  Short Stories
This week: Encourage, Push, and Prod Edited by: esprit  
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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. We'll bring you a wide variety of items to enjoy, and sometimes a deep journey into How to Procrastinate With Style for fun. We will also feature "how to" advice and items that will help to jump start the creation process.
I am esprit , and I'm glad to be the guest editor this week. |
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Encourage, Push, and Prod
Cont. of "Short Stories Newsletter (July 29, 2009)"
When I wrote 'Overwriting' last issue, I expected some arguments against the practice. I was glad to find it encouraged so many. As a beginning writer I can only speak about what works for me. There are many ways to write a good story. If you learn the same way I do, you'll try them all before you find the best system for you.
When you write straight from the heart of your imagination, not stopping to worry too much about the edits along the way, you can really lose yourself in it. Your emotions will come into play naturally, and you'll write emotionally. The story becomes a part of you and your personal emotions are felt throughout. A story can only come alive if the author himself breathes life into it. An editor can't do it for him.
Learning the rules of good writing is so very important to having your work published, or even appreciated, that I can't stress it enough.
New writers will need to revise many times as they learn the rules of the craft. Advanced writers may need to revise only once. This is because they've been writing for years and know the rules and they know when they can and should be broken for the good of the story.
But when I see the more advanced writers, or writers whose egos convince them they are advanced, advising against rules, revising, and honest feedback, it breaks my heart. Many new writers will take this advice literally, resulting in never fully developing their talent.
I believe talent needs to be encouraged, pushed, nurtured and prodded in order to grow. Writing straight from the heart encourages you to write something you love, while accepting honest feedback pushes and prods you to take it to the next level.
The only way to learn to write well is to practice and read good writing. Oh, and get and give good, honest feedback.
There is a fine line between accepted and rejected material, and only a publisher knows where it lies-let them decide. In other words, know when to stop revising and write 'The End'. Start submitting this work and begin a new story.
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Comments on "Short Stories Newsletter (July 29, 2009)" "Invalid Item"
My goodness, I received so many comments on my last guest Short Stories newsletter that I can't post them all! I won't take more room by commenting individually; just know that I'm glad I touched on a topic you found important. Thank you for your comments!
Lorien Great newsletter, Esprit! I have often encountered pieces on which, after reviewing, I hear back from the authors that this is only a draft and my suggestions aren't welcome. In my opinion, you shouldn't put a piece up for reviews from the public until you think your piece is ready. Before that, you might consider soliciting advice from a friend or making the piece 'email comments only.' It wastes your time and the reviewer's as well.
Thanks for bringing this to light!
Adriana Noir I need to bookmark this as a brutal reminder of the truth. I think you nailed my problem right on the head here, Esprit. My brain is always stuck in full-blown critical mode. This is excellent advice!
Venton This is why I'm glad I read every newsletter I get. This has been the advice I've been needing to hear and I am absolutely positive that these words will stick with me the rest of my life. Never again shall I find myself typing a sentence then reading and correcting then writing the next.
Thank you soo very much for this lesson in writing.
fx777222999 esprit, you know, I'm just last month, I started to write fiction short stories & novels; when I read this NL, as if, It's intended for me, really, and said to myself: Ahhh, ohhh, good!!!so, today, I've got another knowledge coming from you. It's great and Thank you!
NickiD89  Fantastic NL, Esprit! My method has always been to agonize over every sentence, one after the other. The first time I considered over-writing like you suggest here was when I took an A-1 Academy writing class. The instructor called it "pantsing," or "writing by the seat of your pants," as opposed to "plotting" out the story first then writing strictly from your outline. Ever since, I've tried to do a little of both, and I must say some of my most creative work came from letting the scenes gush out of my imagination swollen with adverbs and repetition, and without regard for rules of grammar or punctuation. I love shaping a story at that point, sculpting and honing the imagery. The challenge for me is letting go the unnecessary stuff! I keep an online journal of what lands on the cutting room floor, in case it works someday in another story.
A thinker never sleeps A very useful and informative newsletter. I can't say I haven't fell into this trap myself before. But I've learnt its better to get the whole thing down, mistakes and all, and then focus on editing later. I've re-written the beginning of one novel more times than I could count because it wasn't working. If I'd judged it on its first draft I would have been completely deflated.
Doug Rainbow This wonderful newsletter could change lives. It advocates an approach to writing wherein the author commits to excellence. When the author sets a personal standard of perfection -- of excellence -- and not just adequacy or passing, then they can know the confidence, pride, and satisfaction of bringing natural talent and creativity to its fullest expression.
francie Esprit, hi.
I read this newsletter twelve hours ago and allowing it to percolate in my mind. I liked your parallel between body and story. It's easy to remember and it makes perfect sense. You offered excellent advice for keeping a story under wraps before turning it over to reviewers. I made that mistake last week and gave up on my entire story. Your newsletter encouraged and consoled me. Thanks for a job well done.
Zeke  Sometimes overwriting is a challenge. Some of us are so intent on the story theme, we fail to put the reader into it.
I have found that leaving a manuscript alone for a couple of weeks after the first writing makes it more possible for me to seriously rewrite.
Zeke
Winchester Jones wrote: I took your advice. espirit, I think I read this article before from you on WDC and thought it sounded like sage advice, but I never followed through with actually practicing it. Well, today I did! I have to say it opened up ideas and images that I was able to take hold of and expand. It was a little bit tricky to get the hang of it at first, as all things new usually are, but then, all of a sudden, I had the feel and my fingers started typing and I just let it roll. I won today's 7/30 300 word flash fiction contest. Had I not won,it wouldn't change my mind. I know I have found something I am going to keep; a new way to attack first drafts! Just put it down, all of it, go, go, go. It was exciting, it really was. Thank you, esprit! I love WDC!
dejavu_BIG computerprobs An excellent and inspirational newsletter, Esprit! This one is going into my files- I really liked the links to the constructive review and writing hurts forum. I do think you've managed to bump me out of my 10 month wriers block. dejavu
sarahreed I agree completely that your first draft should never be shown to others. Rewriting is the most important step and the hardest, I find. Thanks for the advice on overwriting. I had never really thought about it, mostly because so many people say that it's bad to overuse describers. However, I remember a few times where I let my imagination go and wrote over the word limit. Shortening them created some of the strongest and tight pieces I have ever written. I'll make sure to put this advice into practice.
StephBee - House Targaryen  Esprit, two thumbs up for another inspirational newsletter. I just want to piggyback that it's so import to repeat the process, to edit and even re-edit. It's a time applied process that works.
We always appreciate the feedback, thanks!
Editors:
Legerdemain 
Ben Langhinrichs 
Shannon 
Your guest host this week is esprit
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Short Stories: September 23, 2009 Issue [#3283]
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