 Short Stories: July 30, 2008 Issue [#2531] |
  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: Vivian  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
The topics in the short story series include Getting Started; That First Paragraph; Characters in SS; Point of View; Dialogue; Setting and Context; The Plot; Conflict and Tension; Climax; and Resolution. Some may be combined, but all areas will be covered.
This issue's topic is developing characters in a short story. We discussed starting a short story and what it is and isn't. Now we begin with one of the main components: characters.
|
| ASIN: B083RZ2C5F |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
Make Characters Live Quickly
Due to the shorter length of short stories, only a few characters, usually two to four, can be used, and they have to be developed quickly. That's not to say a writer is to write a paragraph about each character. The development should be "shown" not "told." Also characters need to be round, three-dimensional, not flat one dimensional. Of course any main character or characters will have more depth, but all should be believable.
The first requirement for rounded characters is for you, the author, to know them inside and out, completely. A "good" character is alive in the mind of the writer and on the pages of a story.
I keep a note card on each character. I write things such as physical descriptions, likes and dislikes, speech patterns, education, job/employment, spouse or special person if any, family members, attitude toward life and death, etc. All the information may not be used, in fact most isn't, but knowing all possible information about a characters helps me to understand and "know" the character. I know what makes him or her tick, motivation, behavior, and reactions.
Tina Morgan, in "Developing Realistic Characters," states one way to develop believable characters is to do a character interview. Once you have the basics of the character, then write questions for the character and answer them as the character. Make his reactions to the questions and answers real according the "person" you've made him.
Weaving facts about characters into the story makes the process more interesting. An author doesn't want to do an information dump - pile a paragraph or two of details at once - but give glimpses of the character naturally through dialog and actions. Details about the character needs to more the plot forward or give hints about the character's personality that are required for readers to understand.
In short stories, character development may not be as in depth, but the characters still need to seem real, believable.
How does one learn to develop characters? Read stories with well developed, believable characters. Practice writing about characters over and over until the writing is well written, the character's actions motivated, and he/she is believable.
One of my award winning and published stories is "Island Storm" . I'm not perfect and not the best writer to develop characters, but I've been told by many that the characters are believable.
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B07YJZZGW4 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
Words from Readers
Two readers sent feedback after last month's issue about starting a short story. I appreciate all comments.
enviro
I read your newsletter almost every time I get it. And some of your advice and tips have really helped my improve with my writing. Just wanted to say thanks.
-ENviro
I'm glad I've been able to help. Thank you for letting me know.
faithjourney
Thanks for the great newsletter on starting short stories. You're right; inspiration is everywhere. I just wrote a rough draft of a story idea I got from a combination of a newspaper article and a nightmare I had! I'm looking forward to next month's newsletter on character development in short stories - this is an area where I need work and all the help I can get!
Character development is a job for almost all writers. I think I need all the help I can get, too.
Thank you for joining me for this issue. I'll be back next month.
Viv |
| ASIN: B083RZ2C5F |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
