Inspired by a chat at last night's writers' group, I've decided to break from the Herculean task of my 3rd novel and take another stab at the mighty short story. (I may even enter it in a contest - though it would have to have a cool logo like the one above:) Although I edit short stories for others and read them constantly, the truth is: Crafting a short story invokes my deepest fears...also fire-breathing dragons. To qualm my litany of phobias, I thought I'd remind myself of some rules I keep in my back pocket when I'm giving feedback to those other fearless short story writers. They are: Credit: writersandartists.co.uk THE RULES: (For hard-core visual learners, see sample photo above:) 1. Come out swinging No tiptoeing through the tulips on your first page; if you've got to trounce through any flowers, make them roses with sharp thorns. Otherwise flee that garden and dive into the meat of your story. Nuff said. 2. Local Colour (yes, in Canada we spell it with a 'u') The greatest short stories I've read have made me feel that this specific story could only have happened in this exact setting while, at the same time, evoking a sense of experience, or possibility, or memory of something in my own cultural setting. Cultural ambience is key, provides a tone and ideally a unique rhythm to the storytelling itself. 3. Characterization No flat characters here! Three-dimensional character development is an absolute must as well as the personalities need to fit the fiction. Give them secrets and if they ever become stereotypes, kill them off! And speaking of killing. . . 4. Kill Your Babies Tight writing is key in a great short story. Even if you love them, dismiss any non-essential characters, descriptions or complications that aren't integral to the underlying pattern. 5. Be a Shit Disturber Take a quiet, normal event and create conflict and tension that will keep the reader glued to their chair unable to go take a piss. Learn more about short story tips from Kurt Vonnegut (You Tube video included); Or maybe you'd rather learn from Edgar Allen Poe; Or if, like me, you're an Alice Munro fan you'll like this interview. Wishing one & all a fabulous weekend! TartanFrog
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I'm a lobster fisherman's daughter, so this quote ranks amongst my favourites: "That is, as Markus Paul now knew, Max was much like a lobster in a trap. He would come in through a large door to find a small one, and then a smaller one still, always looking forward, always finding himself able to fit in, not knowing he would never be able to back out." It's from David Adams Richards' 2011 novel, Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul, which won the Thomas Raddall award (best novel category) at the Writers' Federation ceremony a couple of weeks ago. For top reasons to go buy this book and read it now, read here. Happy Birthday Lil Sis! Today I dedicate my blog to my favourite youngest sister!:) 39 today! (again) To illustrate me as the "older" sibling:) I found an image that aptly would have described our relationship growing up (see left:) However, life has brought us a long way from those two scrappy girls (one being especially bratty:) Click here to read more Photo by euranet.eu Or: Something to think about when positioning your novel, or choosing one to read. . . If you happen to be one of the people who sat at that workshop I attended, AND you were rolling your eyes when I ranted about names and colonization and then made the obvious comparison that makes 95% of women uncomfortable (I won't bother repeating it now - it's too close to my mother's birthday who was a saint and I only saw her once make another person uncomfortable EVER), blah, blah. . . All to say: if you're an author or reader who prefers ostrich-living, all the power to you. You won't want to read MEG WOLITZER'S NY Times Essay (published on March 30, 2012), which I somehow missed during exams. Otherwise, click on the title below: The Second Shelf: On the Rules of Literary Fiction for Men and Women P.S. Oh, and btw, I'm pretty sure this whole story evolved from the Jodi Picoult/ Jennifer Weiner railings against the NYT for mostly reviewing their 'white male literary darlings'. I have my opinions on this, of course, but hey, I'll let you decide. If you want to read the Pinter article, just click on the title below: Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner Speak Out On Franzen Feud: HuffPost Exclusive Or, if you happen to be a mathematician who cares about the actual statistics that fuel this ongoing battle, here's one for you: A Literary Glass Ceiling? Stirring the pot again, oops, I'm thankful really. . .full of gratitude. . . see yesterday's blog. . . Have a great and long one! TartanFrog My Mom is the map of my life, the geography of my heart and the best of every heroine I've ever written about. She is with me every day of my life, especially here in our new tree house, I feel her around me with every rustling of the wind in the trees. I dug out this picture from some still-unpacked boxes on the weekend and everything became clear to me: Of course, that's why I was so stuck on painting the backsplash in our new kitchen in that shade of blue! Mom would love it here - she'd love watching the birds flocking to the feeder every morning! Of course, if it were the weekend in November that the Xmas parade goes down Spring Garden Road, she'd complain that she's lost her best seat from the old Faulty Towers, but then she'd peer into my eyes with that way she had of seeing through me, and then she'd know I've made the right decision, the one that makes me happy. Now, if she could just arrange a publishing contract for my second novel. . . With ardent love and my deepest respect & admiration, La P'tite (Dina:) |
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December 2015
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