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December 22, 2011

Write Fiction? Why You Should Try a Short Story

Silhouette of person doing a bugle call

My regular readers know I typically write novel-length stories.  However, during one crazy four-day stretch, I wrote a long-ish short story/short-ish novella (novelette?).  For those of you following along at home, I’m referring to my story inspired by spam.

I’ve blogged before about how the experience was a great way to stretch myself, but even beyond that, attempting shorter length fiction can help us understand the basics for novel writing.

A novel is big.  Really big.  So big it’s hard sometimes to see the full picture of the story and know how best to shuffle the pieces.

But a short story is…well, short.  By necessity, short stories don’t use complicated subplots.  They don’t contain several reversals.  They are story structure at its most streamlined.  And by working in the short story format, we can learn to recognize and strengthen the structure of all our stories.

Why All Writers Should Try a Short Story

The lack of subplots and complications in a short story makes it easier to see the story’s bones.  In a short work, we can more easily see:

  • the three acts (setup, confrontation, and resolution)
  • the first turning point (where the story world gets turned upside down and the reader is introduced to the big story question)
  • the second turning point (climax/confrontation with the antagonist)
  • the story question (with no subplots, there’s only one main question driving the story, and this can be as straightforward as “will the protagonist survive?”)
  • the steps of the hero’s journey

When we have issues with a shorter work, we can find the problem more easily because it’s not buried under the complexities of a novel.  And as we get better about recognizing structure, we’ll be able to solve problems with novel length work.  We’ll know if the bones of a story are good.

Once our stories have good structure, we can add length, fix sagging middles, and speed up pacing by adding:

  • Reversals: setbacks for the protagonist.
  • Pinch points (as defined by Larry Brooks): reminders of the nature and implications of the antagonistic force (how bad is the bad guy?).
  • Turning points: revelations that change the context of the story.

Understanding how to develop short stories also helps us develop story ideas.  We’ll be able to take a story seed and know what we have to do to grow that into a bigger story.  Novels are simply short stories with more subplots added and more of those aspects listed above.

The Best Reason to Challenge Yourself with a Short Story

(Okay, I’ll admit I’m biased here.)

Announcing the Pitch Your Shorts (hee) online pitch session!  *releases confetti*  Yay!

Several editors from Entangled Publishing will be visiting my blog in the second week of January to take pitches for shorter length works.  They’re interested in stories with strong romantic elements that end in a “happily ever after” or a “happily for now.”  They’re looking for stories in the 10-60K word range and are open to many genres:

  • Contemporary
  • Historical
  • Romantic Thrillers
  • Science Fiction, Dystopian, Steampunk
  • Paranormal and Urban Fantasy
  • Fantasy

If you have stories already completed that would fit those guidelines, get them polished.  If you have ideas along those lines or if you’ve thought about attempting a short story, get writing.  (Another great thing about short stories is they’re quick to write and revise.)

The editors have promised they’ll make at least one request from those who pitch on my blog, and for the pitch that excites them the most, they’ll offer detailed feedback.

Do you notice that phrase: “they’ll make at least one request”?  That means this isn’t a contest, where only one pitch can win. This is more like a writing conference, where editors can request every pitch that interests them.  Yes, really.

This is a fantastic opportunity, and I want you all to consider pitching something.  I’m asking for you to help spread the word about this so everyone has time to get something ready.  I love helping my friends and readers out, and this could be a way to start a publishing career, experiment with a new genre/point-of-view/verb tense, or try out a new format.

Even if you consider yourself a novel writer, try writing a short story for this pitch session.  Get a head start on a New Year’s Resolution to work toward a publishing credit with a buzz-worthy publisher.  Plus, this is a chance to improve our skills.  In one shot, we can practice our structure, learn how to write a short story, pitch to several editors, and have a chance at a request and/or feedback.  How cool is that?

Mark your calendar: Pitch Your Shorts will begin January 10th

Have you written a short story before?  Have you ever developed a short story into a longer one?  Is it easier for you to see story structure in shorter works?  Will you be preparing a short story for Pitch Your Shorts?  (Please say yes!)

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Comments — What do you think?

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Carradee

While I think short stories can be good tools, I disagree that everyone should try them. *g* Some folks are novel writers; some are short story writers. Some are novelette writers. (And historically, what we call a “novella” now once was considered “novel” length.)

At any rate, that Pitch Your Shorts event sounds fun! ^_^

Jami's Tech Guy (Jay)

Ooh, a short story contest. Thanks Jami & unnamed Entangled editors! That’s perfect for my short attention span and would allow me to cash in some of the ‘betareading chits’ I’ve accumulated.

*Shakes brain to see what rattles out*
Hmmm… Two business ideas, a decent plan for a jewelery store heist, and peeking out from under the ginormous To-Do list, a “Contemporary with SciFi & Romantic Elements” story. The protagonist is a little young but I should be able to age him a couple years.

-Jay
@jaytechdad

Haley Whitehall

Jami, what a great way to help writers. I’ve never heard of a short story pitch fest. While I am not going to participate I will definitely spread the word.

