Comments | arythusa: SO.

arythusa

SO.

Nov 03, 2008 17:10

Does anyone know how to write a short story? 8 ( Read more... )

Comments 3

chibisilverwing November 4 2008, 14:16:57 UTC

I think the thing about short stories is that they CAN be 100 pages, you just have to show us one glimpse at the 100 page story. Because your characters should be just as developed to you as the author as if you're writing a long story but you should grab that defining moment. After picking that you need to worry about giving that moment some lead up and follow up.

I Actually Have No Idea What I'm Talking About ethelflaed November 4 2008, 18:07:32 UTC

I guess I'd say the secret to a short story is that it needs to be broad and cut down to the very barest level of detail to work. Even really complicated short story-universes (like P. G. Wodehouse), are essentially pretty simple - details sort of float around as they matter, and the background of all of the characters is incredibly vague. (How much do we know about Bertie Wooster pre-Jeeves? Nothing, really ( ... )

vifetoile November 5 2008, 05:31:43 UTC

Read:
"The Most Dangerous Game"
"The Lady or the Tiger?"
"Spring-Heeled Jack" (that's a book, but a very short book)
"The Man Who Lived Four Thousand Years"
"A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud" (I think that story may actually be in our Ballad of the Sad Cafe book - written by the same author.)
"Who Am I This Time?" (Vonnegut)
That's about all the help I can give you right now. If I think of some good ideas, I'll send them over. (I also have two good writing-help books - "Fiction Is Folks" and "How To Write Plots That Sell." Anytime you should be at my house, feel free to take a looksee.)