Carole Fowkes is a freelance journalist, as well as a food and restaurant reviewer. Her
articles and short stories have appeared in Dallas Morning News, Chicken
Soup for the Soul, Cup of Comfort, and several other short story and
news publications. She has six books published with Ink Lion Books.
Carole’s writing has a quirky twist Joe R. Landsdale fans will enjoy. I
met Carole through Writers-Unite, and we quickly set up a guest post.
Keep reading to rediscover the magical world of short stories!
Many
children grow up reading short stories, perhaps about fuzzy bears or
cute puppies. As they get older, some switch to novels and never look
back. What a shame, since those readers are missing out on a
wonderfully compact delight.
That’s right, the short story.
Most
people will agree a short story can conveniently be read in one
sitting. But that isn’t the only thing that makes this type of
literature such a joy. As a published writer and lover of short
stories, I want to tell you what I believe makes them not just good, but
compelling reads. The very first thing is the story’s opening.
Since
it’s written to be read in one sitting, the short story’s beginning must
catch the reader’s attention not just in the first paragraph, but in
the first line. Since, by definition, a short story has fewer words
than a novel, each word must count for something, and this is no truer
than in the opening. The first line also sets the story’s tone. For
example, in Carol Ann,
my story of a sin-eater, I hope to do both by beginning with, “Nick
first spotted her in late October as she worked the street with the
other hustlers.”
As
for the body of these story types, if a sentence or even a word doesn’t
move the plot along, it should be eliminated. This goes for extraneous
characters as well. Whenever I write dialogue or introduce a new
character, I have to ask myself, for what purpose? I’m the first to
admit I have a hard time eliminating something in my story I consider
witty. But when it’s critiqued by other writers, if it isn’t needed, it
goes.
Along
with keeping the characters and what they say on target, the same is
true with the central theme or idea. If more than one theme presents
itself, the writer may be creating a novel because a short story only
allows the full development of one central idea. With more, the author
risks the reader getting to the end and wondering where the rest of the
story went. Or worse, the original idea is watered down in an effort to
keep the word count low and the reader loses interest.
So
much for the beginning and middle of a short story, but what about the
end? Even if the short story is horror or fantasy such as what I write,
the story should come to a logical conclusion. For example, unless
it’s set up in the plot, a demon bent on destruction will not, at the
very end save the village.
And
now, the logical end of this all is to encourage those of you who
haven’t read a short story in a while to pick one up. You never know
what thrills await you in those compact, written pages.
Here are two of Carole's books. Purchase Thirsthere
and Little Cookbook of Horrors vol.2 here in ebook format only.
Now...how badly do you want to pick up a short story? Thank you so much Carole for writing this amazing post for us! Happy Short Story Day!
9 comments:
I just recently started reading short stories. Never care for them before, but now I actually enjoy them. Thanks for the interesting information on them.
Hi M. Glad you saw the light and now see how entertaining short stories can be. And you're welcome for the information.
I've read most of your short stories and enjoyed them.
I love short stories! I enjoy being able to start and finish a whole story during my lunch break.
It's like being able to fit in a fun half hour sitcom versus sitting through a long two and a half hour movie.
Short stories can sometimes be more intense than a whole book, and are often thought-provoking. A short story doesn't seem like as big of an emotional commitment, either. OTH, I can remember some short stories that have had a big impact on me.
As you mentioned, every word counts in a short story. Whereas in a novel a writer can meander and then I have to skim.
I love the crisp succinct writing in a short story. Every word evokes an image or advances the plot.
And because of that, IMO, you short story writers have to work harder, be better at the nuances of words, and subtleties in characterization, than novelists. Like poets you must consider every word.
Good on ya, Carole! Thanks for the interesting article.
I completely agree with you Kathleen! :D
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for your comments. IT's truly great to see a fellow short story fan. I agree with you about some short stories making a huge impact. I remember reading Edgar Allen Poe as a child (weird, huh?). I loved his short stories and obviously, they made a huge impact on my writing.
I usually don't read short stories. I love the feeling of being in the throes of a novel, seeing life through the eyes of the narrator, hearing his or her voice in my mind's ear. But these short stories grab me quickly and I'm tossed in to a world that bears little resemblance to LIFE. It is a fun read and a journey worth taking.
Your writing has introducted me to short stories and yours are the best! Deranged Seating was fabulous! And I love your recipes. Keep us posted on all your new publications. We are looking forward to reading them.
Anonymous, you put the beauty of reading short stories very well. Thank you.
Hi Nancy, Thank you so much for your comments. I'm glad you liked "Deranged Seating". It's my first novella and if you're interested, the sequel will be coming out soon.
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