  Short Stories
This week: We Read Short Shorts Edited by: Legerdemain  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
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We Read Short Shorts
I've been reading some stories from Neil Gaiman's collection "Trigger Warning". While his style of writing might not be everyone's cup of tea, I did have a passing thought about short stories I would like to share. I think one of the best things about short stories, is they not only tell a story, but they leave you thinking about the bigger picture.
Because short stories are capsules, without much time to build worlds, assemble armies of characters and have multiple conflicts running along the arc, we're left with our imagination to do the rest. When a story leaves the character dead in his bed, my mind flies along and imagines the neighbors knocking, the police being called and the autopsy. Perhaps the protagonist doesn't get away with murder. Maybe time and some forensics find him. See?
So next time you're editing your short story, give some thought about whether or not cutting a scene with some extra world building in it, or give that really interesting character a pass with the scalpel and let your readers see how amusing he is and why he ended up in your story in the first place.
And as always, read and Write On.
This month's question: Do short stories leave you disappointed or wanting more? |
Excerpt: Prompt for June 2015: Write a journal entry from your character's point of view. The entry can be about anything, but it should be written in first person and give the reader insight into the character.
Stop in and win 10,000 gift points with your story or poem, each day!
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Excerpt: A bi-monthly contest for anyone who likes to write Thriller/Suspense stories
ROUND 1 BEGINS June 1st at 12:01 am WDC time!!!
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Excerpt: Journey to the lands of fanfiction - where you will find the endless stretch of alternative universes of already established worlds existing in peaceful harmony: where Watson takes over the role of Sherlock's nemesis; where Elsa is tempted to use her powers for evil purposes; where Mal and Wash share a bunk on the Serenity; where Malfoy is much less of a bratty snob.
Ever wanted to see more of your favourite characters or add more to well-known locations and settings? Then you're in the right place.
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#2043891 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Once, long ago, there was a boy named Tal. He was like any boy his age, a little awkward-- especially around girls-- his limbs were slightly too long for his body, and he liked to get into trouble. His father was a soldier, his mother weaved, and he secretly had a crush on Bess, the prettiest girl in town. Everything about him, from his faded brown hair, to his brown eyes, to his round face that hadn’t lost all its baby fat yet, was normal.
And that was the problem.
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#1802142 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: I never told her of my first business deal during a September break. Uncle Joao bought me a beautiful, white Peugeot bicycle with wide fenders and a handle bar basket. I was just about to ride to town when a lanky, black man waddled up to me leading a string of ducklings.
“Would you like to buy my ducklings?” His smile beamed through broad, dark lips. “Two hundred rands for all of them.”
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#642172 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: I’d been a teacher for thirty-three years. I loved children, but my nerves were frazzled. That last year I yelled. A good teacher never raises her voice. I knew it was time to retire.
But I was still young. My figure was as spry as a twenty-year-old’s and I had great teeth and a youngish face. I wasn’t ready for retirement. I looked around at my options and there frankly weren’t many -- sales clerk at Sears or WalMart, waitress, receptionist in someone’s office. Then I saw the ad: Wild girls needed.
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This month's question: Do short stories leave you disappointed or wanting more?
Last month's question: Do stories need happy endings?
blunderbuss wrote: Thanks for another thought-provoking newsletter. I had just read another newsletter which says that romantic fiction almost universally requires a happy ending. Horror stories often end in disaster all round. Sci-Fi can be dystopian. Apart from those genres (there are probably others), I think it depends on the writer as much as the story. However, stories need to feel 'complete' - so if your characters do not overcome their conflict, or reach their goals, then the irresolution needs to be acceptable. Daphne du Maurier (lived and wrote about my part of the world here in the UK) is a writer who comes to mind - 'Rebecca' (not happy ending and she starts the book with it!), 'My cousin Rachel' - ambiguous ending, 'The House on the Strand' - main character ends up mortally sick.
Quick-Quill  sent: I do believe in Happy Endings. That being said what is a happy ending? I have a story about a woman who is in the early 1900s. Her story intersects with a young man who is one of the first FBI agents. At the end he must go on to his new postion. She gets an offer to go to New York to a dream job. Both find each other attractive. They agree to meet some day in Washington. Will they? Ah, but that's another story. I have left the door open, but they are both happy to be doing what they both love. I hope the reader agrees.
Jimmy E. Durham, RN-BC  replied: It depends on the story. That's a really hard question to answer. Art imitates life, but readers also read to escape from the troubles of reality. I think it also has a lot to do with your audience. Someone reading Cinderella is going to expect a happy ending and it have no bearing on how they view the world. Likewise on someone who reads a zombie novel. For me, the ending takes care of itself a lot of the time.
kindabizarre responded: I don't think all stories need happy endings. Sometimes happy endings are just boring. Readers get really out of whack when you hit them with a sad/odd ending. The only thing that I can't stand is an incomplete ending. If there's going to be another book then it's fine but when the author leaves some things unexplained..it sucks!
Elfin Dragon-finally published  answered: I don't believe stories always need happy endings, especially if you're writing a series. For instance, I've noted to others the author Janny Wurts writes depressing really well. Her stories are well thought out and I love every one of them, but they definitely make you cry. And I remember Mercedes Lackey's series "Last Herald Mage". (spoiler) Who didn't cry when the main character Vanel died but it didn't make the series any less great. So sad endings? Bring them on.
Zeke adds: Happy endings are mostly nice, but more importantly stories need complete endings in my opinion.
willwilcox said: Stories don't need happy endings, just ask Hamlet, Anna Karenina, The Grapes of Wrath. Stories reflect life, life has tragedy, and unexpected endings. And like Slingblade, "That's all I have to say about that...huh...ummm."
brom21 tells us: I think a story would be very sobering and unique to end badly where the protagonist dies along with the antagonist. I liked how in the Superman comics he is killed by a powerful enemy called Doomsday. Superman gets killed but he saves the world in the process. A story where the good guy loses completely would be shocking, but morbidly cool. So that is my two cents. Thanks for the newsletter!
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Short Stories: June 03, 2015 Issue [#7031]
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