Edited by Jackie Morris, Friday, 20 Dec 2019, 18:29
Two short stories under my belt. Huge breakthrough. The way forward? Draft it, re-draft it, in a loop until it ceases to be completely wooden and starts to read OK. Wow, it’s hard work.
I’ve also been reading a few books on how to write a short story, which is a different beast to a novel. So far the most inspirational has been ‘The Art and Craft of the Short Story’ by Nick DeMarinis. I’ve also been reading Dreyer’s English, a style guide, which is funny and also very helpful.
Aha moments:
- start with an unhappy childhood (tick. yay me!)
- Show don’t tell (heard that one before) - finding ways to show how people are feeling, or if you do say saying it in a way they would. I am learning and relearning this.
- a short story focuses on details,it doesn’t have room for full blown descriptions. It asks you to look afresh at the details to form a view of the whole. It’s a lot like poetry (double yay).
- it’s scope isn’t broad, it focuses a spotlight, its character driven.
- write a thousand words a day (in, for example, a blog if you have nothing else) as it’s the taking part that leads to improvement. I said it was hard work, yes?
All the above from books. My own personal epiphany is that I am now engaged in the process in the same way I was with the poetry, that I want to write good short stories and that I will keep on until I do.
‘Twas the (week) before Christmas
Two short stories under my belt. Huge breakthrough. The way forward? Draft it, re-draft it, in a loop until it ceases to be completely wooden and starts to read OK. Wow, it’s hard work.
I’ve also been reading a few books on how to write a short story, which is a different beast to a novel. So far the most inspirational has been ‘The Art and Craft of the Short Story’ by Nick DeMarinis. I’ve also been reading Dreyer’s English, a style guide, which is funny and also very helpful.
Aha moments:
- start with an unhappy childhood (tick. yay me!)
- Show don’t tell (heard that one before) - finding ways to show how people are feeling, or if you do say saying it in a way they would. I am learning and relearning this.
- a short story focuses on details,it doesn’t have room for full blown descriptions. It asks you to look afresh at the details to form a view of the whole. It’s a lot like poetry (double yay).
- it’s scope isn’t broad, it focuses a spotlight, its character driven.
- write a thousand words a day (in, for example, a blog if you have nothing else) as it’s the taking part that leads to improvement. I said it was hard work, yes?
All the above from books. My own personal epiphany is that I am now engaged in the process in the same way I was with the poetry, that I want to write good short stories and that I will keep on until I do.