This week: So Many Short Stories Edited by: Legerdemain  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
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So Many Short Stories
If you're like me, there are piles of short stories in your files. Personally, a lot of them came from contest prompts, whether I finished the story on time or perhaps wrote too many words to enter. Characters do what they will, I just press the keys to keep them happy.
I try to keep my stuff organized, I really do. I did okay when it was just my desktop and I. But now the laptop has romanced its way into my life and I love sitting outdoors and writing when it's not freezing out. But this creates an issue for me, I'm not very cloud-cognizant so 'stuff' is getting spread around. It's January and you know what to do! Okay, it's January and I'm trying to find all the bits and pieces and create some semblance of order. I'm finding things I'd completely forgotten. How fun is that?
If you've read a newsletter or two of mine, you know I like to explore and research. I found a nifty article about short stories and anthologies. I never gave anthologies much consideration, but in going through this leaf pile of shorts, I found some common themes in the writing. And perhaps with the addition of a few more I've intended to add but never got around to, I could create a collection.
So while you're doing your annual house cleaning (you are, right?) consider creating a few similar stories and see if you have a collection. And as always, Write On!
This month's question: Have you considered creating/publishing an anthology? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback! |
The Cramp is celebrating a special birthday soon, check it out!
| |  | Collection (13+)
Pay now or pay later. Now featured in Far Side of Midnight.bravehost.com, Issue #2.
#1376998 by Futrboy  |
Excerpt: "Well, sir, I don't really see what else I can do for you," Curtis said, with some lament in his voice. "You say that I haven't called you and it's true that I haven't called in a while, but my records show that I've called you at least 25 times over the last six months. So, you've had plenty of opportunities to settle this matter.
Excerpt: These days, it feels like I am never far away from Clara. Sometimes, I watch over her as she sleeps. I notice the defensive hairs on the back of her neck standing to fight me off. It’s no use, of course, I have my job to do. I am always waiting to crash though her happiness; just out of sight. I am the blot on her horizon, the darkness in the corner of her eye, the tremor in her hands.
Excerpt: Guiden, a shy ten-year-old with dark skin and silky black hair, sprinted through the jungle. Rocks bruised his feet. His pulse thumped in his neck, and salt burned his eyes. Just before he reached the hidden pool, he slowed and tried to quiet his breathing. If he frightened the tiny dragonettes, they would become invisible and hide, and he needed their help.
| | Homage (13+)
1st Place Winner of Short Shots 7/09; published in Literary Foray anthology 2010
#1583786 by NickiD89  |
Excerpt: Murph squinted across the inky water, past the pier from where the fireworks would be launched, to the growing number of boats just off shore, dotting the water like dandelion seeds floating on a carefree breeze. The patch over the place where his right eye should have been distorted his field of vision and intensified the headache he’d had for three months now. The urge to tear it from his face was strong, but a trained, stoic expression masked the impulse as well as the internal reprimand for forgetting, for the hundredth time that day, that removing the patch wouldn’t solve the problem. He wondered if he’d ever get used to the newly acquired handicap, or adjust to civilian life. A gust of ocean air stirred the dog tags hanging around Murph’s neck as he turned and made his way toward the pier.
Excerpt: Grace Randall peered out the front window of the rented Subaru, squinting in the fading light to catch a glimpse of the house. The long driveway was filled with brambles and fallen branches, and her brother, Max, cursed as he steered his way around the larger obstacles. Grace leaned away from him.
It wasn't until Max stopped with a lurch and turned off the car that he took a good look at the house. "Shit!" he said, and jerked open the car door.
Excerpt: It was blowing a dirty gale outside in a watercolour scene of smudged greys. Thunder rolled towards the video store. The slanting rain marbled across the front window and newspapers and the occasional buckled umbrella flew and tumbled past like the black and white scene from The Wizard of Oz. Ricky sat at the counter and watched the storm outside. It seemed as if things were falling down the street, as if the world outside had been turned on its side. He was imagining what that would be like, if the world had turned on its side and anything not fixed to the ground could free fall across the streets and smash into buildings. He was imagining cars and buses cart wheeling through the town and wondered what he would do if suddenly caught in such an unprecedented global disaster, when he heard his name.
Excerpt: Captain’s Log, Stardate 2820.4:
The Enterprise has rerouted to Starbase Eleven to deliver Lenore Karidian to the authorities. The death of her father has obviously caused great mental strain. As soon as medical specialists deem her competent to stand trial, she will face multiple charges of murder. The incidents of the last few days have finally given some much-needed closure to a terrible chapter in the Federation’s history.
Excerpt: Darrell’s globe collection was quite an unusual one, consisting of spheres generally two to four inches in diameter, in varying colors and patterns. Some were decorated with scenes. One was covered with a pastel line drawing of a fisherman hauling a huge bass out of a lake; one was a large orb with slight depressions and ridges representing the planet earth; one had three tiny detailed drawings of movie stars. He even had several pairs of orbs painted like eyes.
January Site Contest
The task is simple: Write a letter to yourself and tell you what your goals are for 2023!
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This month's question: Have you considered creating/publishing an anthology? Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
"Short Stories Newsletter (November 9, 2022)" question: Do you add attributes to your characters in edit?
brom21  : If I ever do go back and add attributes, they are usually a byproduct from simple scene alterations. As for physical attributes, I usually just throw in random stuff unless I am describing angels, monsters and my own metaphysical creations. lol. I actually focus more attributes to scene and character interaction. Thanks for the NL!
markmore  : It is not so much adding attributes to my characters at the edit. as it is the discovery of new ones at least for me.
Jay O'Toole  : Yes. As needed to enhance the story.
PastorJuan : No, by that time, my characters are well rounded. I may tone the attributes a bit. Sometimes they do need tweaks.
Leslie Loo : Sometimes. It depends on why they need to be edited. It’s important to know how exactly you want your characters to be.
oldgreywolf scribbles : First, I would check my character sketch. THAT gets updated, when appropriate, before anything else. Nothing is removed or substantially changed; only additions or clarifications.
TheBusmanPoet : No.
angelion: No. I honestly feel like going with whatever character you first come up with results in a more natural sounding character and not one that seems like it was manufactured for a plot (that’s just my silly opinion though take my words with a grain of salt)
Spring in my Sox  : I feel like the character updates themselves as the story progresses sometimes frome one book to the next.
Thanks to everyone, your responses are always appreciated! |
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Short Stories: January 04, 2023 Issue [#11743]
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