Article

Exclusively Written For In-Scribe by the very talented Arnold Ingham who has been awarded:

First Prize in the Readers' Vote - Scribble Magazine (Summer 2011)

First Prize in the Readers' Vote - Scribble Magazine (Summer 2010)

First Prize in the Legend Writing Short Story Competition (2010).

In-Scribe is based in Cambridge, England and has an International clientele.

You can contact Tania on:

T: 01954 232 533

T: 00 44 1954 232 533 (From Overseas)

M: 0751 057 6509

Many Congratulations to Arnold !!!!

The Joys Of Being A Published Short Story Writer

Arnold Ingham

After many hours spent fine tuning my work of art (as I liked to think of it), I carefully inserted my first short story into a brown envelope. The question in my mind, when I shoved the envelope into the postbox, was whether when it was accepted (note when, not if! - naivety ruled OK, then!), would I shout about my published short story from the rooftops, or be blasé and only mention my success when asked? (Somehow I already knew the answer to that one!)

In the end I didn’t have long to ponder the question since my epic came back all too quickly, with an accompanying note telling me that the story ‘relied too heavily on its plot and didn’t allow the characters a chance to spring to life’.

Anger, (how could my masterpiece be rejected?!) was quickly followed by despondency as the reality check allowed self-doubts to creep in… I was a failure... how had I even dared to think that what I had written was worth publishing?

Well, I had dared, and I still believed that writing was for me. I dusted myself down, re-read the story, realised the editor was right (not surprisingly!), and applied what she’d said to the next story I submitted. That was returned, (as did the despondency!) but, undeterred, I carried on sending off stories.

At the same time I sought help and advice from Tania and other wordsmiths, and consequently gained a much better understanding of what the craft of writing short stories is all about. (There was definitely more to it than I had first imagined!)

Looking back now I realise that, like a trainee gardener has to learn what different weeds look like and how they should be tackled, I too was learning my trade. In fact gardening and writing have another similarity as with both of them you never stop learning.

My persistence paid dividends and eventually THE DAY came. I opened an email and read the magic words: ‘I’ve enjoyed reading your story and would like to publish it.’ Yes!! I’d cracked it at last, editors would soon be clamouring for my stories! (Or so I thought! – naivety still ruled OK!)

Did I broadcast my success at every opportunity? Of course! (However when I bought the magazine containing my story, I did manage to resist telling the lady on the till in my local WH Smith that I had a story in it!)

Sadly, the feeling of walking on air only lasted a few days - until another brown envelope came through the letter box – another story returned.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have had other successes. I’ve also had further rejections! I admit to still feeling disappointed each time I get the thumbs down, but console myself with the thought that writing the story gave me pleasure (and a sense of achievement), even if it has been denied the chance of giving pleasure to others!

I’ve also become philosophical about the disappointments, having realised that getting stories returned is all part of the game, and can be for reasons which have nothing to do with the quality of the story. (For example: a story returned where the editor had just accepted another story with a similar theme).

More importantly though, I also look forward to getting more (many more, hopefully!) letters or emails telling me that one of my stories has been accepted, and I know I will continue to get (almost) as big a thrill with these acceptances as I did with the first.

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