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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5235-Tweet.html
Short Stories: August 29, 2012 Issue [#5235]

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Short Stories


 This week: Tweet!
  Edited by: Leger~ Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

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

The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.

This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~ Author Icon


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor


Tweet!


Stories told around the fire could have been an old source of inspiration for new stories, but in the modern world, social media is king. While names need to be changed to protect the innocent (unless it's an autobiography), story ideas can emerge from media sources like Facebook and Twitter. Instead of spending time reposting the latest joke (ugh!), think about turning some of the anecdotes from friends into an inspiration source.

Travel might not be a possibility for you, but friends who post pictures and messages about far-off places can turn your idea blender on high. A friend of a friend posted a picture on his Facebook page, of a state trooper texting on his phone while driving down the Interstate. While many people posted outrage at the officer, I started thinking about what the consequences of that action might be. What if he crashed? What if he killed someone? What if another driver got it on video?

"What if?" is always a good source of ideas for me and probably a lot of other writers. Where the "what if" goes will probably be entirely different from author to author, but that is the beautiful thing about imagination, we all travel different roads. If all stories turned out the same, there would be no reason for books; we would know the ending.

If you're not into social media, I'll suggest a second source, image sites. I've written newsletters about image inspiration before but along with travel sites and Google, sites like Tumblr, Getty Images and Corbis Images are fun idea sources. Take a look around! You might even find a new image for your desktop.

This month's question: Has social media inspired a story in your portfolio? Do you find it too distracting?
Send in your reply at the bottom of this page! *Down*


Editor's Picks


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1885993 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Sitting down at her computer, Dee yawned, trying to see the screen. Taking a long sip of her coffee, she blinked a few times, clearing her vision, the typed in her password, logging into Facebook. The top of the screen said she had twenty-seven messages.

 DISTURBING MESSAGES Open in new Window. (E)
A woman discovers via Facebook that a nephew is dead; but is he? (short story contest)
#1818018 by Raechelle Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: She was staring at a distraught photo of Kate with a blazing inferno in the background and the status update said “Everything’s gone, Brian’s dead”.

 Takes Three To Tango Open in new Window. (18+)
Something's got to give before the dancing ends
#1697942 by Madridista Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: It was only the second time in two years that their holidays – Chris went to Egerton and Louisa to Nairobi University – had coincided. But it had taken most of the first holiday for Chris to make her feel obliged to change her Facebook status to “in a relationship”.

Silence Unconquerable Open in new Window. (E)
A 140 character Western Duel for 140 Word Twitterpad Contest
#1793346 by GalileoSimpson Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Silence reigns – king of the desolate plain.

 Firetruck Open in new Window. (13+)
Twitter sized fiction.
#1558657 by @VeryShortStory Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: "Firetruck!" yelled 5 year old Billy.

 The Dangers of Texting and Driving Open in new Window. (18+)
A short story involving a cellphone
#1852448 by Night Wolfe Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: He couldn’t figure out why she would be texting him so late at night, especially when she knew he was out of town on a business trip.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1731469 by Not Available.

Excerpt: My name is Boris Charkov, and I’ve been driving the same bus route for fifteen years now, longer than the buses I drive. According to a friend of mine, my appearance is ‘Russian-like’. Since I began the route, wrinkles have formed, skin has sagged, and clumps of white hair have sprouted all over my face and head. My boss often asks me if I’d like to ‘mix it up a little bit’ by driving a new route, but I don’t like to ‘mix it up’. I’ve become so comfortable with my route I don’t want to try another. I’d have to learn a new route, and I don’t know how well I’d learn a new one. Truth is, I’m scared.

 Fill 'Er Up Open in new Window. (18+)
So, you think gas was high a few years ago.
#756394 by JonBBell Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: We exit at Rahway to try out my new campaign. Sweet pea has that “Oh no, here we go again” look on her face. Rahway – that’s a funky name. Rahway’s centerpiece is a big round prison. How many towns can say that

Image Protector
FORUM
The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
#333655 by SophyBells Author IconMail Icon

Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10,000 GPs!

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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


This month's question: Has social media inspired a story in your portfolio? Do you find it too distracting?

Last month's question: Do you use duality in your writing?


pinkbarbie answered: Hi, thanks for the very interesting newsletter. I like using duality. I wrote a poem where the persona has had two sides of his personality. I think that duality does capture the reader's attention.

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