 Short Stories: December 12, 2007 Issue [#2108] |
  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: Vivian  
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Since this is the last Short Story Newsletter issue I'll have before Christmas or Hanukkah or other holiday during this time of year, I want to devote it to writing about holidays.
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Writing Stories about the Holiday
Writing any short story requires the same components: setting (usually woven into the story), plot, characters (with three dimensional characterization), dialogue, action, conflict, climax, and resolution. Writing about a holiday also includes required details about that special time, just enough detail so that the reader understands but the work doesn't become an essay or long expository about the holiday.
Remember that short stories are called short stories for a reason: They are short in length, giving only enough details to more the plot forward.
In a holiday story, either the story takes place during the holiday time period and has little to do with the holiday itself, or the holiday has a specific place in the plot. Even if the plot doesn't directly concern the holiday, the information about it should be interesting and "fit."
Allow the reader to "see" what is happening in the story. "Show, don't tell" applies in Christmas or Hanukkah stories as much as in other writings.
The setting in any writing should be as detailed as required for the story, and not more. If where or exactly when the story takes place is important to the plot, then more detail is required. If the where or when isn't part of plot, then just enough information to give a general idea is enough.
Even if a holiday story is a happy one, with joy throughout, some kind of conflict is needed whether internal or external. Even in a happy story, a person may be stressed due to the pressure of preparing for the celebration. Conflict is necessary for a work of fiction.
Good writing is good writing, whether about or during a holiday or about any other time or place.
I have a few stories about Christmas: "Once Upon a Christmas" , "The Perfect Gift" , "Christmas Wishes" .
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Writings about the Holidays
I tried to find stories about Christmas and about Hanukkah, but few were found about Hanukkah.
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Words from Readers
Helen McNicol 
These tips you have given for a short story are great. I recently wrote a story for a competition and because of the word limit found myself editing out over 500 words. What I had left was what you have explained, in other words, how the story should have been written in the first place. Anything unnecessary I took out, and what was left was a great short story. It was a great learning curve for me.
Regards,
Helen
As many years as I have studied writing, taught writing, and have written, I'm still learning, too.
bazilbob
I find it difficult to get the balance between too much detail and not enough detail, when I was younger I learned a great deal on the too much detail, and my 'short' stories always seemed to grow beyond my control! Now however, it appears that I am over-correcting this, and have been starving my readers of any detail at all. So how do you know which descriptive details are necessary, to anchor the reader into the story with an image, and which should be cut?
Thank you for your help
If details don't add to the understanding of a character or to move the plot forward, then they probably don't belong. Anyway, that's the idea I try to use to limit details.
dejavu_BIG computerprobs
Hello Viv, another excellent newsletter, I found your comments and ideas for writing tight short stories very useful. I'd also like to thank you for including my piece 'Wet Work', in your Editor's Picks. I have already received a number of very helpful reviews.Looking forward to next months newsletter. SM Ferguson
You are most welcome. I try to use the writing of different authors on W.Com as much as possible.
StephBee 
Viv, a great newsletter. I liked how you stressed economy of words. Good example about the long, blond hair. I love your newsletters.
Cyanvia
Thank you very much for the tips! It's very useful!
Thank you, both. I try to write using the information that helps my own writing.
Strange Wulf
Someone should've told Robert Jordan to cut down on the descriptions. The man devoted whole paragraphs to describing how someone dressed, whether it was relevant to the plot or not. Got irritating when I'd stop reading for a second and have to read through the same paragraph just to find where I left off!
Forgive me if this is too bold, but perhaps the poor guy would've finished his series if he'd simply devoted more words to the plot and less to telling us what everyone wore. =P
 Interesting thought.
Anne Light
I enjoy all your newsletters for the valuable information and your clear and concise style. This one is a strong reminder to practice economy in short stories, and the clear rules show me where I stray - in most parts. Thanks!
I try to practice my own suggestions. I realize how easy it is to start inserting too much information in a short story.
Lou-Here By His Grace 
Great letter as usual. I tend to be overly descriptive when I write other than poetry, so I will try to follow your advice!
I'm glad I could help. Good luck.
April Sunday
Hi Viv! Glad to see your latest newsletter puts you back in the game re: references cited. Quotes are also valuable assets as well as sources for members. Thanks also for the sum on short story length. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
You know something, Teff, every time I use something directly from some source I cite that source. If the information comes from ideas generated in my own head as a result of reading and accumulating information in my mind over time, I don't cite. Otherwise every other sentence would be cited to me. Assimilating information from various areas, including from one's own experiences and thoughts, and then writing those ideas is not the same as stealing someone's ideas.
May you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays.
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