 Short Stories: November 18, 2015 Issue [#7327] |
  Short Stories
This week: Try a Collection with a Common Thread Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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An Elf Short Story Newsletter
After an interesting contest excursion, I talk about a couple of options when it comes to short story collections that have a common theme among them. While close to novel in length at times, a collection can be an interesting and fun choice for those that want to write short stories but keep with characters and/or within the same world. |
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Not too long ago, I made it through the challenge of writing nine stories based on the inspiration of a music album. This was part of an awesome contest called Musicology Anthology, which I enjoyed very much. One thing that came up from the very beginning as I was thinking about which music album I wanted as inspiration along with what I would write for each song and that option came in whether the stories would relate as a type of collection or if I'd just write random things. I picked the random option because while many songs were romance-y, I didn't see enough of a common thread for me and I had a couple of stories in mind from the beginning in particular for a couple of songs. However, when it comes to something like using a music album as a prompt, writing a collection of stories with a common thread is a great option.
While I didn't do a collection for that music album and the contest, it's something I would consider if I didn't have 5+ novels in progress at the same time. A music album as prompts is one of many options for inspiration, if you don't already have all of the ideas. Other options include random music, image searches and anything else you find that makes you want to write.
After finding inspiration and deciding to do the collection of stories, there are a few options in order to have a common thread or theme among them (aside from similar inspiration). Here are a few to consider:
1. Same Set of Main Characters
This works in connection with the same world but the main characters don't always have to be the same in a collection, but they can. Working the same character in different conflicts does have an advantage. It's similar results to novel in that you are following the same point of view but by doing different stories, it's still more of a collection. You get to know the character more on the different, shorter count adventures and it can be fun to spend that much time with the same set of people for writing. Each story will have its own conflict and a form of resolution in order to make sure the reader is satisfied when they reach the end of each part, each story.
2. Same World, Different POV
Another option is to keep things in the same world but to have very different characters as the main, point of view for the different stories. Many things can happen in the same world to the different people that inhabit it. People will have different reactions and experiences, with many options for conflict and drama to make for interesting tales. Some writers and podcast authors will even let the world of their story be open in a creative commons license, allowing other people to write in that world as long as certain character aren't used or facts changed.
3. Other Common Features
Aside from the characters and world, you can have common threads that can be found in all of the stories for a collection. It doesn't even have to be the same world, depending on the type of collection, but it helps to tie the stories together in some way. Genre is a big thing to have in common but not always a necessity as a set of character and same world can have conflicts in different genres (romance as an example). However, it can help in particular if considering readers and going for say fantasy or sci-fi, though can have a mixture of sub-grenres just like any story.
My final tips, if going for a collection of stories is to make sure that each one is a story and not a scene. Me, I don't write collections because well, I don't write short stories. I can admit it and I think the judges noticed in my entries for the music challenge. Even the one that readers have liked the most that felt somewhat complete isn't going to be a short story. I already have the romance novel planned. But for other writers who are short story focused, having each story in the collection be a stand on its own and complete story will be a good idea. Or you can come to the novel side. Whichever works best for what you write. 
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Would you write a collection of stories with same main characters or just set things in the same world?
Comment by Matt Bird MSci (Hons) AMRSC 
Thanks for featuring my contest. I have yet to complete a piece of novel length fiction, but have several short stories I'm proud of. I guess on WdC it is easier to create a contest for short fiction than for a novel. A short story can be written and edited and moved on from in the space of a month. You can't do that with novels (NaNo doesn't result in complete edited novels). I struggle to get people to read several short stories and vote for their favourite, so I don't think getting votes for several novels would work well!
How do you think members could better cater contests and activities to longer writing forms?
- That is a good question and to be honest, I'm not sure there is a great answer at this time because part of the issue is on the contest host but also part is on the people who write long fiction.
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