 Short Stories: November 23, 2016 Issue [#7985] |
  Short Stories
This week: Shorts Edited by: Gaby  
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Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.
~ Mary Tyler Moore
I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true - hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something, then don't do it.
~ Ray Bradbury
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Some of us have trouble writing short stories. Many of the writers on Writing.com dabble in poetry, a lot of us like writing novels, but it's rare to find an amazing short story. While we do have many contests on the site which focus on short stories, we feel limited with the word count. Other times, we cannot seem to find the actual ending to a story.
It's all in the wrist.  Practice makes perfect, or, well, near perfect. It depends how long you'd like that short story to be. What is your main goal? How far is that particular ending?
You shouldn't write a novel just to call it a short story, although I've seen some writings where it could be called a novel once you combined the bits and pieces spread over time. It ends up being an unfocused story without an end in sight. Keep your eye on the ball!
 What are you trying to show?
 Who is the focus on the story?
 Is there a bad guy?
 What is the moral of the story?
 Have you implemented all the senses?
 Do you have a concrete ending?
I can't stress it enough. Entering contests and following the rules of those contests will help you down the line. A short story is a glimpse into someone's life. A moment in time captured with words. There isn't a need for a backstory, nor is there need to know how their life ends. It doesn't have to be a happily ever after. Only the moment counts.
Main character is the focus. Their reactions and observations, behavior and what they see. As a writer, you have to be in the moment to capture the essence of it. Just like a photographer. They take a picture, capturing something which is overlooked most times. You have the tools to decipher that picture and put it into words. There are always words which can describe the perfect picture and the moment leading up to it. Use it to your advantage. Step outside the box and see what works for you.
If you see someone standing on the street looking lost, capture that moment with words as if you were taking a photograph, paint those colors vividly so your reader can see it in their mind. It's not as hard as some may think. All it requires is the right lens to focus on it. 
'Til next time!
~ Gaby  |
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#2103445 by Not Available. |
| | Fallen Angel (E)
Winner of Paranormal Romance Short Story Contest. NOV 2016: "Romance With a Fallen Angel"
#2103336 by Jewell  |
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