tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post1509438927962919281..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: The Craft of Writing Short StoriesDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87550646587289911882016-06-23T13:31:08.918-06:002016-06-23T13:31:08.918-06:00For me, I prefer the intensity, the imagination, t...For me, I prefer the intensity, the imagination, the succinctness of writing the short story. A novel gives me trouble -- too long. I suppose I might be saying writing the novel allows me too much "freedom." <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17826302203893859268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-49210451003459713362012-05-20T04:22:01.107-06:002012-05-20T04:22:01.107-06:00I find it very complicated to write short stories,...I find it very complicated to write short stories, so I, too, stick with the novel. My characters tend to need that room to grow.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21142502299586548912012-05-19T22:55:45.646-06:002012-05-19T22:55:45.646-06:00Oh, yes, it is difficult to write a good short sto...Oh, yes, it is difficult to write a good short story, and I love them. The best have a great "pop" at the end that surprises and makes you think. I am in love with flash fiction (and flash nonfiction) lately and enjoy traditional haiku. Of course, Twitter is the ultimate challenge for those who love shorts.Linda Austinhttp://moonbridgebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39845602048344565932012-05-18T22:52:23.165-06:002012-05-18T22:52:23.165-06:00Great advice, timely for me too, as I've been ...Great advice, timely for me too, as I've been reading and critiquing short stories lately while I work on my own. I've noticed that shorts labeled by the authors as "literary" have tended to be more vignettes than stories, with lots of evocative mood and atmosphere, and very little conflict moving toward a resolution. Is this a trend, or is it typical of "literary" fiction, I wonder?Vince M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12809375045603934312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44652848105880844882012-05-18T19:12:49.849-06:002012-05-18T19:12:49.849-06:00Actually, this is good advice for writers of both ...Actually, this is good advice for writers of both short and long fiction. Thank you.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52994095443758135792012-05-18T14:52:01.430-06:002012-05-18T14:52:01.430-06:00Great list, Debby. A way to achieve #s 1, 3, and 4...Great list, Debby. A way to achieve #s 1, 3, and 4 simultaneously is to make sure any description pulls double duty. It should never be just description (he wore a brown beard), but also tell the reader something about the world of story (he was the only man in town who wore a beard), the character (he let crumbs collect in his beard), or advance the plot (he had grown the beard for exactly 1,095 days, but when the clock struck midnight on the third anniversary of his daughter's death, he shaved it).<br /><br />As Dani said, I also appreciate this technique in a novel, though.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25517365966124369072012-05-18T14:51:37.192-06:002012-05-18T14:51:37.192-06:00Good post, Debby!Good post, Debby!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30996215498017615642012-05-18T10:16:48.427-06:002012-05-18T10:16:48.427-06:00For a reader and writer of short fiction, you hit ...For a reader and writer of short fiction, you hit the nail square on the head. Thank you.Renaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73891508693153302302012-05-18T09:22:46.795-06:002012-05-18T09:22:46.795-06:00This piece nails economy of words, whittling of de...This piece nails economy of words, whittling of detail, strategic but Spartan character development, and adherence to the straight and narrow as essential elements of a great short story. I loved the comparison of the miniature to the mural — that says it all. Thank you, Debbie Harris, for this insightful article. And thank you, Dani, for posting it.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44931743951971397112012-05-18T09:16:13.773-06:002012-05-18T09:16:13.773-06:00This is such good advice, but when you think about...This is such good advice, but when you think about the tips, wholly applicable to writing a finely-tuned novel, too!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77876136936138895672012-05-18T07:36:54.725-06:002012-05-18T07:36:54.725-06:00Oeuvres and dilettantes ... wow, two words in the ...Oeuvres and dilettantes ... wow, two words in the same sentence that I had to look up ... usually there is only one.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83384140768906014592012-05-18T07:03:35.933-06:002012-05-18T07:03:35.933-06:00What a wonderful addition to our series on short s...What a wonderful addition to our series on short stories. Thanks for pointing out that the best short stories incorporate mood and atmosphere as much as plot.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com