Writer Derailed
It's That First Wednesday Again
When I started to write for publication, I created a lot of short stories before I was derailed into writing novels. These short stories were… for want of a better word, short. With only a few pages, I could tell a story. However, as I soon found out, the short story is deceptively easy. You have a lot of work to do to make them compelling.
I discovered six tips that helped me craft those short pieces:
start and maintain an appropriate pace
keep the number of characters small
give the reader someone to root for
create conflict
suggest, but don’t develop backstory
appeal to all the senses.
And now for the #IWSG question of the month.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
May 1 question - How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
Honestly, I sometimes welcome those distractions. Of course, that’s when I’m having trouble getting words down and the story is not going anywhere. I find that after a few moments of thinking about something else, I can return to writing and it’s easy to find my way through the scene I’ve been stuck on.
On the other hand, if I’m really into the story and there’s a ping announcing a killer deal on tuna fish, I’m not quite as welcoming. When this kind of interruption happens, I often wonder if the story would have taken a different route, or if the character might have lived instead of jumping off that cliff, or if the house would have gone up in flames instead of collapsing during an earthquake. I’ll never know, and that bothers me a lot. My solution to remaining uninterrupted is simple. I put my computer on Do Not Disturb during writing time, and I silence my phone.
I’ll be interested in reading what others say about this month’s question.
Quote of the Month: “A short story is a love affair, a novel is a marriage. A short story is a photograph; a novel is a film.” Lorrie Moore, author
I am not certain how my comment here will take - but here goes.
I love short stories. They give no room for waffle and every word needs to be considered.
And, as always, thank you to those who craft them and educate and delight me.
I would add one more recommendation to your excellent list of short story writing: a short time frame. A day. A few hours. It seems common sense, but I read some short stories that stretched into weeks. As a rule, they didn't work.