Submissions: How To Write Great Erotica

Posted on May 17, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Woman As Art

Woman As Art

Sex sales.  Sex can get you published.  Sex can earn you a few dollars.

The Old Soldier knows what he’s talking about.  Just take a look around this blog.

Writers use to submit work with lots of sex in it.  And that was all that was in it.  Ladies and gentlemen, a sex act is not a short story.  It’s just a sex act.

And since this blog is about writing flash fiction, I would send those sex acts back to the writers with a sentence or two about why the work was not for this publication: “There is no story here.”

What did I mean by story?

What is the importance of the sex?  What impact does it have on the lives of the characters having sex?  What’s the background of the characters and is there some hint as to what will happen to the characters after the sex is over?

If you want to write great erotica, keep this thought in mind: The best erotica is not about sex; it’s about relationships.

This is the Old Soldier blogging near the University of Pittsburgh.

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This flash fiction blog is about writing and brazen sexuality.

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OMG: A Magazine For The Libido And The Intellect

Posted on March 28, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Woman As Art

Woman As Art

Yes, the Old Soldier has a high opinion of this little blog.

Hello hello hello, my brother and sister readers and writers from all over the world!  This is the Old Soldier reporting from Pittsburgh.

I want to welcome you to what I believe is a unique reading experience.  Here at the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette, you will find serious writing and brazen sexuality.  You will find erotica and culture.  You will find entertainment and art.

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andy warhol/david letterman/hue hefner/lady gaga

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And at the very core of this publication, you will find flash fiction.  This online magazine is still very much of an experiment.  And I think that’s what makes it so exciting.  Come along for the ride.

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we’ve only just begun/the carpenters

Illustration from an 1885 programme

Illustration from an 1885 programme (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Patience

Outside my windows
Trees naked against the sky
I wait for the spring

*****

This is a blog about how to write flash fiction.

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Good Dialogue And The Flash Fiction Story

Posted on March 26, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Woman As Art

Woman As Art

You may have read in the pages of this blog that good dialogue is the best tool a writer has for creating character.  I believe this is true for three main reasons.

  • The character gets to speak in his or her own voice
  • Good dialogue moves the story efficiently toward resolution
  • Dialogue is action

When a character speaks in his or her own voice, the reader actually “hears” the character.  And just like in real life, whether we like to admit it or not, judgements are made about people on what they say and how they say it.  Most of the time, dialogue should stand on its own.  Don’t tell the reader how a character says something.  He said or she said or no qualifier at all is usually, I say usually, enough.

Good dialogue moves the story efficiently toward resolution by providing the reader with “necessary” information on what is going on and on the “agenda” of the speaker.

Dialogue of the deaf

Dialogue of the deaf (Photo credit: Pensive glance)

Dialogue is action plain and simply.  And it breaks up the description and exposition.

The Old Soldier hopes these tips on how to write flash fiction will help.

*****

This is a blog of serious writing and brazen sexuality.

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Flash Fiction: Literary, Mainstream And Erotica

Posted on March 25, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
English: Fashion Blogger, Marquis of Fashion f...

English: Fashion Blogger, Marquis of Fashion for Fashion Blog. http://www.fashionblogblogger.com/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s the Old Soldier here doing what bloggers do: surfing the web and working on his blog.

So far this month the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is averaging 725 pageviews every day.  That’s down from last month.  I’m really looking forward to next month.

Next month I’m going to publish the work of at least four other writers.

My goal as a blogger is to continue to offer insights into how to write flash fiction.  And to publish the best examples of flash fiction that I can find.

Explore the site.  There are over 3,200 pieces of content on the site.  You’re sure to find something of interest.

*****

This is a blog of serious writing and brazen sexuality. 

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Writers, How Do You Know You Have A Good Idea?

Posted on December 21, 2012 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Woman As Art

Woman As Art

Of course, I’m talking about a good idea for a flash fiction story. After all, this magazine is the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette.

Hello, everyone!

As of this morning, the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is averaging 1,035 views every day for December 2012. This means that there is a good chance that this publication will get more than 30,000 views this month for the first time in its four-year history of publication.

You can’t beat that with a stick! But I digress.

In my humble opinion, the element of time is the deciding factor in whether or not an idea will make for a good flash fiction short story.

You have to ask yourself, will this idea allow me to present a significant situation where the majority of the action takes place within a time frame of a few minutes or at most within a time frame of a few hours?

If the answer is yes, you should pursue the idea and see where it takes you.

If the answer is no, you may want to come up with another idea.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania skyline photograph, t...

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania skyline photograph, taken from the West End Overlook. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Remember, none of my suggestions on how to write flash fiction are meant to be hard, fast rules; but they work for me and I think they will work for you, too.

This is the Old Soldier reporting from Pittsburgh.

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Be sure to check the front page for the latest updates.

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