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FIRST PLACE
Five Reasons Why You Should
Write
a Short Story
By Margo L. Dill
St. Charles, Missouri
Some writers dream of Oprah announcing
their novel as her next book club selection. Others
fantasize the
day they accept the Pulitzer Prize. Few authors daydream
about receiving two contributor copies after having
a short story published. Yet, writing short stories
can improve your writing skills and increase your marketability.
Members of my critique group frequently debate this
question: Why should novel writers spend valuable time
writing short stories? My answer is, "Because
it's worth it!" Many well-known novelists, such
as Mark Twain and Steven King, have successfully published
short stories. Writing a shorter piece can make your
life as a novelist easier. Here are five benefits to
writing short stories, even if your main goal is to
create the next great American novel.
SENSE OF COMPLETION
Writing short stories gives you a sense of completion.
Writers often complain, "It took me years and
years to get my novel just right." Novels are
like spaghetti sauce, simmering for days; whereas short
stories are like the noodles-boiling and ready in twenty
minutes.
One of the benefits of writing a short story is the
amount of time it takes to complete. You might sketch
out a rough draft after three sessions at your computer.
Then you set the story aside for a few days before
revising and editing. Next, you present the story to
a friend or critique group to get other opinions. You
again revise and edit, add those finishing touches,
and-Voila! You have a completed story. This process
takes weeks instead of years.
Completing a manuscript gives a feeling of accomplishment.
Just like an artist enjoys displaying a finished painting,
most writers love to share their work. How wonderful
it feels when a complete piece can be revealed for
enjoyment or critique. In any profession, it is important
to experience accomplishments such as an architect
who views her new building or a chef tasting his perfect
meal or an author seeing her work in print from beginning
to end.
Successful writers can use both the experience of the
novel and short story to further their career.
PUBLICATION CREDITS
Getting anything published is hard work. You must be
dedicated to rewriting, rewriting, and more rewriting.
You have to research the market, learn proper manuscript
format, and write a brilliant cover letter. Getting
a short story published is like playing a good game
of miniature golf-it's not as easy as it looks, but
with knowledge, skill, and practice, you can do it.
Getting a novel published is like playing professional
golf -it's much more difficult and fewer people do
it. David Kirkland, who has published short stories
in magazines and anthologies such as New American Review,
The Storyteller, and Skyline Literary Review, agrees, "Short
fiction is very much easier to get published, in my
experience, than is breaking into print with a first
novel."
Many markets exist for your short stories from magazines
with a circulation of 200,000 to hard-back anthologies
to your writer's group newsletter. Contests for shorter
works fill writing websites and magazines. But why
should you bother to submit your work?
Let's look at Writer A and Writer B. Writer A has never
published anything and has worked on his fantasy novel
for three years. He is finished and looking for an
agent. In his cover letter, he writes an exciting summary
and a convincing argument of why his work is different
from other fantasies. In his closing paragraph, he
has nothing to write for previous publications. The
agent is not impressed.
Writer B has also completed her first fantasy novel,
which she entered into a contest and won first prize.
She has written several short stories and had a few
published. In her cover letter, she lists her previous
writing successes. This shows she is serious about
her writing. As David Kirkland states, "Having
credits ought to suggest to an agent or editor that
the work is likely to have quality and be worth a look."
Writer Donna Volkenannt, who has published a short
story in Cave Hollow Press Anthology I and won Honorable
Mention in the 4th Annual Steinbeck Competition, has
similar advice. "I've read about writers who were
contacted after an agent read one of their stories
in a magazine. This leads me to believe having a short
story published can help a writer find an agent."
Remember an agent or editor needs to make money off
your book. If no one has read your work or published
it, why should someone take an economic risk on you?
Speaking of money, sometimes you get paid for shorter
pieces. A lot of magazines pay in copies, but some
do give you a check. And the best news about submitting
a short story is you don't need an agent. Editors deal
directly with you.
