 Short Stories: February 04, 2015 Issue [#6811] |
  Short Stories
This week: What's the Point of It? Edited by: Jay's debut novel is out now!  
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This Month:
What's the Point of It?
Not every story needs to have a deep, long-reaching morality to it, but you do need a reason for your reader to read it. |
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Not every story needs to have an earth-shattering, mind-blowing revelation about LIFE in the denouement. That said, for a story to really resonate with me, successfully, as a reader, it does need to evoke some kind of understanding within me that unfolds as I read. It doesn't have to be a lot, but when I'm reading, I'm looking for something that will keep me reading. An essence to the words.
I feel like many of us read for emotional connection, for answers to the big and little questions alike; we read for comfort, for solace, and for momentary extraction from our daily lives. Through story we experience other worlds and other lives, often more real and rational than our own.
And so, in a nutshell, we read for meaning.
To me, the question of "What's it all about?" when discussing a story is twofold; sure, there are the plot and characters, and then there's a message of some kind. It doesn't need to be deeply profound to still be deeply effective; it just needs to be something that fulfills the reader for having taken the time to read.
This quality can be hard to quantify. In fairy tales and fables, it might be really simple-- the message or moral of the parable. The lesson to be learned. I don't think it is so different for writings for adults, either. While overt moralizing is really inadvisable, we do read for experience, in that we're reaching out to others for some ideas about ourselves.
I feel like this is something worth investigating in our own works. Many writers have what I like to call a "meta-narrative"-- a story that is part of their core being that they might tell and retell without even thinking about it. Is there a common thread in your stories? What might it be? Exploring this for yourself can provide useful answers, but you might want to inquire with a writing partner who's familiar with your work and see if they notice any common threads. Being aware of what your "message" is can help you to tighten and strengthen your work to give the maximum impact to your reading audience.
Until next month,
Take care and Write on!
~j |
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Feedback from "Opening Hooks"
vada  writes:
Hi Jay, Thanks for your tips on finding reviews. Had to say this n/l on openings is spot-on. I totally agree about getting the story down first. Revisions is always where I find,hopefully, that perfect beginning.
Vada
Thanks, Vada! I agree-- I very rarely start a story where it actually begins, in terms of where the reader's going to find it, anyway.
brom21 writes:
The little tidbits you supplied were quite helpful and easy to apply. Your online instructor must really know how to state things. I also liked how you summarized it all. I need to develop my “hook” ability and to keep the reader asking those questions to drive them on. I have gotten considerably better at showing and not telling; something I used to have trouble with. Thanks for the newsletter and kudos!
Of course, it's my pleasure, and I'm glad my advice is useful to you! |
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