  Short Stories
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"No one is able to enjoy such feast than the one who throws a party in his own mind." - Selma Lagerlöf
"Fiction is nothing less than the subtlest instrument for self-examination and self-display that mankind has invented yet."-John Updike
Hello, This is Joy , your guest editor. 
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This week we shall look at a few short story mistakes that we may be able to catch during the revision process.
True writing is revising and rewriting. A writer needs to revise and rewrite to discern the subtle tones inside his story and to offer them to the readers with greater depth.
Most of us are excited while writing that first draft, but when it comes to revision we may lose the enthusiasm. Yet, an experienced story teller finds great satisfaction in rewriting and reconstructing his story, because he knows his finished product can excel even his expectations.
John Irving, the author of inimitable books such as The World According to Garp, Cider House Rules, and The Fourth Hand said: "More than a half, maybe as much as two-thirds of my life as a writer is rewriting. I wouldn't say I have a talent that's special. It strikes me that I have an unusual kind of stamina."
The first rewrite should include further story refinement and structural changes than what was included in the first draft. After that, at least two revisions may be needed before the final polishing.
The biggest mistake a writer usually makes is in not being able to find out the best place or time for the story to begin. If the writer rambles on and on without concentrating on the real beginning, the story becomes a flop right at the start. This happens because the best starting point for a story is difficult to ascertain when the writer is writing the first draft. The second rewrite should give the writer a better idea on this problem.
Even if there are many ways of starting a story, the real story begins with the main character's first defining moment of conflict, which also identifies the story's premise. This moment is called the inciting incident. This moment needs to occur almost immediately or within somewhere in the first few pages of a novel. In a short story it has to come in the first few paragraphs.
Although some editors advise to start a story closer to its ending, this may not always work right for each story. Stephen King says in his book, On Writing, when a story teller starts too far down the story, a lot of looking back and flashbacks are needed, and too many of those slow down the pace of the story, cutting into the excitement.
State of mind of the character or his inner world is the second caution sign for any writer. The writer has to know the inner world of the character to its finest detail to create insight into the story. When insight happens, the reader gets involved in the story. Even if the story takes place in an exciting and constantly changing outer world, the character's reaction to it will be through his unremitting inner conflict. This continuous inner conflict will be the most important thing for the writer to master.
Missing an element of a story--such as a moral dilemma or hesitation between two possibilities--will lower the quality of the story also, even if the idea is great and the character has a powerful incentive.
Missing story points is another problem. Major story points reveal the emotional story that makes the reader identify with the character. Story points are established through the central conflict, secondary characters, and subplots. When some of those elements are missing, the story has to be missing something also.
Not building toward the climax or crowding out the story is another problem. Unless you are writing a mystery and you want to throw in a red herring, unnecessary scenes and false steps arrest the enjoyment of the reader and do not let the emotional story to make its powerful impact.
Not developing the antagonist well enough or underwriting him is another problem. A completely original main character is great but the antagonist should equal him in star quality to create a gripping story.
A good tip is, when you are blocked but want to work on the story anyhow, you might as well work on its construction. Here are a few suggestions to get a writer back on track:
1. Work on your main character. Include his needs, motivation, and subconscious. For practice, write side stories including this character. If you already did this, experiment with point of view changes. Changing the point of view may bring a fresh insight into the story.
2. Do not waver from the most important plot points for the action of the story, once they are set.
3. Improve upon key story points that reveal what the story's theme is about.
4. Develop potential plot points and think of linking them in proper places inside the story.
5. Establish the moral dilemma inside the main character. Create or enhance his flaw. Create conflict. Create solutions that are character driven. Also work on his backstory, to give depth to his character.
6. Check over again the already assembled plot points. Throw out the ones that seem to wander away. See if you can come up with things more unique and original.
When asked by an editor or a reviewer to revise or rewrite a story, a serious writer should never take it as an insult. Rewrites and revisions are for making the story stronger and accomplishing the writer's story goals. If writers remember this, their stories will never go wrong.
May all your stories shine brilliantly.  |
Now a few short stories by WC writers. Enjoy!
| |  | Paintings (E)
Memories found in unlikely places are connected through unlikely objects.
#1419598 by Ginny  |
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#1415514 by Not Available. |
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Short Stories: April 30, 2008 Issue [#2373]
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