  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: Adriana Noir  
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Hi there! I’m Adriana Noir and I’m filling in as a guest editor this week! For my first newsletter, I wanted to give you some food for thought.
It’s been said that short stories are one of the most difficult areas of expertise to tackle. Word counts and restrictions bind a writer, and force them to pack in as much as they can within a limited amount of space. One of the most important elements of this is the plot. Almost every story written conveys a message of some sort. What message do you want to give your readers and how can you deliver it?
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Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it. ~Hannah Arendt
In shorter works, blunt isn’t always best. Writing a short story is often a case of contradiction. Every word has to count and we strive to find the powerful ones that will strike with the most impact. But, in order to keep the reader’s interest, the message must be delivered in a much more subtle way. Some of the best stories I’ve read have left me thinking at the end. The message of the story can be gradually unveiled throughout, or delivered in a final blow at the end, but the tale’s meaning was heard. If you reveal everything in the first paragraph, the reader has little reason to read on.
Some great ways to do this are through:
Characters: Their thoughts, emotions, and actions can help lead the reader through the journey. Drop subtle clues throughout the story and show the reader what is making them tick. Utilize these tools, make the reader feel the pain, fear, worry, joy, anger…whatever it is that is driving your characters forward. The more you play on their emotions, the deeper of a connection you will form. Why, how, and what can be answered in gradual steps.
External situations: They influence us all. Things like poverty, anguish, fear, elation, or captivity have an impact on the character and will have your readers wanting to know how they got there. It can also serve as bait. Curious minds will want to see how the story is affected by these situations and how/if the characters can get out of them. Throwing in an unexpected turn can definitely spark renewed interest in an audience.
Internal conflict: Think of this as the devil on one shoulder and the angel on another. Internal battles and raging conflict help provide interesting stimulation and are a great way to deliver your message. Your readers can watch your character’s point of view change, and in turn, theirs might as well. That brawling bully on the playground can have a change of heart, but the important thing is to guide your readers through the journey.
Answering the how, why, and what in a story is important. It takes a certain amount of skill and effort to be able to do these things in a subtle, guiding manner that keep the reader’s interest. Fables are probably the best example of how to deliver a message without striking it into anyone’s head with a literary hammer. By the time we read that little nugget of knowledge at the end, the point has already been made. Not through mere words, but through the art of story telling.
Writing is both mask and unveiling. ~E.B. White
Best wishes,
Adriana
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This one still haunts me. It’s brimming with mystery, dark atmosphere, and characters that stick with you. Savannah is sure to touch even the staunchest of hearts.
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This story reminded me of The Green Mile in ways, but unique on to the author. An intense, emotional read, this breathtaking tale will leave you with your jaw hanging!
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Ruthy is one of the first items I ever awarded. This touching story had me bawling like a baby and still lingers in my memory. It’s a powerful journey of a mother and daughter with a memorable twist.
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After reading this story, you will never look at the nursery rhyme the same way again! A nail-biting tale that takes the reader from an 1800's serial killer's POV, to a gripping account of how his crimes are unearthed two centuries later. Both emotional and terrifying, this story holds a little something for everyone.
An emotional and poignant tale of young love and the desperate measures one is willing to endure to keep it. I fell in love with this story the moment I read it.
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A wonderful story with both a message and a twist. All is not what it seems at first and sometimes, the past has a way of returning to haunt us.
Another moving story with a memorable twist and a message nestled within. It is a great piece of writing that’s stuck with me for quite a while.
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| As a guest editor, I don't have any feedback to share, but I will leave you with a question. When reading short stories that deliver a message or "lesson" what is your favorite method of delivery? Do you like subtle hints that make you think or something more straightforward, like a fable? |
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Short Stories: July 01, 2009 Issue [#3140]
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