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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~ |
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Level Up
I was working on a scene in my writing this week and felt some of my dialog really needed a pep talk, while searching around for advice, I came across an article titled "10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Dialogue" by Ali Luke after advice from Lorna Fergusson. I thought the ten ways were great advice and wanted to pass them on to you in copied paraphrase, please read the article for more detail:
#1: Watch Your Dialogue Tags - Normally, the word “said” will do just fine.
#2: Ground Your Dialogue in a Scene - Every conversation that takes place needs to be somewhere.
#3: Use Dialect and Accents with Caution - If you have a Scottish character, they don’t need to sound like a Burns poem. (I  'd.)
#4: Don’t Let One Person Speak for Too Long - If your characters have long blocks of speech, break those up.
#5: Realistic Doesn’t Mean Real - Dialogue is supposed to give an impression of real speech; it’s not supposed to be a transcript of how we really talk.
#6: Give Your Characters Distinct Speech Patterns - One good trick is to take just the lines of dialogue in your short story or novel – cut out the action and dialogue tags – and see whether you can work out who said what.
#7: Don’t Put Exposition in the Dialogue - Avoid having characters tell one another things that they logically should already know.
#8: Use Silence as Well as Words - Sometimes, what’s not said is more powerful than what is said.
#9: Get in Late, Leave Early - You don’t have to begin the conversation at the first word and end at the last.
#10: Punctuate Your Dialogue Correctly - You want your story or novel to be as professional as possible.
We all hear these things from time to time, it's great advice. It's up to you if you want to take the time and really dig into your work and edit it to a professional level. I think you always owe it to your readers to give them the best you can create. Whether you're just starting out or have many works published, giving your reader the best you can shows you care, and that's one more step toward connecting with them and have them as loyal readers. Write and edit on!
This month's question: What advice from above do you need to work on? What's your weakness?
Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback! |
| | | Mia (13+)
Sometimes an event can punch a hole to show the darkness beyond. Short Shots March 2019
#2186737 by Kotaro  |
Excerpt: I was fifteen when Dad carried her in from the sea on that stormy evening.
The house was creaking with the whistling wind when there was a pounding on the door. Mom jumped screaming and dropped the dish she was drying. It shattered on the floor adding to the cacophony.
24 hours to write a story for the daily prompt. Big prizes!
Excerpt: “Oh, that smell!” Margaret placed her hand over her nose and mouth, “I can’t stand it any longer, it’s getting worse.”
“Is it a dead rat?” I asked her, whilst sniffing the breeze.
Excerpt: Reginald was a vampire. He didn't want to be a vampire; in fact, he was downright miserable. He couldn't stand the sight, smell or taste of blood, so he barely consumed enough of it to survive. He was, quite possibly, the only anorexic vampire on the planet.
Excerpt: Dominique glanced anxiously at the failing light, even now pummeled by fast approaching clouds. She put a hand on April's shoulder. April was staring into the dusty gloom of the warehouse, completely entranced.
"It's getting dark," Dominique said. "We should go home."
Excerpt: Reaching into my pocket once more to finger the small gold trinket, I contemplated how this trip might have been little more than a fool's errand. Had the shop keeper decided not to buy my offering, hiding from me until I went away?
Excerpt: Have you ever dated a witch? Maybe had a fling or two with a fetching warlock? If so, then there is no need to read any further, this tale will have no surprises in store for one who explores the dark corners of the universe, prodding at the fabric of reality.
Excerpt: Our cousins had the perfect place to hide, the only problem was we had been told over and over not to play there. I didn’t understand what the big deal was, it was a great place to hide! The Corn Bin was used to store corn. It was in the back part of the yard, away from everything and up on blocks to keep out the animals. It kept out somethings, but as luck would have it, NOT everything!
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This month's question: What advice from above do you need to work on? What's your weakness?
Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
Last month's "Short Stories Newsletter (October 14, 2020)" question: Has music inspired something in your writing?
dogpack saving 4premium  : Distilling my writing can be some planning, going by the seat of my pants, mixed with lots of imagination along the way, twists and turns depending on where characters and the story is headed. Following the flow and editing what I already have as I write helps keep things on track. I pitch and toss spices as they present themselves and if necessary take one or two out that don't move the story forward. "What if "usually starts everything and ideas flow forth which eventually becomes a story. Fear and uncertainty are killers. I allow my imagination to freely create ideas making notes about what I can use later and using what works now in my story.
brom21 : I found your last paragraph quite encouraging. The other stuff had value too, but saying that a piece of work that is not so great may have intrinsic worth all on its own, goes a long way whenever I doubt myself. Thanks so much!
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Short Stories: November 11, 2020 Issue [#10465]
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