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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3032-Its-All-About-the-Story.html
Short Stories: May 06, 2009 Issue [#3032]

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Short Stories


 This week: It's All About the Story
  Edited by: Shannon 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

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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon Author IconMail Icon and I'm your editor this week.


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Letter from the editor

It's All About the Story


I was reading The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris at work the other day during a short-lived period of downtime (I am a registered nurse and I work 7p-7a).

"Ew!" one of the other nurses said. "How can you read that? It's so twisted!"

This comment started a discussion about what makes a good story. We talked about movies and books, documentaries and magazines. Before I knew it there were six people standing around listening, wanting to add their two cents. One of the nurse's aides mentioned how much she liked Saw, and apparently she's not the only one because Saw was a huge box-office smash (as were all the sequels). To each his own, I suppose.

I'll take a great story over gratuitous sex and violence any day. Of course we all know that The Silence of the Lambs has violence in it, but if you took the violence out you'd still have a great story. Can the same be said for Saw?

It's all about the story. Give your readers something to sink their teeth into--tight prose that moves the story forward, a story that keeps them turning the pages and characters they'll remember ten years from now (does the name Hannibal Lecter ring any bells?). It's been twenty-one years since The Silence of the Lambs was published, and people still talk about what a great story it is. Do you think people will still be talking about Saw twenty-one years from now?

Fuhgeddaboudit!


You must not come lightly to the blank page. ~Stephen King



Editor's Picks

A couple of these featured items are essays rather than short stories, but since we don't have an essays newsletter I didn't think you'd mind. Besides, they're worth the read.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1274635 by Not Available.


Why The Dogwood Doesn't Grow Straight. Open in new Window. (E)
The author remembers and presents a story told by his father.
#1237226 by Stuart Reb Donald Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
The Photograph of Carolina Stump Open in new Window. (18+)
A writer finds an old photograph and discovers a horrifying secret...
#1149464 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


Death of a hero Open in new Window. (13+)
Winner of WDC inspirational quote contest
#1416431 by Hyperiongate Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
In a Moment's Breath ... Open in new Window. (13+)
A mother suffers guilt and gut-wrenching grief at the loss of her child.1st in Short Shots
#1542720 by Mara ♣ McBain Author IconMail Icon



 
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Ask & Answer

This is my first Short Stories newsletter, so I don't have any feedback to share with you. If you have any comments, suggestions or stories you'd like to see featured next time, please feel free to email them to me. I'd love to read them!

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