I need a little help..

I'm lookin for some info or examples on how to write a short story like what all goes in one so if some of you could post some info or examples I'd appreciate it.. thanks so very much..

Sorry I can't help you out. I just want to say Welcome Back!!!!!

thanks very much..

Well, um....I don't write that much, but just think up a plot, even if
it sounds stupid at first! And it should all come to you!

Welcome back Paige

Well in a story you have the Introduction (so people know about who your characters are)... a Plot in the middle (something interesting to keep the readers attention)... and then a conclusion ... sorry, I'm not much help :shy:

thanks u for that info.. do any of u know where I could find maybe an example of a couple short stories??

You might PM our local writer.......CHERYL!!!!!

Or, pop over to the fan fic and read some of the stories there and get ideas of how short stories are written.

Yeah, Cheryl is a good source.

Also... :google:


http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative/shortstory/index.html

whats Cheryl's usersname I can't seem to find her so I can pm her

Cowgirl13 wrote:

whats Cheryl's usersname I can't seem to find her so I can pm her

bethandmanly

Welcome Back Paige

thank you very much JW

well i can't help u much either cuz i'm not a writer att all! welcome back!

Welcome back, I got your PM. Didn't notice this post or I would have responded earlier. There are short stories everywhere, and I'll PM you some stuff later after the kiddies go to bed. Is this something you are hoping to have published or is this just for fun?

The thing you need to remember with a short story, is that everything has to happen quicker than in a book. Think of an LHOP episode versus a mini-series. If you are limited by word count, then each word must be the right one.

There are different categories of stories. Flash Fiction is almost always 1000 words or under. This requires a lot of effort because you don't have any wiggle room to leave things unclear for the reader. Short stories are usually a few thousand words and long short stories are probably around ten thousand. But every market has it's own guidelines about word count and such.

Short stories work the same way as any other. They have an intro where we get to meet the character(s) and the protagonist's problem is exposed; the middle where obstacles seem to keep the protagonist from solving that problem; and the end where the protagonist is changed in some way or solves her problem. Whatever the obstacle is that keeps the protagonist from reaching her goal/solving the problem is known as the antagonist. It doesn't have to be a person. It can be anything--a storm, an animal, something from the protagonist's past.

The important thing to remember in fiction is to show the story, not tell it. This is something that I really struggle with. If you tell the reader the story it might go like this:

Jane saw a ball in the grass.
Jane picked up the ball.
Jane threw it at Rob's head.
Rob fell down.

If you show it, it might go like this.

Jane picked the red ball up from the wet grass. Dew drops glistened on the ball's rubber surface. Jane wiped it against her jeans, leaving wet grass stains in long lines on the denim.

She spied Rob, snoozing underneath a huge oak tree. Could she throw it hard enough to reach him? Jane smirked, tossing the ball up in the air a few times as she contemplated the distance between Rob and her.

Jane's arms reached up until they were behind her head and she flung the ball with all her might in Rob's direction, hitting his right temple. Shaken awake, Rob's body flailed and he slouched over onto his side.

Both ways share the story, but in the second example the reader can feel and see the story unfold much better.

I hope this helps get you started. I'll PM you some links later tonight after the girls are in bed.

Cheryl

Wow... good advice Cheryl!

Yeah, great advice!!!

bethandmanly wrote:

Jane saw a ball in the grass.
Jane picked up the ball.
Jane threw it at Rob's head.
Rob fell down.

Cheryl

Anyone we know?!?!? :unsure:

I thought of that when I read it, Rhonda. I actually thought of changing the woman's name to Cheryl, but I didn't want to be too obvious. LOL!

Rhonda wrote:

bethandmanly wrote:

Jane saw a ball in the grass.
Jane picked up the ball.
Jane threw it at Rob's head.
Rob fell down.

Cheryl

Anyone we know?!?!? :unsure:

OMG!!!