posted
I know this sounds like a ridiculous question but I've come to realize that I have a serious problem with it. Whenever I set out to write a short story I come up feeling as if I've left something out, like there are pieces of this character that get cut (before actually writing them down) so that I can cram my whole story into the limited amount of space. I guess maybe I'm just long-winded.
Also, just how long should a short story be? Are we talking 1500 words or 5000 words, because 1500 is ridiculously short. I seem to remember reading on several submission guidelines a number somewhere around 3000 is that about the average length?
I just feel like I don't come up with ideas that will be done justice with only a few pages. Fantasy and sci-fi related especially (which is mostly what I write).
One last question, when you are cutting (for length and wordiness) do you usually cut big spaced out chunks or pieces of sentences?
1. In the genre of science fiction and fantasy, a short story is designated as being less than 7,500 words. A novella is between 7,500 and 17,500, a novelette between 17,500 and 40,000, a novel more than 40,000 words. A sub-category of a short story is called flash fiction, and depending upon wh oyou ask it is often less than 1,000 words, but idnividual definitions vary. That's the definition for Abyss and Apex Magazine, which is one of the better markets for flash.
2. Write your story. Don't worry about how long it is. Write it, and then find out who wants a story of that length and in that genre. If it comes out to be 15,000 words then look for a noella market. If it comes out to 5,000 then look for a short story market that wants stories of that length.
3. Look in our history for discussions of how to keep an idea as a short story instead of a novel...the topic has come up several times and many excellent suggestions have already come up. Mostly, they fall along the lines of writing about one thing. Novels usually have several suplots and themes, a short story should only have one, a longer short story maybe two. Also, keeping the timeframe and number of characters down. Keep in mind that a short story can also grow into a novel.
4. Cut words, sentences, and entire paragraphs that don't need to be there. At times, you could cut any or all of these things.
5. I suggest reading a lot of short stories if you want to write them. They will help you get a feel for the type of story that can be contained in a <7500 word manuscript. Analog for hard scifi, Assimov's for scifi/fantasy, Fantasy@science Fiction for what it says are the most popular markets. I also recomment Strange Horizons, whose stories can be viewed free online, as well as SciFiction webzine and Abyss and Apex...all good markets and all can be viewed free online. (If you don't want to spent the money.)
1) Start by plotting and outlining the stories a) Write first draft in a few hours b) Write another story's first draft c) Wait a few days, edit, and send out.
Bladeofwords: Don't make it too complicated. Write the story and all the important bits in it. Whatever length it is, it is.
posted
I ususually have the opposite problem trying to find enough content to drive a story longer than five or six pages. The first time it happened surprised me
Out of curiosity, what genre and length of story do you usually read.
When I was younger I had to read all kinds of short stories and short novels (I loved The Hardy Boy mysteries) so my writing reflected that. Now that I read longer works, I find it easier to write longer more robust stories.
posted
Thank you Christine! I've been wondering for a while the length distinctions are between short story, novella, etc., but haven't gotten around to looking it up. I know, such a simple thing to do, but...
Just a note about how long it takes to write a short story - I'm thinking this is personal, just like outlining. Since coming to hatrack, I have started 5 stories, and finished none. This does not mean that I am not interested in their content. But, even if writing were the only job in my life at the moment, I don't think I could tear out a story in a few hours. This could be because I'm new at it, but, I think everyone is different. I only bring this up because on several other occasions more than one person has expressed you should be able to turn out something in a relatively short amount of time.
Now, I did make this deal with myself that I wasn't supposed to post anything on Hatrack until I had completed something and posted over in Fragments and Feedback.
posted
All a matter of style, of course. And though that may be my plicy, when I don't feel the pressure of money want, I generally fniish a short story in two sittings .
posted
First, you'll want to read as many short stories as you can. Go to a book store or the library and get a couple of anthologies and work your way through them. THE YEAR'S BEST are good, and there are a lot of them to choose from. If you're going to write SF/F, you will undoubtedly want to read THE SCIENCE FICTION HALL OF FAME, Volume 1, which, in my opinion, is the greatest SF anthology ever publihsed.
Second, though Christine is correct on the lengeth of short story and the novelette, you have to remember that's good for the awards only. As Edgar Allan Poe said, the short story deals with ONE thing, and that ONE thing can be dealt with in a story as short as 1500 words or as long as 15000 words. So just write your story and don't worry about it's length. If it's a true short story--not an underdeveloped novella or novel--then you probably won't write anything longer than 15000 words.
Third, William Faulkner once said that the novelist is nothing more than the failed short-story writer. After the poem, the short-story is the hardest thing to write. There can't be any loose ends in a short story. Everything--every scene, every word--as to advance the story towards its end. I think Orson Scott Card said that in both time and energy, there's very little difference between writing a short story and a novel.
But if I had to give only one piece of advise, it would be this: READ AS MANY SHORT STORIES AS YOU CAN. This is the only way you can learn what makes a good short story.
Finally, in the field of SF/F, there are a few short-story writers you will undoubtedly want to read: Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellision, James Patrick Kelly, and Michael Sanswick immediately come to mind. These are some of the best in the field.
posted
When it comes to cutting, you cut everything you need to.
It's like the old joke about how to carve a duck. First you start with a block of wood, and then cut away anything that doesn't look like a duck. Writing is like that. If it doesn't advance the story or develop the characters, you might as well cut it. It could be an extra word or two, a sentence, or a whole page.
Some of my best lines have been reduced to random photons drifting through space. Hated to do it, but they just didn't work in the context of the story. I used to keep a file of such things, but lately have just been erasing them. I never go back to read all of those blips anyway.
I've recommended this book before, and I will probably do it again, so brace yourselves.
Pick up a copy of WRITING IN GENERAL AND THE SHORT STORY IN PARTICULAR by Rust L. Hills and read it. It's a short paperback and well worth the time and money.
posted
Thank's for bringing this up Bladeofwords (btw I envy your name) I've been struggling with this too. Right now I'm trying to get Shorts out that I can market but whenever I get going I realize it would take too long and move to the next wannabe peice.
Posts: 1895 | Registered: Mar 2004
|
posted
Do yourself a favor and pick up the book Kathleen suggests. It is very good, and explains some things that most writing books do not. I did have to step back a bit while reading it....the part that mentions plot, and how short stories don't have to have them. What was helpfull to me was to read some published short stories along with reading the book.
posted
You've gotten some great advice, so I'll just post one that I didn't see, but really helps.
Start as close to the end of the story as you can. Of course, that means you need to pretty much know how your story will end! Then you can use all the other advice to get you there.
I too found my stories growing long. Now I have some stories that started shorter, kind of bare bones getting my chars to the end. Then I go back and flesh stuff out, take the story a bit deeper, etc. It's really helping!
posted
> Start as close to the end of the story as > you can.
That's very good advice, with this caveat: Don't use flashbacks to tell the majority of the story.
Yes, you will need to fill in some of the backstory, but if more of the story you have to tell takes place before the point at which you start the story than takes place afterward, that can be a problem.
(As always, this rule can be broken if you're willing to pay the price.)
[This message has been edited by EricJamesStone (edited July 30, 2004).]
posted
Another good how-to book is Damon Knight's CREATING SHORT FICTION. Knight helps you develop and write short fiction. Read this first.
I've read half of Hill's book, and it's quite good so far. But it seems to be more theoretical than practical. Both are necessary, but get the practical under your belt first.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