Gene Lempp

When I returned to writing years ago (how long doesn’t matter) I wrote a group of shorts, mostly fantasy, entered them in contests, failed badly and came to the conclusion that learning structure might be a good idea. I have to pass on the invitation mainly because I just don’t write romance that well and I’m already a bit buried in projects. However, I’ll definitely pass this on.

No frowning, Jami *cookie with extra chocolate*. This is a super cool opportunity and I’m uber proud of you for being involved with it 🙂

Buffy Armstrong

Jami,
This sounds like so much fun. I have short that I’ve been meaning to finish since the summer. This just might a fire under my, well, you know what.

Buffy Armstrong

I got so excited I forgot a word! “This might light a fire under my, well, you know what.”

Mari

I have a very small handful of shorts published, and I’m convinced they take a (slightly) different skill set than novel-length works. I find shorts difficult. BUT earlier this summer, I also started writing YA fantasy, and I find it flows a lot better from my mind and hands than adult fantasy. Maybe I should try some YA shorts … hhhmmm

Amber

I was thinking that my Nano “novel” would be so much better as a “short story” (on the longer end of short). Maybe this is a sign? 🙂

Sarah Pearson

I will try my hardest to get this up on my blog next week, this news needs to be spread 🙂

Sonia G Medeiros

How exciting! Thanks for doing this, Jami. What a great opportunity.

Nancy S. Thompson

Happy holidays, Jami! I’m so glad I found you this past year!!

Melinda Collins

How exciting, Jami!! So excited that you’re having this on your blog! 🙂

I promise I will start thinking of some ideas and see what I can pound out over the next couple of weeks. I’m finally able to actually park it for longer than 15 minutes to where I can start writing again (darn day job!) – well, that should at least start on Monday. *crosses fingers*

Hope you have a safe and wonderful Christmas! 😀

Kaitlin

Oh! This sounds like so much fun! I should hunker down and think of something. It’s been awhile since I wrote a short story that wasn’t part of something larger.

Lena Corazon

Jami, what a wonderful opportunity! Tackling NaNo twice this year has been a reminder of just how intense and demanding the novel-writing process can be, and while I enjoy it, it is incredibly overwhelming. It’s given me a new appreciation for short forms of fiction, and I’ve had a few ideas floating around for a prequel-esque short story for my steampunk novel. This will be a great excuse to try and hammer it out!

Angela M

Heck, yes! I’m all over this! Thank you for hosting such a great opportunity. I’m told Entangled is wonderful to work with 😉

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[…] when a blogger said “Hey, I’m going to have a pitch session on my blogs!” I sort of eyed it for a minute going “that’s cool, but, […]

Heather
Heather

I LOVE writing short stories and novels; however, somehow my short stories always turn out to end rather morbidly. I kind of love how short stories capture a character without delving into all his/her motivations, usually primarily through action. Kind of like poems, sometimes the short stories pack more pow for the punch than a novel.

Kate

Sounds fascinating! Let’s see if I can get the romance-less one I’m working on out of the way. If I can, I’ll jump in. 🙂

Teresa Robeson

Wow, sounds like a really terrific opportunity for your readers! Thank you and the editors for offering it.

Alas I probably can’t play because I actually write short stories…and when I say short, I mean approaching flash-fic short. I curse my ADD for making it so hard to write even novellas, let alone novels.

Have a very happy New Year!

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[…] Writing Stuff *Quick Reminder: Don’t forget the Pitch Your Shorts pitch session coming January 10th.  Get your 10-60K stories ready.  More details to […]

Patsy Collins

I love writing short stories, so I’m tempted to give this a go.

Claudia

I will for sure try, but where shall I send the story assuming it is finished? 🙂

L'Aussie

Hi! I’m so glad I found your post via Sarah Pearson! Love this topic as I love to write and publish short stories. Not sure I agree that they’re easier to write than a novel – I write both! Writing short stories is more than just practise for novel writing, I believe it is an art all by itself.

I may have something suitable for this challenge. Looks like I need to get polishing!

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

You have a wonderful blog and I’ll be back to read more. I’ve followed you so I’ll be able to keep tabs on you!

Happy New Year! Much writing success!

Denise

Sondra C
Sondra C

I am glad to have found this as it might help. I have been writing all my life, but do not consider myself a writer. Who am I and what I am has yet been determined. I write what I think and feel but not yet a writer.

I wrote a Flash Fiction called The Woman in the Window. It is on my blog and in an article in AC. If you can find it, I am too tired to search, please let me know if this Flash Fiction is what it should be and if I can use it to write and join you in your writing journey.

I am serious. I am a great grandmother, and serious about writing. I do not recall any part of my life that did not find me with a pencil in my hand. I would like to leave the article writing and things of the heart, to leap into becoming a writer, “the topic of my last article on my blog’. If you or any one of you giants in the writing field care to help me take the leap, it would very much be appreciated.

Thank you. Sondra C

Aldrea Alien

10-60k?
Darn, I’m 6k too long on one (fantasy/with a bit of romance), another’s only just beginning, and I’m half-way through a revision of the one I’d self-published (paranormal/bit of historical/romance) which would be smack in the middle when it comes to word count.

Ah well, I’m still popping over to see what crops up. ^_^

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[…] Writing Stuff *Quick Reminder: I hope you’re all getting a 10-60K story ready for the Pitch Your Shorts pitch session coming January […]

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