tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post1409081221472366037..comments2024-03-28T06:59:34.982-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: What Makes a Short Story Short ?Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54657169886149177212012-05-18T15:04:22.417-06:002012-05-18T15:04:22.417-06:00Susan, I like when you said, "...the short st...Susan, I like when you said, "...the short story must have a point to it all on its own. That point must be completely encapsulated in the scope of this one story."<br /><br />I once heard that to write a short story you need "a thing, and the other thing" (does anyone know this attribution?). For example, "Brokeback Mountain" is about a love affair between gay cowboys, but also about regretting an unloved life. Closely pairing the specific with the metaphoric, while limiting word count, is what gives short stories their beauty and punch.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6210012839794706822012-05-18T07:01:47.050-06:002012-05-18T07:01:47.050-06:00Short stories really are odd beasts. I just love t...Short stories really are odd beasts. I just love them. But almost like poetry, they have to be refined and refined, going ever deeper. Not that novels don't, but as y'all are all saying, the slightest slip up can doom the whole story. <br /><br />I think what I find most frustrating about writing them is that while a novel's idea can come to me and the rest takes off while writing, a short story has to just descend upon my brain, almost in toto. Yep, quite challenging!Susan Mary Malonehttp://www.maloneeditorial.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91953535467833602592012-05-17T21:42:23.071-06:002012-05-17T21:42:23.071-06:00Short stories are a bit tricky, getting everything...Short stories are a bit tricky, getting everything squeezed into them in a small amount of space, without leaving anything hanging. They can be fun, though.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88141841136171475822012-05-17T19:42:43.517-06:002012-05-17T19:42:43.517-06:00I love the luxury of writing novel-length works wh...I love the luxury of writing novel-length works where I can reveal elements gradually in layers. I find writing short stories quite a challenge and I really admire those authors who shine in that genre: Lauri Kubuitsile comes to mind.Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4164328503071399332012-05-17T19:13:21.659-06:002012-05-17T19:13:21.659-06:00Great explanation of the differences! Interesting ...Great explanation of the differences! Interesting post, thanks!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83911670797636389212012-05-17T14:46:01.208-06:002012-05-17T14:46:01.208-06:00Christopher, I'm sure that is not true. (smile...Christopher, I'm sure that is not true. (smile)<br /><br />Linda, so glad you enjoyed the post. I thought Susan did an excellent job in defining the differences between a short story and a novel.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35554633202231588612012-05-17T12:06:58.373-06:002012-05-17T12:06:58.373-06:00Susan, what a lovely description of a true short s...Susan, what a lovely description of a true short story! Like the novel, it must touch the heart - but much more quickly and perhaps in a more subtle way. I like this a lot. Thank you so much for sharing.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77482605229091837822012-05-17T09:02:40.100-06:002012-05-17T09:02:40.100-06:00Oops ... 'raison de'detre (I love that exp...Oops ... 'raison de'detre (I love that expression) of a short story has to be powerful' ... mine are more like 98 pound weaklings.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.com