Tagline: When Dan met Laura on Halloween, they looked all wrong together. But Dan had a feeling that in this case, appearances were deceiving...
In a Nutshell: Dan notices a woman dressed as Wonder Woman has a flat on the side of the road. He's dressed as a vampire himself, but she doesn't mind when he stops to help her. They connect and make a date for dinner the next week.
Observations: I thought this was a cute, if formulaic story. I've seen man-to-the-rescue car trouble stories before many times over the years. (And I kind of wish they weren't a librarian and a teacher. Those professions seem to be over-represented in the pages of Woman's World stories, too.)
What made this one different was it was first person, present tense, and from the man's point of view. I always find it fun to temporarily inhabit a man's head, even if it's fictional. I thought this man was funny.
My favorite lines:
1. It's not the spooky atmosphere that concerns me as much as how the super heroine will react to a vampire stopping to lend a hand.
2. Still, despite her heroic appearance, this avenger of truth and justice is having a hard time budging the tire wrench.
3. "I would have looked udderly dashing in it, don't you think?"
Photo by skyfaller (cc)
16 comments:
This is off the subject of the latest story, but do you or any of your bloggers know the timeframe for notification on holiday stories? The Valentine stories had to be sent in seven months in advance, but when do they respond?
I liked this story from the hero's POV. What surprised me was two flat tire stories so close together. Remember we were all talking about that other flat story not too long ago. WW doesn't usually do that.
Tamara, you could hear any time between now and as late as after New Year's, depending on how far up the line your story goes.
I don't know about holiday stories specifically, but I've gotten a contract for a story with as little as 3-4 weeks ahead of the issue date.
Yeah, flat tire stories are fairly common. I just had to pull over last month when my car "lost power." Turned out to be an axle problem.
Hi Kate,
Regarding your response to Tamara, "I don't know about holiday stories specifically, but I've gotten a contract for a story with as little as 3-4 weeks ahead of the issue date."
That's good information. I've been sitting on a Valentine's story that I thought was too late for consideration for this upcoming Valentine's Day. May take the chance, go ahead, and send it to them.
Do you know if Woman's World would consider a story set in a European setting, or if they prefer stories set in America?
Thanks :)
Nicole
Kate, are the WW guidelines available for Nicole and others with questions about submitting their stories? As I told you before, the Bauer link you furnish on your blog does not work now.
I take it back, the link does work now, but I don't see any guidelines offered there. Do you have a link for that?
I sent my Valentine story October 29, 2011. It was returned by Patty Gaddis with a note that it was too late and a suggestion that I send it again the first of July 2012. I re-sent it July 3. So, Anonymous, you might want to hold on to that story until next July.
No, they don't post the guidelines. That site is really more tailored for potential advertisers. I'll post the guidelines.
Holiday stories need to be sent AT LEAST 3 months ahead, so keep that Valentine's story for August 2013. For now start thinking of spring stories. :)
When I was quoting the 3 month timeline, that was when I got the ACCEPTANCE. That's not in regard to when I submitted the story. Sorry about the confusion.
Tamara, are you still waiting for a decision on your Valentine's Day story? I submitted my story on July 2nd with a note on the envelope that it was for the Valentine issue. Since I haven't heard anything either, I am still hoping.
I am writing to all the "slick" (slick no more!) women's magazines telling them I won't subscribe unless they start printing short, popular fiction. We definitely need a bigger, paying market. I keep getting subscription offers from the mags for $7.12 per year. They can't give them away. One letter is considered to represent a thousand readers.
I'll definitely wait to send my Valentine's story until next year.
With that said, do you think it would be best to wait to submit a St. Patty's Day story?
Debating holding onto that one a little while longer, but would love to go ahead, and send it while I'm feeling brave :)
In regards to Mary Jo's comment: "I am writing to all the "slick" (slick no more!) women's magazines telling them I won't subscribe unless they start printing short, popular fiction. We definitely need a bigger, paying market."
That's a wonderful idea! Maybe we should all try doing that. I remember when there were more markets for short fiction. There was even a very nice magazine called "Arabella", but sadly, it seemed to come and go quickly.
Best wishes,
Tressa
I will write to some of the magazine editors with a request to fiction as well. They'll be surprised when they get submissions from all of us who made this request :)
You might even be too late for St. Pat's Day. It probably has to be sent in seven months in advance.
Yes, Mary Jo, I'm awaiting a verdict on my Valentine story, "Trading Cards".
The guidelines actually request 6 months lead time on holiday stories, but I personally allow 7 just to be on the safe side.
It certainly won't hurt to request that the women's magazines publish popular fiction again, after all these years. However, most of the magazines of yesteryear have ceased publishing. I wrote only to Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal and Redbook. They have a huge circulation,so they may not be listening. Or, they may actually be looking for a way to sustain their print mags against the electronic competition, including the web and television. Most magazines today are specialized and would be very unlikely to ever publish fiction.
Well, that's the world we live in.
Kate: I''m interested in taking one of your workshops but I cant use the email button. it goes to a friends list and since I dont have your email, I cant select you. I tried logging in and it takes my google info. linda butler
Linda, there is no button for emailing me. My email address is kate_willoughby at yahoo dot com.
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