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I first heard of StoryMash through Inna Tysoe’s article, More Online Resources for Writers. Since I enjoy writing fiction stories, I had been eager to check out the site.

StoryMash unlike Triond only publishes creative writings- short fiction stories, novels, screenplays and new creative writing forms. They pay a contributor for every chapter or story they make. The payment methods are through PayPal and check in U.S. dollars. Like any other writing site, a chapter also earns by page views.

StoryMash is a collaborative writing site so the chapters are analyzed carefully. A StoryMash user can choose a favorite chapter or story that he can write a preceding, succeeding or even a chapter version of his own.

Interestingly, StoryMash also holds periodic creative writing contests. Prize money usually won is over 500 dollars.

It was last year when I published my first story at StoryMash. I don’t have a paypal account at that time, so I only submitted a story to know how would  StoryMash react with my writing style. Being lazy to write a fresh story, I chose one from my previous favorites. After revising it a little, I immediately publish it at the site.

Submitting a story at StoryMash is like posting on a blog. You do not have to wait for its approval. Nevertheless, StoryMash has no edit or delete service.

My first story “The Campus Witch” was a disaster. I didn’t like my setting and there were errors. Of course I couldn’t fix it anymore.

My first comment – a constructive criticism as they call it had been direct. It had been a shock. I had written dozens of stories but with that remark, I found myself as an amateur.

Politely, I had accepted his suggestions. I fixed my first story and published it as a new one, “The Campus Witch- Chapter One” .

Same like in Triond and Bukisa, you have to join the community to get recognized. Through commenting, my two stories were found by other StoryMash users.

For the second time, I gained some very frank comments. I was shaken but accepted the facts once again. StoryMash became a challenge to me.

I wrote a chapter succeeding The Campus Witch- Chapter One- “The Campus Witch part 2- Chapter One” . This time, I really did my homework. Yet again….  got another constructive criticism.

I was devastated. There had been no improvement on my part. That moment, I felt really discourage. I was lost. I didn’t know what to do. My husband told me that those people were just being big shots that I should ignore them. Yet, I felt that they were just being honest.  StoryMash after all, is an environment for collaboration and constructive criticism.

I have written my third story for StoryMash. I have proof read it and studied my usual faults closely. If I am going to be crushed again (I’m referring to my feelings), I’ll work on my next story harder.

As a part time writer, I had consider creative writing as the easiest form- not much research and you only have to use your imagination. But now, after my previous experiences at StoryMash, I found writing fiction stories can be very difficult.

If you love creative writing and you are not afraid to get criticized , Story mash can be satisfying for you.