This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn discuss the short story. What are the particular considerations of short form fiction? What do you write when there’s no room for an arc? Is a turning point as powerful as a climax? Explore the beauty of conceptual, quiet, singular fiction. Getting specific detail, imagery, symbolism, & metaphor to work for you…so much more!
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What we talked about:
How do we find something small enough? (0:50)
The difference in craft between short and long form fiction? (2:40)
The permission to be more experimental. (7:38)
Keep it succinct. (10:44)
Using short stories to grapple with the dark stuff. (13:40)
Short Stories build writing skills! But are there opportunities to publish them? (17:25)
The importance of tight story craft in a short story. (22:25)
Short story doesn’t mean short time investment. (26:50)
LINKS
Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.
Things we mentioned:
Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff
Story Grid Brokeback Mountain analysis
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Poets and Writers
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 12 Short Stories part 1
SWRT 13 Short Stories part 2
SWRT 14 Short Stories part 3
SWRT 063 Short Stories – How they differ from the Novel
SWRT 157 Subtext
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
Do you enjoy the show?
Do you learn something every week?
Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com
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