EXPAND YOUR RANGE
Short stories present an opportunity to work on different
genres. For example, a writer's group sponsors a Halloween
short story contest. Most of the members work on other
genres throughout the year such as westerns, romance,
or mysteries. For this contest, each person creates
a spooky story. The writer's group does not publish
the winning entries, and members are free to submit
their ghostly tales to other contests and magazines.
Some were successful and had stories published. Without
the Halloween contest, most members would not have
tackled this genre.
Many writers start out in one particular genre. They
begin writing what they love to read. Because people
have read romance or science fiction all their life,
they decide to try these genres. But what if there's
a mystery inside these authors, ready to spill out
if it is just allowed? A short story is the perfect
place to expand into the mystery genre.
A lot of elementary teachers write books for children.
They spend hours reading books to their students and
watching the sparkle in children's eyes, deciding to
write one themselves. But Harry Potter and Ramona Quimby
are not the only characters teachers enjoy; some may
love Bridget Jones or Bilbo Baggins. Again, a short
story is a great place to attempt mainstream or fantasy.
Published author, Luella Turner, writes in many genres.
She has worked on a western novel about Wild Bill Hickok
as well as a mainstream novel about Al Capone. Her
short stories range from sci-fi to suspense to mainstream. "I've
tried it all," she says. "It's fun to write
something completely out of character just to see if
you can."
So, you're in the middle of a western novel, but love
children's picture books-try writing one. If you have
worked for years on your fantasy trilogy, but saw an
interesting contest for a horror story under a thousand
words, why not enter?
WORK ON THE CRAFT
You can use short stories to strengthen your writing
skills. Maybe you need to work on writing realistic
dialogue or fitting all five senses into your description.
Perhaps you want to use flashbacks, but can't seem
to make smooth transitions. Or a friend, who critiqued
your opening chapters, said your main character was
typical and boring.
Try working out these problems in a short story, focusing
on improving those particular weaknesses. For example,
if you are having trouble with dialogue tags, write
a short story where two characters discuss their daughter's
murder. Practice putting action before or after your
dialogue instead of using the word "said." To
solve your typical characters problem, create a new
character, listing his unique qualities and then write
a short story about him. See if this method works for
you before you change your entire novel.
A short story is a good place to experiment. Donna
Volkenannt agrees, "Writing short stories has
given me the freedom to experiment with language, point
of view, and voice."
It is easier to try out new techniques in a shorter
piece. Writer Amy Harke-Moore, published in magazines
such as Grit, Permafrost, and Writer's Journal, looks
at it this way, "The short story form lends itself
to experimentation. I don't have to worry that I've
invested years in something that might not work in
the end."
Write in different points of view or in first person
instead of third. If you admire someone's writing style,
you could try a similar story. If you take risks, attempt
various styles or voices, and focus on your weaknesses,
you will grow as a writer.
A CURE FOR WRITER'S BLOCK
Writing a short story may help you overcome writer's
block. When writing a long piece, sometimes you find
yourself in a rut and become frustrated. You avoid
working on your manuscript and may waste time cleaning
out your files or emailing your long, lost cousin.
Why not do something more productive and write a short
tale? Amy Harke-Moore has used this technique. "When
I get stuck in a particular place, either in the novel
or short story, I take a break and move to the other."
For example, if you are trapped in the 14th century,
in the middle of a heated romance with your heroine
about to make a terrible decision, but you can't figure
out what, take a break. Write a short story for kids
about a magical land. While you are a twelve-year old
fighting dragons, maybe you will discover your heroine
enters the dungeon to search for her lover. Suddenly,
a large beam knocks her on the head and gives her amnesia.
Writing something different can give you the oomph
you need to continue with your novel. Your subconscious
has a chance to take over and solve your plot problems.
Just make sure to keep paper handy to jot down ideas
for your novel.
The next time you ponder, "Why should I waste
time writing a short story?" remember what they
can do for you. Short stories can improve your writing
skills, enhance your marketability, and bring you a
step closer to publishing that great American novel.
Copyright (c) 2003 for the
author, all rights reserved.
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