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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2661-.html
Short Stories: October 15, 2008 Issue [#2661]

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Short Stories


 This week:
  Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

         Greetings! I’m honored to return as your guest host for this week’s WDC Short Stories Newsletter*Smile*

“All that I see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
Edgar Allan Poe

“Good things come in small packages - why not savor a short story ~ aloud ~ today.”


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
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Letter from the editor

         Greetings, thank you for allowing me this brief intrusion into your virtual home. Just as novels come in a variety of sizes, some to fit a pocket or purse, others only a briefcase will hold; so too the short story comes in a variety of ‘sizes.’ Nope, no ‘one size fits most,’ here. And although short stories are available in a gamut of sizes, genres, voices, and points of view, they do belong to the same ‘family’ as their ‘big brother/sister’ novels.

         With Nanowritemo just around the corner, you may be outlining a novel and need a bit of a breather or, perhaps, your life schedule or inclination precludes the intense immersion at this time. Explore with me an alternative; and keep writing!

         Flash fiction can be drafted in a creative breath, then refined, reworded, sometimes all in a day. A short story anywhere from 30 words to about 3000 is considered ‘flash fiction.’ And even tighter, a complete story of 10-300 words has been dubbed 'micro-fiction.' But these are not merely a scene, or expository. Flash fiction and micro-fiction have all the elements of a novel: beginning, middle and end. They arise in any genre – mystery, adventure, horror, comedy, … - that incites the Muse Creative to write, with mainly a single point of view, a story to delight, incite, or inspire readers. Being that they are short in length, and each word has to be selected with care, I think they’re fun to read aloud; to embrace the actual spoken tone of the writer, savor the sound and taste of the words, the images thus evoked to convey the story.

*Bullet*A Drabble is one form of ‘flash,’ a complete story that is exactly 100 words in length. It challenges writers to convey an interesting and meaningful story under extremely confined parameters. Each word has to count for something. It’s gained popularity in science fiction and fan fiction over the past several decades, and mainstreamed into adventure, comedy, mystery. The term and idea originated in the ‘70s, in Monty Python’s Big Red Book, originally a word game challenging participants to be the first to write a ‘novel’ in 100 words. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drabble) Other parameters may be added to challenge or inspire the writer, i.e., a picture prompt, using a specific point of view, all dialogue, or perhaps no repeated words*Wink*

*Bullet*A Ficlet or short-short story is also a form of ‘drabble’ that can run up to 1,000 words. These are often used in fan fiction, where brief, tight writing , vivid scenes, propel action-adventure and sometimes romance.

*Bullet*Going the other way, one can write a dribble, or a complete story in 50 words, or a “droubble” (double drabble) of 200 words.

*Bullet*All of these ‘drabbles’ and their derivatives have one thing in common – they are complete stories, plotted and driven from beginning to end by the writer’s insightful choice of words.

         So, why not give it a try ~ and ‘drabble’ in vivid imagery to create a story though brief in length, replete in breadth, and a delight to read aloud*Thumbsup* And do read a few of the drabbles and dribbles and flashes offered for your reading pleasure by some of the writers in our Community.


Editor's Picks

Check out some drabbles and other shorts offered for your reading (aloud, I hope) and commenting (review, I hope) pleasure*Smile*

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1482615 by Not Available.


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This item number is not valid.
#1474933 by Not Available.


 Unpalatable Open in new Window. (E)
Won Honorable Mention in 100 Words No Repeats contest, October 2008
#1483651 by Madi Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1484658 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1381359 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1344659 by Not Available.


 Fallen Open in new Window. (E)
Legolas refuses to believe Aragorn is dead. Drabble
#1277108 by Leila Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1481457 by Not Available.


 The Mirror and the Date Open in new Window. (13+)
For the Dialogue 500 contest
#1468576 by EmeraldCastrol Author IconMail Icon


Like to try it out - How about a few challenges for the muse creative - a drabble, a dribble, 'micro-flash'*Wink*

The Hint Fiction Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
Can you tell a story with only a few words? Hint Fiction requires a silver pen.
#1253724 by Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1409861 by Not Available.


Image Protector
FORUM
The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

Thank you for welcoming me into your virtual home, albeit for a 'short' while. Before I overstay my welcome, I bid you each ~
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!


Keep Writing!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading Author IconMail Icon

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