Advice for my first short story attempts

MsGneiss · Aug 7, 2009

Hello short fiction writers -

I've never tried short fiction, have always concentrated my efforts on novella or novel length work. But now, I would really like to try my hand at shorter stuff, and see if I can come up with something of at least moderate quality.

Do you have any advice for somebody who is used to plotting out 60K, and now wants to try 1K-10K works?

Mumut · Aug 7, 2009

Perhaps think along the lines of a side plot but on its own. But if you just start writing with 'short' in mind, your own creativity will do the rest. That's what I find, anyway.

mookwac · Aug 7, 2009

It always helped me to come up with just one scene that had some meaning, like a snapshot of a moment. When that's written, you can either build on it or look at it and realize it stands on its own.

Summonere · Aug 7, 2009

Read bunches of short stories.

The Lonely One · Aug 7, 2009

sleepsheep said:
Hello short fiction writers -

I've never tried short fiction, have always concentrated my efforts on novella or novel length work. But now, I would really like to try my hand at shorter stuff, and see if I can come up with something of at least moderate quality.

Do you have any advice for somebody who is used to plotting out 60K, and now wants to try 1K-10K works?

When I'm writing short fiction I'm aware the concepts and ideas behind the story are usually singular, that I have focused on a facet of a character's truth rather than the depth of their entire story. The plot arc usually takes much less distance to get through. My short fiction often takes a primarily internal struggle and couples with it over a short, sharp sprint.

Some stories just need to be novels. There's so much more to them. My novel ideas are primarily external struggles which bring about an internal change of some sort. I don't know if there's any general statement regarding the differences, this is just my experience.

Now you:

Do you have any advice for someone who pops out short story after short story yet keeps watching his novel chapters crumble?

The Lonely One · Aug 7, 2009

Summonere said:
Read bunches of short stories.

Oh. And this. This also is good.

efkelley · Aug 7, 2009

Definitely pick up an anthology or two in your genre and give them a read. Not only does it give you an idea of what's been done but also how to do it.

In the Novels sub-forum there's a discussion on summarizing a book in one or two sentences. Most short stories under 10k words should be a single sentence.

Examples from my own stuff:

A murder mystery aboard a colony ship days away from planetfall.
A court martial surrounding a botched first contact.
A boarding action carried out in cyberspace.
A demon kicked out of Hell with no notion why.

I hope that's useful in some way.

Timothy · Aug 7, 2009

I suggest that you purchase "The Lie That Tells a Truth" by John Dufresne. I just finished reading it. I had no experience in writing anything more than a term paper or book report. Now I feel I possess more experience in writing fiction than I ever have before. Mr. Dufresne gives wonderful advice for both the beginning writer and the veteran writer. His principles can be applied to any genre but are especially helpful to fiction.

The Lonely One · Aug 7, 2009

Timothy said:
I suggest that you purchase "The Lie That Tells a Truth" by John Dufresne. I just finished reading it. I had no experience in writing anything more than a term paper or book report. Now I feel I possess more experience in writing fiction than I ever have before. Mr. Dufresne gives wonderful advice for both the beginning writer and the veteran writer. His principles can be applied to any genre but are especially helpful to fiction.

Second this. Second this big time. Dufresne makes me wet in my pants.

cathyfreeze · Aug 7, 2009

Lots of good advice. My own take is summut what others have said:

--a short is a very personal journey. So think of a very personal need/danger/desire for a character. Make it something that the character has to focus *all* their attention and energy on, so that Dire Consequences don't ensue.

Then, write the climatic scene, first (or have it in mind and write toward it.)

And definitely read tons of shorts in your chosen genre (and beyond.) No need to spend money on 'em, generally; there are hundreds of free ezines out there with very good work in 'em.

For specfic, actually, i recommend Strange Horizons, Chizine, Ideomancer, Fantasy Mag (those last two are special to me; i used to be editor at one and i've got fiction at the other.) All but Ideo are pro mags--Ideo's semi-pro but has tons of wuffie (they do cutting edge stuff that garners lots of awards.)

You could do worse than study what the above mags publish, imho.

cat

wyntermoon · Aug 7, 2009

The Lonely One said:
Second this. Second this big time. Dufresne makes me wet in my pants.

Now THAT is a blurb.

benbradley · Aug 7, 2009

Here's as jump-into-the-frying-pan suggestion - go here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=33
Click on the "Flash Fiction Challenge" but before you do, note the password - you'll be promoted for it once (until you clear your cookies). Then click on the thread titled:
Welcome to AW's Flash Fiction Challenge! PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
It's got all the instruction you need (at least we think so). If you're ready to try your hand at what you can do in 90 minutes, click on the thread titled:
FF challenge for Sunday, August 2, 2009
and once you read the prompt you'll have 90 minutes to write a story. Technically you should start within 24 hours of the prompt being posted, but since this will be your first time, I'll ask Peter and QueenB to give you a pass.

