Word magic.
Here’s a popular question about writing short stories: “how do I get ideas for them?” Although the usual answer is “you can find ideas anywhere”, this isn’t helpful. Of course, ideas are everywhere, but you want ideas which fit the form. Authors expect that there’s a trick to finding these ideas. As far as I’m aware, there’s no “trick” as … Read more
I love short stories because you can write them in an afternoon—or even in an hour. Try a story today. They’re easy for every author, even if you’re a beginner. Lately, I’ve read lots of short fiction: authors including the wonderful Roald Dahl, Guy de Maupassant, and Agatha Christie. These masters’ stories pack a punch and stay with you. What … Read more
Would you like a fiction writing process that will help you to write good stories; stories readers love? Try this: “make your hero want something so badly that he’ll fight for it—to the death.” This isn’t a new formula, by any means, but I found that Ray Bradbury’s version resonated with me. Here it is; from Zen in the Art … Read more
When a novelist’s struggling, I suggest writing a couple of short stories. They clear your mind. You’ll often return to a current project with a fresh perspective. You can publish stories quickly. A story may give you the boost of confidence you need. They can ignite your self-publishing program too, especially if you’re writing in different genres—it can be hard … Read more
If you write fiction, or want to try fiction, short stories are valuable. They’re fast to write, and you can use them in many ways to get readers and make sales. For example, you might use a story to revive readers’ interest in one of your novels. Just as importantly, you might write short fiction to revive your interest. When … Read more