Just finished writing a short story that haunted my mind for a while now. It's probably the most powerful piece I've ever written. I'm literally on the verge of tears.
I feel like everything I write falls within a universe, like I'm building a world slowly with each word.
I realized two things on my drive home form work this evening.
1: I should write some short stories and have them polished before I try to write my epic novel of epicness.
2: I should probably write a lot of polished short stories.
I feel like everything I write falls within a universe, like I'm building a world slowly with each word.
The more I write different stories, the more I'm realizing I'm doing this unintentionally.
Ah, but the stakes don't have to be life and death for the world, or even literally for the protagonist - they just have to be so IMPORTANT to the protagonist that they matter to the reader too.How do you pitch a YA book when the stakes are not life and death?
Ah, but the stakes don't have to be life and death for the world, or even literally for the protagonist - they just have to be so IMPORTANT to the protagonist that they matter to the reader too.
F'rinstance: how many YA books are basically just a category romance with teenage MCs? (Mine, for one!) In most "pure" romances - as opposed to romantic suspense or paranormal, say - the stakes are often "just" emotional, and the stories are very "small". But they sell a whole lot of them every year. The trick is figuring out how to convey that the stakes are big enough *to the MC* that they justify the story.
I am in completely this situation now. I've got a fair chunk of novel written but I've dialled back to start writing short stories based within the same world. I think it will help. Good luck!
The more I write different stories, the more I'm realizing I'm doing this unintentionally. It's become my own little universe like Stephen King's Castle Rock.
Also, I've been focusing a lot on scriptwriting the past few years. I think I may revisit my short story writing to freshen things up a bit.
I found an old unedited short from my freshman year CW course. I realized the characters in the story are also in my novel... I had started writing it six years ago without knowing?
Im also afraid to lump everything into one universe because i might miss out on something that can be awesome on its own, not tethered down by a gigantic universe.
I just started writing the first of many, I hope! I think I like this idea of short stories within the greater story. Maybe I can even reference to them in the novel hehe
HA! Fake laugh! Hiding real painStarted something new yesterday, had it planned out for about a year and really want to do it, good, trippy SF idea.
Now I'm on page one, and I want to give up writing forever and throw it in the Pit of Tartarus. Surely, I'm the only writer who's ever felt this way evar.
HA! Fake laugh! Hiding real pain
I want to give up writing forever and throw it in the Pit of Tartarus.
Just finished writing a short story that haunted my mind for a while now. It's probably the most powerful piece I've ever written. I'm literally on the verge of tears.
Giving up writing fiction has been a heartbreaking pill to to swallow. But I had to do it, because I am not a novelist.
The Shadburn Shadow was published in the Voice today. I have 9 more pending submission. I'm going to write two for November, then edit my nonfiction book for awhile.