Short Stories
This week: The Wisdom of Maya Angelou Edited by: Shannon 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
Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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The Wisdom of Maya Angelou
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." ~ Maya Angelou
Have you ever read a story that set your imagination whirling? Something about the words strikes a chord or brings back a long-lost memory, and BAM! (No, you didn't just turn on Emeril Lagasse's cooking show on the Food Network.) Suddenly characters, dialogue, complete phrases and paragraphs ... entire scenes and stories are bombarding you from every angle! Whew, what a rush, huh? I love it when that happens. I just wish I could type faster.
The written word is a very powerful thing. No matter where we live, what language we speak, what our socioeconomic status and/or color of our skin is, we all have one thing in common: the human condition. We've all loved and lost, dreamed, failed, laughed, cried, been humiliated and embarrassed. We've all been afraid.
These universal emotions and experiences are what your readers connect with--a sense of oneness with your character(s) in particular and mankind in general. Man, I've been there, they think as they turn the page. To know we're all in this together is comforting, somehow. That we've got each other's backs. That because we made it through our own personal trials and tribulations--not necessarily unscathed, but made it, nonetheless--maybe this character we've become emotionally attached to will make it too.
Dig deep. Write with abandon and without fear. Don't hold back. Pour every last raw emotion you've ever felt onto that page. Make it authentic. Write it real, and you'll be amazed by how good it is ... and so will your readers.
"I speak to the black experience, but I am always talking about the human condition--about what we can endure, dream, fail at, and still survive." ~Maya Angelou
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First, let's take a peek at September's Short Shots winners:
First Place: | | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #1599200 by Not Available. |
Second Place:
Third Place: | | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #1602100 by Not Available. |
And please be sure to check out these great reads:
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| | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #1606867 by Not Available. |
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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
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Feedback
The following feedback is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (October 14, 2009)" :
Coolhand says, "Great newsletter! I'm glad you got the opportunity to share your talent, Shannon, because you are certainly motivated. Your efforts not only inform the reader, they do so with panache and honest emotion. Thanks." Aw, thank you, Coolhand! And thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Quick-Quill says, "Your story really pricked my memory. I had to do a lenghty search but I did find the story that is a little like the one you described. Mary Higgins Clark is one of my favorite mystery authors. A Cradle Will Fall was an early novel that was made into a movie. The premise is similar. If you like one; you will love the other. Read on McDuff!!! I loved this 'what if'. It helps when I am thinking of a scene I am stuck on." I LOVE that (your feedback, I mean). The book I'll have to read first, but I'm sure I'll love it too. Thanks so much for the recommendation.
Catherine Hall says, "Wow! What a wonderful illustration of how well-rounded characters, with multi-layered motivations, make a story un-put-downable." Thank you, Catherine! Great word, by the way: un-put-downable. Thanks for the feedback.
raidensco says, "Hi, Shannon. My name is Scott C. Wilcox and I just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate what they've done for me on writing.com and all the support. I have officially become a published author and my book Magical Beasts Investigation Unit will be in bookstores on November 21, but it's available online now at www.PublishAmerica.net/product68663.html. At least people can look at it and get a description of what it's about there and order it if they choose. Again, I want to thank everyone and maybe some people will see me in the press releases they are setting up for me in the newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations. Thanks for everything, and I hope to see some of you in the Ocala Florida area at any of my book signings they are supposed to set up." Yay for you, Scott! That's awesome. I wish you all the best!
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