  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
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Whose story is it, anyway? This one's Yours
Greetings! Welcome to this week's edition of the WDC Short Story Newsletter. I'm honored to be your guest editor once again this week as I share my journey of exploration. |
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A short story is different from a novel or novella not only in length but also in focus. A short story has all the elements in a novel or novella, such as a beginning, plot, character(s) and ending, but it's more focused, more direct. The writer must decide, right off, whose story it will be ~ introduce and maintain the main character's focus, or point of view.
Last week, we explored the writer as the main character, the I of the storm (um, I mean, story ). Using the first person I, the writer is the main character and the story unfolds, develops, and is resolved by use of the writer's own senses. It can either be limited by, or expanded by, the writer's senses - sight, hearing, taste, touch, imagination, recall. Your reader is drawn into your otherworld and sees for a time your eyes and celebrates with you when you attain your goal, or commiserates if not.
But what if, instead of your story, you tell the reader's story. What if ~
Your fingers reach across the wall from habit, as they have five days out of every seven for over a year, and flick the switch. Today, however, nothing happens, no swirling light illuminates your entrance. Side-stepping the familiar scurry of feline paws across the kitchen tiles, you step to where you know the refrigerator is parked and open the door. A memory of ice greets your inquiring nose, only partially masking the nascent science experiments that were once edible, before the power went out. You sense the presence of the cat, and another sound interrupts the thick silence of impeded modern life, scratching at the window across the room. You closed it when you left in the morning, but there's a semblance of a breeze blowing from the north, caressing your sweating cheeks.
Here, I am no longer the character, it is my reader ("You") who is the character or actor in the story. I am showing my reader what he/she feels, senses, perceives and putting him/her directly in the story. This is called second person point of view. It's not very common today, so when it's used, it surprises and hopefully entices your reader, piques his/her interest in reading on to discover what he/she is going to do and how such actions will resolve.
 Second person point of view is limited to what the writer, acting as the reader, directly sees, hears, perceives.
It makes the reader the main character in the story, interacting with other characters and/or the environment to resolve something, or attain a goal.
It provides an opportunity for dynamic and vivid descriptive scenes and acts to hold the reader in the story as a direct participant.
You give the reader specific detailed characteristics and reactions and, provided "You" goes along, your reader is drawn immediately and deeply into the story. It becomes the reader's story
To maintain the second person voice, limit the story to what the writer as reader directly perceives or concludes as the story unfolds and resolves.
It's important to keep the movement active to avoid creating an essay or 'how to manual' (i.e., you press the buttons and the phone rings .
Do not use it only in conclusion of a first person point of view story, as then it becomes as a lecture (unless it's a lesson plan you are writing).
I think this would make a fun creative exercise. What if you take a story you've written or one you've been plotting in your head, or an experience you've recently had, and put your reader directly in your shoes. You grab the blue pen, frowning at the bite marks on its business end as you again insert it between parched lips and continue your rhythmic gnashing of the inedible plastic. Yes, and see if the pen will deliver the story in second person point of view, directing the actions and perceptions of your reader.
While you're at it, I hope you spend some time reading (and reviewing) some of the stories in first and second person point of view.
Until we next meet, express your point of view as you
Keep Writing!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading
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I know you will enjoy reading (and reviewing the following stories penned by members of our Community
|  | Malice Intended (ASR)
Who is the slapdash, foolish criminal behind a crime scene in a hotel?
#445131 by Joy  |
| |  | Invalid Item
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#1451357 by Not Available. |
| | | The Pens (ASR)
A lesson in mindings one's own business or facing the consequences
#1459882 by Sagi  |
Now that we've explored two different 'views' of a short story, check out the poll and voice your opinion.
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1460009 by Not Available. |
How about some 'inspiration' to write your own first person and/or second person short story, check out the following
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1400920 by Not Available. |
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Thank you again for welcoming me into your virtual home.,
I have another little challenge, if you choose to accept take the prompt from last week's issue, and write it in both first and second person point of view. Post it to the newsletter or send me an email, as I get to return in a month (with your permission) and would love to feature some of the innovative stories the Muse Creative will ignite ~ but here's the 'prompt' once again ~ have fun with it, any genre, theme :
You/I are/am in a room that is familiar but it's completely dark, no power or light, and you/I character have to get out because..."
Until we next meet,
Keep Writing!
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading |
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Short Stories: August 20, 2008 Issue [#2565]
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