 Short Stories: June 28, 2006 Issue [#1121] |
  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: darkin
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Short stories are fiction's appetizers, short bursts of entertainment for the senses.
My name is Darkin, and I’m your host this week for the Short Story Newsletter.
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A Writing Journal
It goes without saying that a fiction writer keeps a journal. We need a place to keep all of those tidbits of information we have floating around inside our heads.
I know you all have read those writing advice books, just as I have. Keep a writing journal; they tell me, it'll help improve your writing. So I decide to try and keep one. I buy a new journal, just for my muse-inspiring exercises. And I promise myself that this time, I will faithfully write in it, every day without fail! Maybe I make it a week before a story idea grabs my by the pen and my journal gets tossed aside like yesterday's news!
I finally realized I'm the kind of writer who can't follow those advice books. At least not the way THEY want you to.
Since I first started writing, over 25 years ago, I've kept what I called an "Idea Journal". I would buy one of those composition notebooks, the kind we had to use in high school English class, and I would write my story ideas, character sketches, and writing prompts in them. Over the years they've evolved into two separate books...one for story ideas – with character sketches, plot information and anything else I might need to write my story – and one for writing prompts.
My current "Story Idea" journal, the one I carry with me, has an emerald green cover (I was so happy when they started making them with color covers!) Whenever I get an idea for a story or novel, I write the basic idea down on a blank page. It doesn't have to be a complete plot, just a few sentences about the story and maybe how I see it ending. Then, when I have the time, I answer a few questions I hope will spark my story to life.
1. Who is my main character? Even if all I have is a first name it's better than nothing:)
2. What does he/she look like? I only need a basic description right now: age, height, weight, hair/eye/skin color, build, unusual features. As I said, very basic. The rest can be filled in later.
3. What does he/she do for a living? It helps me identify with them, and maybe figure out the plot twists later, if I know what they do to survive.
4. Why is this story happening to them? Is my main character a wimp who receives the power to turn the tables on his tormentors, is she a wealthy lady with a secret past? It doesn't have to be more than a line or two, but it should give some insight to who they are.
5. Who are my secondary characters, their names and descriptions and their reasons for being in the story? It helps me to understand the main character if I see who he/she keeps as a friend and who he/she is fighting against.
6. What is the story's POV? Is your story going to be First Person (Speaker is part of the story, can observe all character but only reveal their own thoughts and feelings), Third Person (Story told by only one character who can observe), or Third Person Limited (Narrator not part of story, cannot read any character's mind), or Third Person Omniscient (narrator/author knows all and sees all)? It really does matter!
7. What is the basic plot? No need to be more than one sentence for each part. You really only need to know where you're going – getting there is all the fun!
8. What is the time and place? Is it the past, present, or future...on our planet or somewhere else?
9. What is the title? Do you have one in mind, or is this "Short Story #8"?
While this may look like a lot of work, it isn't as bad as you'd think. A good story, one that grabs you and won't let go, will give you all this and more before you ever put pen to paper. It's up to you to write it all down, before you forget. I've had some wonderful story ideas pop into my head, while driving or waiting somewhere. And I've always said, "Oh, I have to remember that when I get home." But I never remember and I lose the story, sometimes forever.
I have several of these composition notebooks. One by my bed, one in my office, one in the living room, one in my purse, and one in my van. I never know where my muse is going to pop a great idea into my head and I don't want to miss it when it comes.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin
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Here are some short stories I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!
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