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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2962-.html
Short Stories: April 01, 2009 Issue [#2962]

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Short Stories


 This week:
  Edited by: Joy Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

“If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me."
William Shakespeare

“All the traditional rules of storytelling have been broken in this wonderful story of twenty pages or so. (referring to Chekhov's "The Lady with the Dog") There is no problem, no climax, no point at the end. And it is one of the greatest stories ever written."
Vladimir Nabokov

Hello, I am Joy Author Icon, your guest editor for this week. In this issue, we are going to take a look at writing the slice-of-life stories.


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Letter from the editor

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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter


         What if you strayed from the classic three-to-five-act setup of accustomed short-story plot structure and drifted into your own way of telling the story you want to tell?

          Every now and then, in search of innovation, a group of authors steer away from convention to start a new ritual. The French have done this with the anti-novel during the end of the eighteenth century when novelists freed the readers from their habitual expectations; however, what we are going to look into today is not any novel form, but the slice-of-life story, a popular short-story style that defies tradition. The French call it, tranche de vie.

          When we say slice-of-life, most people take it as an episode of actual experience, but a slice-of-life story need not be actual or personal; it can be a fictional story. Such a story may not have the conventional beginning, middle, and end, although it still needs to be an uninterrupted story with a steady flow.

          A slice-of-life story is a fleeting glance at reality and is usually character-based. At times, it sounds as if it is a cut-off from a larger story, even though it can very well stand on its own. Like a vignette, a slice-of-life story may center in the exploration of an idea, a character, or a mood, and it may be written in the stream of consciousness style.

          Slice-of-life stories are open-ended, but their appeal lies in their dramatic descriptions and the in-depth look into ordinary situations. Frequently, they are written to explore a theme, and often, lyricism and artistry abounds in their writing, but this type of stories may also be told in a straightforward and brusque manner.

          The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is one book-length slice-of-life story about the main character Esperanza Cordero who would love to have a room of her own in a house she can be proud of, but she also cannot let go of the memories of the humble home on Mango Street where she grew up.

          Other examples to slice-of-life stories are One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and A Day's Wait by Ernest Hemingway.

          If you are writing a slice-of-life story from actual experience, a few points to consider are:

          • Make a point or describe in detail what makes you feel deeply. Tell or imply why you are writing what you are writing.
          • Use the senses and employ tangible images to paint vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
          • Let the reader look closely into whatever it is you are telling and who you are.

          If you are writing a fictional piece, you might consider taking these tips into account:

          • Interesting characters and rich settings enhance this type of a story.
          • To start the story, select an interesting character, a mood, or a moment. Although this type of a story is freer than a traditional one, you’ll still need to establish a set-up, but the set-up need not be a conflict or a major problem to be solved. For example, your main character may just look at the clouds and wonder.
          • Visual elements, tangible images, and using the senses are important.
          • The character may or may not want to look too deeply into what the set-up presents. He may come across incidents and people not through his own doing but by chance or surprise, and he usually has a wait-and-see attitude about how things will develop.
          • As the story progresses, show the character’s psychological traits and let the character come into conclusions other than the ones he had in the beginning or let him make discoveries through his observations rather than taking any concrete action.
          • Throughout the story, let the other characters, if they exist, drift in or out, with or without any significance, or let them stay until the end if you wish.

          Not everything written that doesn't follow any rules can be considered a slice-of-life story. Even without plotting, a slice-of-life story has to have some meaning and has to inspire an emotion or empathy in the reader.

          Keep in mind that there are readers for every type of story, and if the traditionalists judge slice-of-life stories unfavorably, take heart. Many great writers have written slice-of-life pieces.

          Until we meet again, best wishes with all your stories. *Smile*



Editor's Picks

                    Enjoy!

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
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#1515005 by Not Available.

Le Promenade Open in new Window. (13+)
Olympic Entry for the A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Contest.
#937501 by NaNoKit Author IconMail Icon

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#1535987 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
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#1423765 by Not Available.

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This item number is not valid.
#1505884 by Not Available.

 The Old Man and the Bench Open in new Window. (E)
What goes on inside his head? What is he thinking? Who is he...
#1532257 by Avantol13 Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Courage Open in new Window. (13+)
A father of two is forced to deal with Lou Gehrig's disease.
#1108692 by iKïyå§ama Author IconMail Icon

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#1535363 by Not Available.

 Him Open in new Window. (13+)
Just a sample of my work to see if I get anything decent.
#1536054 by TheClownsPrestige Author IconMail Icon

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#1498703 by Not Available.


Contests

Beyond The Water's Edge - CLOSED Open in new Window. [ASR]
A creative essay writing challenge from The Talent Pond. CURRENTLY CLOSED!
by Jeff Author Icon

The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. [13+]
NOVEMBER: Comedy... Thanksgiving with the Family
by StephBee Author Icon

The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. [13+]
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
by Sophurky Author Icon

 
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer

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Thank you for reading our newsletters and for supplying the editors with your feedback.
At this time, instead of your e-mails in this space, here are two quizzes, a story prompt, and a writing interactive by me if you wish to write for it.

*Flower2*
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


*Flower1*
 Guidelines to Great Reviewing - The Quiz Open in new Window. [ASR]
A quiz to see how well you know the Guidelines to Great Reviewing.
by The ScaryMaster Author Icon


*Flower3*
This prompt popped up while I was looking at a Fodor's book.*Laugh*

Suppose your main character X is taking a bus trip to anywhere (you choose the destination). X waits until everyone boards the bus. Most of the passengers choose the window seats. There are several isle seats available when X gets on the bus. He chooses one of the passengers to sit next to. Who would X choose? What could happen during the trip? How would the trip end?
Start the story from any point in the trip or from the beginning. You may make it a classic type of a story or a slice-of-life one, if you wish.
When you are done, send me a link to your story for reviewing and for placement (gratis) in "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window..


*Flower4*
Pass the Write-Baton Open in new Window. [18+]
Write what you wish, do your best, and pass the baton. 1000 gps prize per addition. Enjoy!
by Joy Author Icon




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