Short Stories: February 12, 2013 Issue [#5518]
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Short Stories


 This week: Finding Your Passion
  Edited by: Leger~ 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

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


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Letter from the editor


Finding Your Passion


In a writing community, we assume everyone here likes to write. We all have favorite formats like short stories or poetry, but in a basic way, we all like to tell a story.

Sometimes it's hard to get your characters to do the things you want them to do. You'd really love to write a pirate scene with all the clashing of swords, gunfire and threat of drowning - but your character doesn't know much about boating. Is it because you don't like the ocean? Do you get seasick? Do people with eye patches scare you?

Let's think about the idiom "write what you know". You can do a ton of research on pirates and sailing, but is it something that interests you? Maybe you like to watch reality tv and scrapbook. Think about what other passions you have in your life and use them in your writing. Perhaps your character discovers her scrapbook pages create another dimensional plane. Perhaps she fixed a part of that person's soul into the page and a psychic can see it. Maybe a ghost in her hobby room rearranges the pages into a message.

Maybe your hobby is restoring cars. What better way to give your character a cool get-away vehicle than the one that's in your garage? I've seen some interesting characters at car shows who show no sign of personality until you ask them something about their vehicle, then their passions shines. Now I could see that person as a character in one of my stories.

Give some thought to the other things that interest you besides writing and see if you can create a story with your passion as a backdrop for your characters. Write on!


This month's question: Do you inject passion involving your hobbies into your writing?



Editor's Picks


 The Gift Open in new Window. (E)
Krisla finally learned that the truth… is rarely pure and never simple.
#1728553 by ChrisDaltro-Chasing Moonbeams Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: It was as if Krisla Denicoli had "special glasses" which covered her eyes like thin, translucent eyelids. These so called special glasses were clear inner eyelids – just like alligator ones, covering her pupils and providing her with "another dimension" vision, as she called it. And, when it happened, mysteriously and out of the blue, she would see colors, symbols and anagrams right in front of her eyes, while she still acknowledged the real world around her.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1070267 by Not Available.

Excerpt: A big smile spread across his face. "Did you like, Miss Mayberry? I made it all by myself from things I found around the house. I know it's a little messy, but I've never made one before.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1885974 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Cliff started telling us about his dad, and that when he was in the police force he used to carry a gun. Nowadays I suspect that the majority of them are armed considering the amount of people they shoot, but back then it was quite rare. Of course at the first mention of a gun we suddenly perked up.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1918619 by Not Available.

Excerpt: “ There, go up there, to that large tree.” He was pointing now. “Look for a heart carved in it. Inside the heart the initials RF + NR, if it’s the right one.”

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1242009 by Not Available.

Excerpt: He passed by us, leaving behind a faint scent of wild spearmint and cedar. Never before had the two aromas been so appealing. I was more than a bit surprised at this revelation.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1911632 by Not Available.

Excerpt: “Behold, weary traveler, heed my words,” cackled a strange old woman, drawing Rudy closer to her display of one lone egg.

 Routine Open in new Window. (E)
He ached for a black coffee; she made him tea.
#1918454 by Rosie Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: She pretended not to watch him putting on his jacket, and grabbing his hat. He watched her smile a little, she loved that hat. He caught her eyes and she lifted her chin. Her eyes shifted as she stared at him. "I'll see you soon." The door was almost closed when she began cleaning up. He waited. He heard her sing a tired phrase and stop. He closed the door and wished he hadn't heard.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1918436 by Not Available.

Excerpt: “I see the defendant has been incarcerated for 18 months. It looks like this case has never been brought to trial. Yet you are charging him with treason and with defamation. May I ask the reason that a charge of treason, which is quite possibly the most serious crime in Zimbabwe, is being brought to me? And why it has taken so long?”

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1918391 by Not Available.

Excerpt: As he sat thinking, chewing through to the jelly center of his donut, the restaurant door burst open and a man ran inside. “Hey, look there!” he yelled to Bob, pointing out the window at the zombie girl. “Hey, it’s one of ‘em!” His back pressed up against the counter near the cash register, and he panted and stamped the floor. He kept his hands in his pockets, and Bob’s cop intuition pinged. “Ain’t you gonna go get it?” the man demanded. “You got a clear shot if you just get out there now and draw.”

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1899396 by Not Available.

Excerpt: “Oi! Let her be, Max! I need you to tell me who you want to help you build the structure. Athalia, now that everyone’s back, I need you to help me tell them what their jobs are. Some of the littler kids can collect sticks for the roof and most of them can work on some walls, I’ll give them instructions as soon as we give them all jobs.”

 
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Ask & Answer

This month's question: Do you inject passion involving your hobbies into your writing?

Last month's question: One of my resolution suggestions for the New Year was to read more. Any book/story suggestions?


Bikerider Author Icon suggests: If you enjoy reading stories that contain excellent description and active dialogue tags, try The Postmistress, by Sarah Blake. The story takes place during World War II, specifically the bombing of London, and is one of the best stories I've read in years.

BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon replied: I'd recommend the Redwall series- Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Good versus Evil, and plenty of good food- Let me tell you, Thanksgiving is but a snack when compared to a Redwall Feast. The author is Brian Jacques.


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