  Short Stories
This week: How Short is Short? 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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How Short is a Short Story?
In the words of Edgar Allen Poe, "If any literary work is too long to be read at one sitting, we must be content to dispense with the immensely important effect derivable from unity of impression - for, if two sittings be required, the affairs of the world interfere, and every thing like totality is at once destroyed. http://bit.ly/9Tbdqa
Most references say a short story should be between 1,000 and 7,500 words. Anything smaller is flash (100 - 1,000) or micro-fiction (up to 100 words). This isn't to say these counts are perfectly accurate. If you're submitting to a publisher, check their guidelines. Their guidelines are the last letter of the law.
With the oncoming of electronic media, the short story is slowly gaining gaining resurgence in popularity. As in the case of the old "penny-dreadful" series of stories, you can often find the first in a series of stories free on the internet. Then if you like the story and characters, more subsequent stories are offered; a type of "test drive" for authors. While I find many online offerings leave a bit to be desired in the formatting / editing department (Really, can we choose the right there/their/they're?), I like the availability of short reads for little expense.
In our Writing.com community, every contest has a different requirement. This is where you must be diligent and read the rules and instructions. Then you probably have to post in the contest forum with that ever-elusive bitem link. This is a good place to learn and practice: "Invalid Item" . If you win? Consider self-publishing the story and earn a few bucks along the way.
Whatever the length, write on!
This month's question: Have you published any short stories? Have you found any shorts authors you enjoy?
Send in your reply below!  Editors love responses! |
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Excerpt: During my childhood, I enjoyed many wonderful birthdays, but one memory blazes like the seven candles on the cake Mum baked me that year. It all began at school when the teacher asked me to describe my special cake.
Excerpt: "My God," Lane said, breathless. "I couldn't have imagined such a pure place, even in my wildest dreams."
Sands gave Lane a sour look. He'd seen it before, but that wasn't why he was unimpressed. "I shouldn't have agreed to this," he muttered.
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#1892745 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: "And that's what scares me the most," Joe said. "Perception. Because it's different for everyone."
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Excerpt: "Well my dear. I'm not sure. It looks like stage make up, perhaps from the Theater, and I didn't even know it was there."
Excerpt: She hung her head in shame so he could not look into her face and held out a coin. Her bony hand looked drained of blood and again that tremor as she asked, "A candy cane, please."
Excerpt: There were thirty-three tiles in the bathroom, but she had to make sure, she had counted four times already and kept getting thirty-three.
Excerpt: "That is my handbag! Stop her, that woman stole my handbag!"
Excerpt: The voice wasn't a real voice, or at least he didn't think it was. It was more of a whisper, and it seemed to be in his head. It had to be in his head because Scooby Doo didn't talk and Gary knew there wasn't anyone else in the room. But he heard it just the same.
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This month's question: Have you published any short stories? Have you found any shorts authors you enjoy?
Send in your reply below! Editors love responses!
Last month's question: Has social media inspired a story in your portfolio? Do you find it too distracting?
dwarf2012 responded: I use Pinterest for ideas for home and writing. Pinterest has a history group of pins that will help you with research if writing a period piece, like what clothes a Tudor Queen wore, or what toys we played with in the 1970's. Great newsletter!
Matt Bird MSci (Hons) AMRSC  answered: Social media hasn't inspired a story of mine yet, but it is certainly important to me. I blog and use Google+ to promote the blog. Twitter is for communicating with friends and I've never liked Facebook. Whilst I blog I get inspiration, but not normally when reading other blogs.
pinkbarbie said: Hi, social media has not yet inspired a story in my port, but I think it's an interesting idea. I really like the idea of images and effect of the 'what if' question on my imagination. This way many I may be able to come up with many ideas. Thanks for this useful newsletter.
bertiebrite hoping for peace replied: In fact, I visit FaceBook every day. I have many friends on FB whom I love to talk with. They are from all over the world, Pakistan, Serbia, Spain, India, Africa, Greece. They often post inspirational photos, some of people, places, things, and yes, I have used more than one for stories. Wonderful suggestion to use the internet for inspiration instead of just bla bla bla.
StephBee  submits: Social media can indeed be a big distraction, but I think you could come up with a lot of cool stories since its so much a part of our lives now. |
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Short Stories: September 26, 2012 Issue [#5281]
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