A new prompt is posted every Sunday evening at 9PM Eastern time, and there's always a few of us FF'ers on the #absolutewrite channel on the Starchat server (or just click the link near the top of this page) chatting in between writing our stories.

wyntermoon · Aug 7, 2009

benbradley said:
Here's as jump-into-the-frying-pan suggestion - go here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=33
Click on the "Flash Fiction Challenge" but before you do, note the password - you'll be promoted for it once (until you clear your cookies). Then click on the thread titled:
Welcome to AW's Flash Fiction Challenge! PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
It's got all the instruction you need (at least we think so). If you're ready to try your hand at what you can do in 90 minutes, click on the thread titled:
FF challenge for Sunday, August 2, 2009
and once you read the prompt you'll have 90 minutes to write a story. Technically you should start within 24 hours of the prompt being posted, but since this will be your first time, I'll ask Peter and QueenB to give you a pass.

A new prompt is posted every Sunday evening at 9PM Eastern time, and there's always a few of us FF'ers on the #absolutewrite channel on the Starchat server (or just click the link near the top of this page) chatting in between writing our stories.

Sounds like fun, I've been thinking of jumping in myself.

I'll see you Sunday!

pdr · Aug 7, 2009

KISS

K.I.S.S. your short story.

That is Keep It Short and Simple.

One exciting incident, one or two characters, every word counting to say what you want to say.

There is no room for fluff or padding in a short story. It need to be short sharp and to the point.

astonwest · Aug 8, 2009

sleepsheep said:
Do you have any advice for somebody who is used to plotting out 60K, and now wants to try 1K-10K works?

Try writing your entire plot on one side of a 3x5 note card...then write your story only based on that plot.

NicoleMD · Aug 8, 2009

I suggest using writing prompts also. Then you can feel free to experiment without worrying about messing up your own ideas.

Nicole

Eldritch · Aug 9, 2009

Interior designers recommend choosing a focal point (like a fireplace or an Oriental rug) and decorating the rest of the room around it. Try doing this with writing. Take an image, and create a short story around it.

I did this recently using the image of a girl throwing something into a well, and I was very pleased with the resulting story.

cathyfreeze · Aug 9, 2009

Eldritch said:
Interior designers recommend choosing a focal point (like a fireplace or an Oriental rug) and decorating the rest of the room around it. Try doing this with writing. Take an image, and create a short story around it.

I did this recently using the image of a girl throwing something into a well, and I was very pleased with the resulting story.

Nodnod. That's the idea behind most of those picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words prompts. They work wonders, sometimes.

They don't work very well for me, tho. I came up with a great scene, once or twice, but never could come up with a whole story.

cat

Lucky Jim · Aug 12, 2009

efkelley said:
Most short stories under 10k words should be a single sentence.

With no punctuation.

The Lonely One · Aug 14, 2009

The Lonely One said:
Second this. Second this big time. Dufresne makes me wet in my pants.

On this note, I also recommend Johnny Too Bad, which is one of his short story collections. There's another one, I believe, The Way Water Enters Into Stone, or something like that. For my style, I really enjoy learning from him.

Like a Fox · Aug 14, 2009

I only write shorts. Not because that's my focus, but because I'm just starting out and I like instant gratification. I need to learn the exact opposite of what you want to learn.

But one of the important things I've learnt about short stories, is to finish them. So many of the well known short story writers have a tendency for ambiguity. Which, in my opinion, if great if it serves a purpose to the story, like if your focus in the story is the unknowable universe (for example), then ambiguity makes sense and is clever. Otherwise, give it an ending. Leave your reader satisfied.

The only way I learnt though, was to read short fiction. Found some I like, and paid attention to the structure. I think there's room for fun, even sub plots to an extent though, depending on your length. I've written lots of 500 word stories, mostly for little competitions. Severeal 1-2k. And a few up to 6k. 6000 words give you lots of room for characters and development. I guess if you're trying to slow yourself down from novel style pacing, maybe choose a short period of time. One day, for example. One afternoon, and make the whole story happen within that. Just to get the knack of it.

Here are two of my favourite short stories:

http://faculty.uca.edu/rnovy/Leiber--SpaceTime for Springers.htm

http://www.strangehorizons.com/2002/20020204/little_gods.shtml

Hope that's helpful

cathyfreeze · Aug 14, 2009

Like a Fox said:
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2002/20020204/little_gods.shtml

Hope that's helpful

Thanks for the "Little Gods" link; it's lovely!

cat

Like a Fox · Aug 14, 2009

Yeah he's a nice writer actually, Tim Pratt I think it is. Stumbled across him bored at work one day.

I love the other one. I had to read it a few times to really appreciate it.
I also have a kitten so that helps with the appreciation factor.

The Backward OX · Aug 14, 2009

Like a Fox said:
Yeah he's a nice writer actually, Tim Pratt I think it is. Stumbled across him bored at work one day.

I love the other one. I had to read it a few times to really appreciate it.
I also have a kitten so that helps with the appreciation factor.

...

Like a Fox · Aug 14, 2009

The Backward OX said:
...

"Hi" would suffice.

Advice for my first short story attempts

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