. It is very much intended as a human-interest and social commentary piece.
The reason why I am posting on your board is that the subject matter of the story would, I believe, be of general interest to educators. One of the two main characters in the story is a twelve year old boy who suffers tremendously at a parochial (Catholic) school for reasons discussed within the piece. Teachers might find the piece illuminating. Additionally, one might well be able to empathize with the youngster's problems, or sympathize with them through one's child. If anyone would care to read it, I'd be both appreciative and delighted. I can virtually guarantee you that--whatever you might feel about the substance of the story--you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing. (I tried to avoid the common mistake of many highly-educated people who believe that because he or she possesses strong English skills that *ipso facto* he or she will make an excellent creative writer. The piece is not replete with polysyllabic words the average person would need a dictionary to translate.)
If anyone reads the piece and likes it, then you may have it gratis for any purpose other than submitting it to a publication as a short story, or posting it to a website (at least until it is rejected by every magazine that might conceivably be interested in publishing it!) It might make an excellent piece to convert into an original school play; though casting of the younger character might be a problem as the part would require an exceptionally talented boy to carry it. Although not without moments of humor, I believe it to be a most poignant piece.
If anyone is interested in reading my story, please feel free to contact me at:
bob@formsandsuppliesdirect.com
I can forward the piece to you by a standard MS Word file attachment to an email; or, if necessary, as plain text in the body of an email. (I would much prefer the former option for reasons of presentation.)
Also, as I have been an voracious reader since my *The Hardy Boys* days, I'd be delighted to read any unpublished pieces anyone would care to share with me. I'd be glad to return an honest critique to you as well. I do not make this offer simply as a *quid pro quo*. On the contrary, I enjoy reading tremendously, and I believe I can recognize potential talent when I see it.
Thank you.
[This message has been edited by RobertS (edited 06-10-2004).]
I'm an accountant and an aspiring writer. I've written a rather long short story (about 11,000 words) that is as yet unpublished. (The process of trying to have a short story published in a reputable publication is a very long and trying one, as most magazines will not accept simultaneous submissions. Additionally, it is difficult for a previously unpublished author to break through into print, as magazines receive anywhere from 200 to 500 unsolicited submissions a month. The fact that a story is as of yet unpublished, does not necessarily mean it lacks merit.) As such, I'd be appreciative if anyone would like to read it. My motivation for writing the piece was not monetary. I simply would like the story told. It is told in a fantasy guise, but is loosely based upon actual events. The fantasy aspect is simply a device to make the plot tenable. Aside from the fantasy device itself, the story contains no fantastic elements. It is very much intended as a human-interest and social commentary piece.
The reason why I am posting on your board is that the subject matter of the story would, I believe, be of general interest to educators. One of the two main characters in the story is a twelve year old boy who suffers tremendously at a parochial (Catholic) school for reasons discussed within the piece. Teachers might find the piece illuminating. Additionally, one might well be able to empathize with the youngster's problems, or sympathize with them through one's child. If anyone would care to read it, I'd be both appreciative and delighted. I can virtually guarantee you that--whatever you might feel about the substance of the story--you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing. (I tried to avoid the common mistake of many highly-educated people who believe that because he or she possesses strong English skills that *ipso facto* he or she will make an excellent creative writer. The piece is not replete with polysyllabic words the average person would need a dictionary to translate.)
If anyone reads the piece and likes it, then you may have it gratis for any purpose other than submitting it to a publication as a short story, or posting it to a website (at least until it is rejected by every magazine that might conceivably be interested in publishing it!) It might make an excellent piece to convert into an original school play; though casting of the younger character might be a problem as the part would require an exceptionally talented boy to carry it. Although not without moments of humor, I believe it to be a most poignant piece.
If anyone is interested in reading my story, please feel free to contact me at:
bob@formsandsuppliesdirect.com
I can forward the piece to you by a standard MS Word file attachment to an email; or, if necessary, as plain text in the body of an email. (I would much prefer the former option for reasons of presentation.)
Also, as I have been an voracious reader since my *The Hardy Boys* days, I'd be delighted to read any unpublished pieces anyone would care to share with me. I'd be glad to return an honest critique to you as well. I do not make this offer simply as a *quid pro quo*. On the contrary, I enjoy reading tremendously, and I believe I can recognize potential talent when I see it.
Thank you.
[This message has been edited by RobertS (edited 06-10-2004).]