Look how these five words transform everything…
Someone sent me this, this morning and a, haha, of course! And b, look how the last line turns this into an actual story…
The last line, just five words, puts the reader into a specific moment. Something is happening. We have a character to root for. Stakes! Suspense! (Ok, mild suspense but still).
That line alone transforms the whole thing from an funny observation into a story.
Short stories are fun to write, fast to compose (well, faster than books), and they get published every single day.
This post is by my guest Windy Lynn Harris, author of Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays: The Essential Guide To Getting Your Work Published (Writer’s Digest Books, 2017)
Writing a short story is a worthy mission. Short stories are fun to write, fast to compose (well, faster than books), and they get published every single day. Here’s a quick guide to help you craft short stories like a pro.
Before we get started, let’s put ourselves in short story mode. Your goal when writing a short story is to deliver a satisfying narrative in a very small package. Short stories aren’t tiny novels. They rarely have any subplots at all. Instead, the action revolves around one main conflict. The theme is revealed through a character and his or her obstacles. Tension keeps the reader invested in the stakes all the way through to the resonant ending.
That might sound like a lot to manage all at once, but if you break the artistic process down to three steps, you’ll find your way to a satisfying story without wandering off the map.
Continue reading “Write A Short Story in Three Easy Steps – Windy Lynn Harris”
Flash fiction is more than just a collection of fewer than 1000 words. Flash fiction must…FLASH!
In this episode I talk about,
I also remind listeners that it’s almost time for the March SWAGr post, where we make our commitments for the coming month.
February is the shortest month, so we’re focusing on the shortest of fiction: flash!
(And, yes, I know there are shorter forms, but this is the particular short-short form I picked, ok?)
This week I talk about what flash is and why you might want to be writing it. Includes bonus trivia about Impressionism.
LINKS
Last week’s flash fiction writing prompt: https://storyaday.org/wow-make-it-flash/
The latest Reading Room review featuring flash fiction: https://storyaday.org/rr-meteor-mccolough/
This month’s Accountability Group post: https://storyaday.org/swagr-feb-2017/
Follow StoryADay on Twitter: @storyadaymay
Today I wrap up the Story Structure series with a Hansel & Gretel, a story that starts with the Life Changing Moment.
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170530-hansel
There are, of course, as many definitions of Flash Fiction as there are writers.
Continue reading “Writing Flash Fiction Gems – Small, Precious, and Slower Than You’d Think”
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A 6-part journey through the short story.
Starts Jan 3, 2025
