Short Stories: April 10, 2019 Issue [#9483]
<< April 3, 2019Short Stories Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueApril 17, 2019 >>




 This week: The Short - and Shorter - of the Tale
  Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading 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

Welcome to this week's edition of the Writing.Com Short Stories Newsletter; and our exploration in writing complete, though brief tales of mystery, humor, adventure, and more *Thumbsup*.

“Good things come in small packages
- why not savor a short story ~
aloud ~ today.”


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 1542722411
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99


Letter from the editor

         Greetings, thank you for allowing me this brief intrusion into your virtual home. Just as novels come in a variety of sizes, some to fit a pocket or purse, others only a briefcase will hold; so too the short story comes in a variety of ‘sizes.’ Nope, no ‘one size fits most,’ here. And although short stories are available in a gamut of sizes, genres, voices, and points of view, they do belong to the same ‘family’ as their ‘big brother/sister’ novels.

         *Lightning3*Flash fiction can be drafted in a creative breath, then refined, reworded, sometimes all in a day. A short story anywhere from 30 words to about 3000 is considered flash fiction. And even tighter, a complete story of 10-300 words has been dubbed micro-fiction. But these are not merely a scene, or expository. Flash fiction and micro-fiction have all the elements of a novel: beginning, middle and end, in brief. You find them in any genre - mystery, adventure, horror, comedy...that inspires the Muse Creative to write. Since they are short an shorter in length, each word has to count, to move the story forward. As I write short, I find myself speaking the words aloud, seeing, smelling, touching the action as it unfolds, word by word as I write.

         *Type*A Drabble is one form of flash, a complete story exactly 100 words in length. It challenges writers to create an interesting and full story under extremely confined parameters. Each word has to count for something. It’s gained popularity in science fiction and fan fiction over the past several decades, and mainstreamed into adventure, comedy, mystery. The term and idea originated in the ‘70s, in Monty Python’s Big Red Book, originally a word game challenging participants to be the first to write a ‘novel’ in 100 words. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drabble) Other parameters may be added to challenge or inspire the writer, i.e., a picture prompt, or using a specific point of view, all dialogue, or perhaps no repeated words *Questiong*

         *Waterdrop*Even shorter, if you dare, try a dribble, a complete story in 50 words; or go the other direction and weave a droubble (double drabble) of 200 words *Smile*

         All of these dribbles and drabbles and their derivatives have one thing in common – each is a complete story, plotted and driven from beginning to end by the writer’s insightful choice of words.

         So, why not give it a try ~ and ‘drabble’ in vivid imagery to create a story though brief in length, replete in breadth, and a delight to read aloud And do read a few of the drabbles and dribbles and flash offered for your reading pleasure by some of the writers in our Community.


Editor's Picks

Check out some drabbles and other shorts offered for your reading (maybe even aloud) pleasure, and perhaps offer the writer your thoughts, in a brief review *Wink* and how about penning one or your own *Bigsmile*

 
STATIC
Bird Brain Open in new Window. (13+)
Writer's Cramp Prompt: Through a bird's POV
#2182259 by Cubby Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2187517 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2187434 by Not Available.


 Outrunning the Blues Open in new Window. (13+)
Music Drabble (100-word short story) based on Jackson C. Frank's "Blues Run the Game"
#2161785 by Jeff Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2134296 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2173340 by Not Available.


 Stranded Open in new Window. (13+)
Entry for Dialogue 500 content. Prompt: Two very hungry people stranded on an island.
#2184340 by essvee Author IconMail Icon


 The story goes on Open in new Window. (18+)
We keep making songs, we keep writing our status. Dialogue only CRAMP entry.
#2178626 by THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author IconMail Icon


 The Singing Pig Open in new Window. (13+)
Richard tried to teach the pig to sing. The pig had other plans.
#2187515 by Robert Waltz Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
Write a story containing no dialogue, in 700 words or less.
#2079495 by QPdoll is Grateful Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon


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 Sophurky Author IconMail Icon



 
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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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Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B07P4NVL51
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Ask & Answer

         Thank you for this brief respite in your virtual home, no matter how short or long your next story, have fun at it *Smile*

Write On!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading Author Icon

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Word from our sponsor
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Amazon's Price: $ 0.99

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