Short and Sweet
What do Stephen King, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, and Edgar Allen Poe all have in common?
They all mastered short stories.
I am the proud author of a recently-debuted novel coming in at over 90,000 words, 20 chapters, and 245 pages. I don’t say this to boast. In fact, I say this because I know that what I am about to say is going to sound ludicrous after my previous statement:
Writing a short story and limiting oneself to the parameters of 1500 to 7500 words, is by far harder than writing a novel.
What? You cannot be serious!
Oh yeah. I mean it. When writing a short story, an author must get all the meaningful information and emotions out in limited words. The impact must be quick and effective. A writer has no room for fluff to pull the reader in; they’re racing on a quarter mile track and their story either has it or doesn’t within a few pages.
That is hard. BUT it is doable. Do I have any advice for other writers entering the short story arena? Of course!
Just do it. Writing short stories is the best way to hone your craft and learning what to say is the most important.
Pick a theme and stick to it. Make sure you deliver the message you want to tell.
Make sure your character’s presence is clearly defined and consistent. You don’t necessarily have time to develop character, so be intentional in what you do develop.
Is it worth learning to write a short story if you want to be a novelist?
ABSOLUTELY! Your abilities to build and end a plot sharpen with each story. Let’s not disqualify the ability to describe and set a tone for characters on a whim, and by that, I mean within a few sentences – maybe a paragraph. The short story writer does not have chapters to develop a character’s thought process; it has to be shown within the parameters of a short story with a little bit of dialogue and a pinch of body language. The rest is woven into the plot to rise like yeast in dough.
Practicing short story abilities also helps writers develop the discipline it takes to stay on task within a narrative. The action within the story cannot stray from the overarching theme. Which means no fluff and no detours. Just the story.
Short stories are an author’s gym. In comparison to a full novel or even a novella they may feel like sprints, but they take skill. So, if you are asking yourself “how can I get better at writing?” Start with short stories. Enter as many contests and anthologies as you can to get your name out there and master your talent as a storyteller. Being able to whet this skill is what separates the masters from the novices.
There are still plenty of anthologies and contests out there looking for talented writers. Starlit Pulp and The Fantasy and Sci-Fi Writers Alliance are the first two that come to mind, but there are so many more for those who are willing to look.
