Any tips? I am about to attempt my first. Haven't really got a clue where to start or what kind of things I should be thinking about. Might be a comedy, might not.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Writing a Short Story
Make it shorter than a long story.
The same principle as writing jokes or anything.
Three act structure, introduce the setting, maintain it in the middle and conclude it.
I usually start at the end and work backwards
This is the only short story I ever put in critique I hope the structure shines through,
I think you should just have fun and see what you like about writing stories. Perhaps you should write a couple of 99 worders first to get into it.
Of course you can break the laws after you learned how they work, which is kinda what you want to do on your first try.
read short stories to get a sense of pace etc. Its important to have a first sentence that draws you in and make sure everything adds up. Its very easy to forget boring details like the lead coming in the back door when your caught up in a more exciting bit
Quote: blahblah @ 13th December 2013, 11:47 AM GMTread short stories to get a sense of pace etc. Its important to have a first sentence that draws you in and make sure everything adds up. Its very easy to forget boring details like the lead coming in the back door when your caught up in a more exciting bit
50 shades may have changed things but it used to be that 'the lead coming in the back door' was the more exciting bit.
Just finished a corporate Christmas letter which is sort of like a short story.
An exciting tale of signage, recruitment and limp topical gags.
Sort of the story of my life, which would make a very short story.
Keep it streamlined; get an idea and stick to it.
Yup absolutely, great advice.
One of the great pleasures I find in a big novel, is when you get to the end. And you realise for all the diversions, it was actually a simple story that was contained in the first page.
Try reading Stephen King's book on writing, oddly enough titled "On Writing". The audio version read by the man himself is best, as the inflections and verbal nuances help to bring out what's truly important. If nothing else, it will have great procrastination value as you stall beginning the beast. Good luck.
Haven't yet given it a try myself but this looks interesting - http://channel101.wikia.com/wiki/Story_Structure_101:_Super_Basic_Shit
I'm not sure how much this applies to short stories though?
Quote: Blobster @ 13th December 2013, 2:09 PM GMTTry reading Stephen King's book on writing, oddly enough titled "On Writing". The audio version read by the man himself is best, as the inflections and verbal nuances help to bring out what's truly important. If nothing else, it will have great procrastination value as you stall beginning the beast. Good luck.
That is a really great guide, but also track down danse macabre. His guide to writing horror and horror fiction in general written in the 70s.
I kinda suspect he was completely f**ked off his head when he wrote it, but it's awesome.
Thanks Sooty...will do. I know we are getting off track, but talking of Stephen King, I had always assumed he wrote cheesy horror melodrama, but I gave him a chance and have not regretted it. I am into book 5 of The Dark Tower series - just an incredible world he has created. I'm sure you have read it?
Stephen King is one of the best writers of all time!
That said, I haven't read any of his fantasy books, as it's not generally my genre. I'll probably get round to them eventually.
But I second the recommendation of his 'On Writing' book.