I'm seriously thinking about stopping my short story writing for now until I read a *lot* more of them to get the idea of them down...typically I don't read short stories at all, and lately I've been reading them only to pick them apart, especially the beginnings and endings. So far, I've had a lot of ideas for stories, but I think I have problems packing in all I need to pack in within 5000 words or so, and I think my general idea-making process may be flawed...I seem to think that I need to put the protagonist in some sort of mortal peril for me to achieve something close to tension I want. Also, lately, most of my story ideas revolve around the concept of uncommon, spooky communication with animals, or even whole planets, and then the person communicated with threatens to be won over and wants to meld with or otherwise join the force/entity who made contact with them...or something along those lines. I need a far more subtle plot-making approach, which is why I think I need to read a *lot* more stories. It's rather difficult for me to come up with an ordinary tension situation that doesn't wind up sounding like a Twilight Zone episode for some reason, regardless of whatever happy ending I put on them.
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
Usually writing is a better way to figure out how to write than not writing is.
Posted by Grimslade (Member # 3173) on :
Read short stories. Read novellas. Read flash. Read poetry. Examples of short fiction will inspire you to write a little more focused and concise. You can start to see patterns and tropes that you like and don't like. But, never stop writing. Free yourself to make mistakes and epiphanies. Your writing will improve the more you flex that muscle or it can atrophy from lack of use.
Grim
Posted by Neoindra (Member # 3422) on :
I agree with Beth, keep writing and having people critique. Of course you could also read the short stories while you are at it, but if you stop writing and just read you may figure out what they are doing right, but that won’t necessarily tell you where you are going wrong.
One idea to look into is keeping a journal…that might help you find everyday tension.
[This message has been edited by Neoindra (edited June 13, 2006).]
Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
Its better to think about it as you do it. Thinking without doing is not really either.
Even nuclear reactor operators learn by doing. Okay so that's a scary thought, but it's true.
Posted by Nietge (Member # 3474) on :
LOL, NeoIndra, if I start keeping a journal, I would just be spouting maximalist silly nonsense like I've done with a few of my infamous Hatrack posts that everyone in here avoids like plutonium. Kept long after its Best If Used By date.
Not sure I'll really stop writing short stories...but another factor is it'll cut into my novel writing time. Then again, I write whatever as Mizz Muse biddeth. Since she's, yanno, the *boss* and everything (yup, I'm a matriarchy). Gotta strike while the 5-iron is at least semi-lukewarm.
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
Of course, if you *can* stop writing, it's probably better. Less frustrating.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Write what suits you, whatever length it may be.
I have trouble sustaining things after a certain point---my last serious attempt at a novel, back in January, and my third pass at that particular idea, got up to about nine thousand words before grinding to a halt in the first scene of Chapter Two. (Lately it's all ground to a halt, but I'm hopeful at getting back to some of it...)
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
Well the silly nonsense will come out anyway and a journal is a good place for it. (I have a file called HUH which is huge and filled with such junk.) And remember The Twighlight Zone was a good show.
Write the story exactally as long (or short) as it should be, but you can't know that before you start. So just keep writing, (or stop as Wbriggs suggests but I don't belive that you can.)
Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :
quote: I have problems packing in all I need to pack in within 5000 words
That's your problem. Let the story tell you how long it wants to be.
Posted by Nietge (Member # 3474) on :
I would love to let the story expand to the length it feels like it needs to...but then, these mags i've been looking at submitting to have 5k word limits, is the thing...
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Well, there's always editing. If, say, something you intended to write at five thousand words came in at ten or fifteen thousand, get out your pencil and start crossing things out on the manuscript. (Or the computer equivalent thereof.)
Look long and hard at the page (or screen), and say to yourself, "Do I really need that page? That paragraph? That sentence? That word? That bit of description? That adverb? That character and his scenes and dialog?"
So cut, and cut, and cut, until you've got it somewhere around the word length you intended...then retype...
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
Or pick a different market. There are markets that take longer stories.
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
And stop knocking the Twlight Zone, at least the black and white version, that was very good storytelling. Cheesy effect, true, but good acting, and a little bit of imagination let the viewer see through to the good writing.
Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :
You can stop writing? That's an option?
I critiqued a great story a while back, good execution, great idea, wonderful characters. The problem was the author was trying to "keep" it a short story when it really shouldn't have been. Most of my comments were in the nature of "great idea but I really need to know . . ." Or, given the story why would X agree to what X does? Wouldn't X take a more cautious approach. The problem was that in 5000 words, X didn't have the page space to act consitently with his character.
Write the story and worry about editing it to a particular lenght later.
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on :
You can always pull a Heinlein and remove all the definite and indefinite articles. Call it "voice."
Don't limit yourself to just articles, though.
Posted by Nietge (Member # 3474) on :
quote:You can always pull a Heinlein and remove all the definite and indefinite articles. Call it "voice."
Hmm...where did Heinlein do? Intriguing notion; perhaps I should look up man's stories and books, and look for instances of. Dunno if I can do text with no def/indef arties. Have you tried? Speech might become a little awkward, no? Again, interesting challenge. Should try soon.