I just finished a short story, but I have no idea where to sell it because I have no idea what the genre would be considered as or which market to sell it to.
I think it's dark humor...
The summary is:
A girl has planned for her suicide for over a year just about when she is going to succeed a serial killer puts a gun to her head. Because she wants to die and is not afraid he can't kill her and he won't let her kill herself.
----------
Telling someone you're a writer is like telling them you're an obsessive compulsive bipolar schizophrenic that goes to AA meetings once a week.
1,193 / 50,000
Mrt 11, 2008 - 14 15
is that supposed to be funny? Because suicide is a scary topic that is not to be joked about. It wouldn't go in humor... maybe... um... dark humor could work, but still, taking one's life is no funny buisness.
0 / 50,000
Mrt 14, 2008 - 16 51
Dark indeed, but humorous? Unless very carefully written, neither suicide nor serial killing is very funny. If it -must- be humorous, then I suppose it falls under the dark humour category... but the concept alone does not really ring of comedy.
0 / 50,000
Apr 1, 2008 - 21 51
I don't know why people get all prudish and squeemish about dark humour. it's hilarious and clever and usually is a good way to shine light on uncomfortable subject matters while still keeping a laugh in the air. Plus, it is a great way to be funny and not be childish or condescending to readers. murder and rape can be untapped chuckles and guffaws. Just don't be juvenile or shocking with it, it's not the same as bathroom humor.
65,395 / 50,000
Apr 2, 2008 - 10 05
Sounds good to me, I'd read it. I think that's a funny idea anyway.
Not sure about which magazine would publish it though - it may be better placed in with a website.
58,086 / 50,000
Mei 12, 2008 - 10 41
If the serial killer is freaked out by the girl who WANTS to die... the serial killer actually becomes sort of the victim.
Girl: Please. Do it. Do it now, kill me!
Killer: No no no! Leave me alone! It's not supposed to be like this!
That actually sounds pretty funny.
58,086 / 50,000
Mei 12, 2008 - 10 41
And the serial killer tries to commit suicide.
0 / 50,000
Mei 13, 2008 - 21 49
Yeah, Martin Amis' novel, The Information, is all about a writer who keeps failing at suicide. Actually, that's also the plotline for the movie Harold and Maude. So, throw in a murderer, especially a bumbling one, and you could have an interesting story if executed right.
No idea where to pitch it though - depends on the tone of the humor. Go to your library and take a look at Writers Market - see what literary magazines are listed there, and try to find one that wouldn't be offended by twisted humor.
58,086 / 50,000
Mei 14, 2008 - 06 59
Better Off Dead had that same kind of plotline about failed suicide attempts. Some people actually consider it a dark comedy because of the subject matter.
33,083 / 50,000
Jun 2, 2008 - 18 22
Watch 'The End'. It involves a man that, after trying to kill himself, is admitted to a mental hospital. There he meets a crazy man and asks him to kill him. When the Main character decided he wants to live, there is no stopping the lunatic. A bunch of good ways to kill oneself are in there