  Short Stories
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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 and fresh ideas for the short story author.
This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~ |
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This week's newsletter is about anecdotes.
Anecdote~A brief account of an interesting or entertaining nature.
Anecdotes differ from short stories in that they are usually a single scene, from real life, and usually uncomplicated. Often, anecdotes contain lengthy dialog. Historically, numerous anecdotes of famous people sprout when they've left office, have passed away, or committed some sort of faux pas.
 An example copied from the second link I've posted below:
Early in his career, mystery writer Erle Stanley Gardner earned a living churning out stories for pulp magazines at the incredible rate of 200,000 words per month.
As he was paid by the word, the length of a story was of no small importance. Noting that his villains were invariably killed by the last bullet in the chamber, Gardner's editor once asked why his heroes were so careless with the first five shots.
"At three cents a word," Gardner replied, "every time I say 'Bang' in the story I get three cents. If you think I'm going to finish the gun battle while my hero has got fifteen cents' worth of unexploded ammunition in his gun, you're nuts!"
I like to write anecdotes about the happenings in my family. Children and their view of the world are great fodder for anecdotes. While not everyone finds them funny or interesting, I enjoy saving the memories of my family.
Although you may see yourself as a short story author, think about using non-fiction anecdote as a format for your writing. Everyday life occurences and observations are great basis for scenes in fictional writing but sometimes, the true story is just as charming and enjoyable.
Overall, I'd like to encourage you as a writer to think about fitting your experiences and writing into different formats.
Some Interesting Links
Thesis written by a Temple University student on academic writing.
http://ielpjohn.home.att.net/anecdote.htm
Site with numerous amusing anecdotes of famous people.
http://anecdotage.com/index.php
Educational literary techniques.
http://www.lovetolearnplace.com/Curriculum/Literary/Anecdote.html
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Anecdotes from our site:
Excerpt: The entrance door opens with a slow, deliberate rustle. I raise my eyes from the book and freeze. The top officer in charge of our class is staring at me from within the door frame. He's new here, and so just like Margaret Hamilton from The Moon’s Our Home, he lives between nervous breakdowns. He slowly moves his glance to my cozy Gorilka display. I realize I am in more trouble than I've ever been.
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Excerpt: We’re going to be late again. I just know it. No matter how many book bags, purses and briefcases I pack the night before, we rush out the door every morning. Every single morning. Most days it’s a small miracle that we arrive at daycare and work even remotely “on time.”
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Excerpt: Now that Noah is 4, I still don't get to talk to my little boy, because he spends most of his time pretending to be somebody or something else, be it a fireman, a tiger or a character from Thomas the Tank Engine.
Excerpt:
There is one favorite clothing item of his that is neither sweet nor quaint. I have dubbed it his “flasher coat”. You know the type- scruffy tan overcoat, stained and baggy, belt dragging and never buttoned.
Excerpt: But life stays hectic with home and work and growing children. Before I knew it, Thomas was born and Michael stormed the terrific twos, blasting his way through each day with books toted around as trophies.
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Excerpt: We had arrived late, as everyone on my brother James's visiting team had trouble finding these soccer fields. Why, even the players were hurriedly changing into their uniforms in the open.
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This month's question: Do you find it difficult or easy to share your real life experiences with your readers?
Last month's question: What are some methods you use to involve your reader?
Brians Next Novel Almost Done!  responds: I find that switching up the tone of the story, even if it is nothing more than a brief one, is a great way to engage the reader. If the story is light, a crisis has to come up at some point, obviously; but say a piece is somewhat dark and somber, throwing in the odd bit of humor gets the reader's attention. If done reasonably within the context of the story, and if done to lighten the mood slightly without taking away from the crux of the story, this can add another element to the experience.
Great advice Brian!
robi4711 responds: Putting emotion in my stories is difficult for me. I'm one of those that write, "He was shocked" forgetting to show and not tell. Thanks for the reminder. I think we need reminding from time to time because we get caught up in so many things at once, it's easy to forget.
We're learning every day Lucy!
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Short Stories: July 27, 2005 Issue [#521]
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