  Short Stories
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| This time, it's all about you. Your stories--the ones you haven't written out of fear of being too revealing, too self-centered, too boring--need to be told, and nobody can tell it like you can. |
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Welcome to a whole new year. After the holidays, and the illusions of grandiosity that come with the concept of a fresh start, already I know that resolutions are beginning to flag. Maybe I'm just projecting my own experiences, but somewhere out there are other writers who began January with a determination to make this the year they write for publication, write the best they've ever written, be the writer they dream they could be if only they'd get out of their own way.
Good intentions, good intentions. What was that my mother used to say about a paved road and hell . . . ?
Still, even if reality has struck and these first few days haven't turned you into the glowing epitome of the Greatest Writer that Ever Lived, this can still be a great year for your writing. Maybe all that extra time you were going to find for writing has yet to materialize, or the ideas are still slamming up against the harshness of a blank computer screen, but give yourself a break. Start small. Write about you.
Not that you're "small" but when the ideas aren't flowing as easily as you'd like, or you can't get your head around the big story that will change your life and the lives of everyone who reads your work, your backyard, while small in comparison to the world at large, is still rife with material. Writing about your own life is easy, and - let's face it - the most enthralling subject matter you know. Ask anyone how best to talk to other people, or get other people talking. The answer is, "ask them about themselves."
You've heard the saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction" (Thank you, Lord Byron, for that) and evidence of that abounds. Imagine you've just written a fiction story about a princess hounded by paparazzi and it ends with a car chase, a crash, and a world in tears. A fiction publisher would look at that and shake his or her head. "Lacks reader appeal. Too far-fetched. Great imagination, though. Send us another manuscript when you learn to harness that imagination of yours." Or let's say you've written a story about a peaceful man who decides to throw off the conventions of worldly success and make a point through peaceful resistance, and in so doing, changes a country, and eventually affects the entire world. Call him Ghandi. "Some dirt poor guy changes a country by . . . what? What does he do?" your publisher asks. "Sorry, bub, but that's just plain boring. Who's going to read this stuff!" Peruse the magazine rack at the checkout stand and you'll find something written about the infamous Ms. Spears. Now who could make that up, and why would they? What they all have in common, aside from the strange "unbelievability" of them is that they appeal to us because they are true. We need our truth in writing as much as we need our make believe, and short stories are no exception.
True stories have an edge that fiction stories don't have. Where fiction needs to weave a believable story (even the unbelievable stories have to have enough realism to have readers suspending disbelief for the duration of the story), nonfiction isn't bound by such constraints.
So, look to your life with intention. Go beyond reflection now, and do a full on search through the days of your life. You've got unbelievable stories (and believable stories) touching ones, painful ones, funny ones, tales that teach, tales that question; everything you need to get you writing is right there inside of you. Tap in. Write it like it is; write it with a twist; rewrite it so ends better; rewrite it so nobody you know would ever guess it's about you; fictionalize it; factionalize it. Dig deep, be superficial, do what you want. It's your life, your story. Just sit down and start writing. You don't even have to wait for the ideas to come. You don't have to come up with great endings or great beginnings. Your stories, already lived, have all those components. Weave, play, revel, reveal.
You've got limitless tales to tell. Dave Pelzer told us his stories of a painful childhood and we read them and cried with him. And then he shared his success stories with us and we cheered him on, feeling his courage inspire our own. Erma Bombeck made us laugh and nod our self-recognition with her truth. Even comedians know the best material comes from everyday living. When it comes to writing about you, the sky is NOT the limit. You're only as limited as you choose to be. Enjoy the New Year and all the possibilities it holds for you and your writing.
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Now, this is a piece a lot of us can relate to, or have at some point in our lives: it isn't just about making resolutions,but discovering beautiful realities.
Here is a story, simple in the telling, but beautiful in the life-changing, validating conclusion. I hope you'll be inspired to write the story of your "beginnings."
The truth can be ugly and frightening at times, but the sharing can be cathartic and give comfort to others who have shared similar experiences.
Or true stories can be melancholic and beautiful, as in this story of a woman who comes to terms with who she is through the loss of her mother.
Here, the story is written from the perspective of someone . . . a little out of the ordinary, in this true tale.
Even in nonfiction writing, similes and metaphors can strengthen the piece and compel the reader to stay engaged.
Near death experiences not only make for good story telling, they can inspire a sense of awe, renewal and awareness in both the writer and the reader.
No holds barred. This author states clearly (I'm paraphrasing), "This is me, my life and it is what it is. Enjoy!"
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solight
I'm having a little trouble with dialogue in two areas. The first is this:
When a character speaks is the punctuation supposed to go in the quotations? And if its the end of a sentence is there supposed to be a comma instead of a period? I've heard both.
Also, how do you tell when you have too much dialogue?
Good questions, solight. I'm glad you asked. Where to put the punctuation in quotations? First, it depends on where you are in the world. Britain is a little different from Canada or the U.S., and I don't know all the punctuation rules of other countries, though if I were to edit for publication in another country, I would definitely check out a grammar book for said country. Since this site is U.S. based, I thought I'd default to that in answering your question. In dialogue, punctuation goes inside the quotations. The basic answer is this: punctuation indicates pauses, questions, exclamations, and sentence ends and fade outs. In dialogue, these are part of what the person is saying and so belong inside the quotation marks. I love writing about this very thing, and so, with your letter as impetus, I'll feature punctuation and dialogue in my next editorial. However, there are a few exceptions, though in dialogue, these aren't usually relevant. Being Canadian, and having edited published works for Canada, the U.S., and Britain, these are the three types of editing rules I know best and will address. In the meantime, I hope my short answer (inside the quotation marks) will serve your needs.
And how much dialogue is too much dialogue? Also an excellent question not easily addressed in a response to a letter. Let's address that in an upcoming editorial, as well. Thanks for writing in.
larryp
Good thoughts on reflections as fodder for stories Kim. I appreciate your passionate zeal for the season.
kansaspoet
Larry
Thanks Larry. Passion. Zeal. Excellent words. And don't they fit well with reflection and the great writing that can come from telling our true tales? Clearly, I have a one-track mind this week. 
katherinerose
Kim-Marie, just loved your newsletter on Short Story writing. I'm going to go and find more articles by you. Thank you for the very informative newsletter.
Well, thank you, katherinerose. I'm flattered and hope you found what you were seeking. If you take a look through the Newsletter Archives and click on any of the editors' names you come upon, you'll be sure to find a lot of helpful articles hidden away in their portfolios. We love what we do, and knowing that our words make a difference is truly heartwarming. I'll be floating on that compliment for a week, at least. Thanks again! |
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Short Stories: January 09, 2008 Issue [#2165]
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