  Short Stories
This week: Can You Hear Me Now? Edited by: Leger~  
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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.
This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~
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Can You Hear Me Now?
After describing a character in a pre-write sketch, I covered most everything I though I'd need. Except the ears. They weren't going to be human ears, more of a small pink shell where the ear should be. In the process of doing research, I found a lot of ear options on the internet. The shopping list was heavy in cosplay and Final Fantasy ears. Choosing between a delightful set of furry fox ears and some plastic pointy jobs that would give an elf-like appearance was difficult. Okay, not really. I had the image in mind, just wanted an image to bookmark for reference.
Do I need the detail? Probably not, but I find it easier to purge the muse of any interest so I don't get distracted when writing. Doing a pre-write sketch can be helpful, not only forming the details of your character firmly in your mind, but having notes on whether the character is tall or short, blonde or brunette can keep it all straight and easy to reference. I've used anything from index cards, to notebooks and now, a file on the computer. I pop descriptions, back-history, and details like where I left them in the file. If you use a terrain map, Post-It flags help pinpoint where you left your character on the mountainside.
In short stories, all the details will certainly not come to light, but if you start writing with the intention of a short story, it may end up a chapter in something longer. How many times were you ready to write more about a character even after a story has finished? Sometimes, the character has more to say or do that what fits into the short story plot line. Having more details can be a great resource. In the meantime, Write On!
This month's question: Has a character you invented inspired more than one story?
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#1778927 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: "But, Mom! One of my ears doesn't stick up!" she cried. "Why don't I look like the other bunnies?" Izzy snuggled into her mother's arms. "There must be something wrong with me!"
Excerpt: My wife, Tara, hugged Brittany one last time and saying nothing, got into our dark blue minivan. One of the most difficult days for being a parent had arrived. We all realized it. I turned to Brittany and I hugged her tight. I smiled down into those all too familiar blue eyes. The same eyes that hours before, lit up at the mere sight of her new college dorm room. After eighteen and a half years of being her daddy, all I felt was -- my heart breaking. Things would not be the same.
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A tale of the time my father encountered a polar bear while tending to his trap-line.
#1844555 by preacher49  |
Excerpt: Now I was having quite the time of it since I was trying not to inhale any of the putrid fumes while I was stirring the mixture, and I had held my breath so long the room was starting to spin. I probably would have woofed my cookies and passed out right there if my dad hadn't burst into the cabin just then, looking something like the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels. I remember asking him what was wrong at least ten times while he apparently tried with great difficulty to catch his breath.
Excerpt: Frozen mist hugs the snow-crusted ground obscuring the countryside, as I steer my rental car to the shoulder of the road and turn off the ignition. I sit quietly, collecting my thoughts and hearing only my own breathing. I burn my tongue, and my glasses fog, as I sip hot black coffee, thick as paint, that I brought along in my Thermos. I have come three-thousand miles in search of answers, but I know some of those answers will never be found. I look out and see the trail in the snow, the only evidence that I've been here before-twice, to be accurate, on each of the previous two mornings.
Excerpt: My mind was a sewer. Vile thoughts were like rats bearing the Black Death, infecting, intoxicating, and destroying my subconscious, slowly polluting it to the point of no return. Decency and honor are lost treasures in a vast sea of unscrupulousness and malicious intent, and corruption gleamed in my bloodshot eyes.
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#1839877 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: How many stories are sitting in your portfolio that have been read, reviewed and edited to perfection? Those OLD STORIES that have been entered in other contests but didn't win anything--you corrected them, you followed the suggestions of the reviews but now what? Most contests require new stories written just for them--what a shame because that OLD STORY is so good now. Don't you wish you could enter them into a contest?
THE FEBRUARY CONTEST IS OPEN - WILL CLOSE 2/29/12 100 GIFT POINTS GIVEN JUST FOR ENTERING!
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This month's question: Has a character you invented inspired more than one story?
Last month's question: Has music inspired something in your writing?
Arty responded: Thank you very much for this insightful editorial. I have not written any short story inspired by music, but I listen to varying music that inspire feelings of certain periods in my life and build certain images. Some have even suggested ideas of stories revolving around the theme the song suggests. What has developed out of them are my six-word stories that I started trying hand at at Smith Magazine. The possibilities in writing are indeed immense. I have taken down notes from your guidelines to direct my creative drive along those lines, exploiting the emotive power of music to create, hopefully, compelling short stories.
peppery answered: The song E.T. by Katy Perry has given me a whole new story, characters, plot, and setting. If you ever get the chance to listen to it, please do, and then read my short story, the "prologue" for the soon-to-be story: "Invalid Item" Thanks! 
miller.ck sent: Big problem with using lyrics to inspire is it's often a shortcut for the writer to emotions not conveyed to the reader. So while the writer is most affected by her own prose, others are not. It's a risky source of inspiration. Allusions to musical works are the most I'd ever advise.
miss_devine submitted: Hi, I loved your NL and I find music inspiring as it stirs different emotions for me. I wrote a poem "Love Gone Wrong" which was inspired by a song from an Australia comedy movie called "Boytown". I wrote this back in 2008 and had the music to the song in my head the whole time. I find music can set the mood of my writing sessions and inspire thoughts as well as ideas for writing. I am also known to sing and bop my way around the supermarket, not realizing until I see the smiles and giggles from other customers...
Lee Douglas  admits: I made one of THOSE New Years resolutions. I even went so far as to go to the library for books on how to write. That was almost three weeks ago. All I have so far is ideas for short stories put on paper. I keep waffling from "should I start with a magazine" or just go right into starting a book." The more I waffle the more I don't do anything. Help me! I'm drowning in my waffles!!
Ajay says: A very inspiring idea! I love it. Music is the most positive thing and a gift of god.
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Short Stories: February 15, 2012 Issue [#4874]
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