*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3502-.html
Short Stories: January 13, 2010 Issue [#3502]

Newsletter Header
Short Stories


 This week:
  Edited by: Storm Machine
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

I'm honored to be your Guest Editor this week.

Plot is a verb.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07YXBT9JT
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99


Letter from the editor

Today’s Forecast: Partly Cloudy


And on Thursday morning, the sun shone brightly.

… So? Does this tell me anything about the story? What’s going on with the characters? While there is a place for weather, let your characters interact with their setting to make it real.

Meredith splashed through the puddles, tilting her umbrella to let the rain sprinkle droplets on her face.

The second example employs a showy version of the weather. The character interacts with it, and the action doesn’t stop for a description. This is just another reason why we're not supposed to start our stories like Snoopy: "It was a dark and stormy night."

Dig deeper into the story. Why are you telling your readers about the weather? How does it fit into your story? If it's just a backdrop or a way to tell a transition, you might be better off to figure out a different method. Especially if the sun keeps shining for six days in a row. Your readers might think you're trying to be a meteorologist instead of an author.

One exception is if your story is dependent on the weather. Are you writing about surviving a storm? Are your characters in conflict with their surroundings and can you make the weather a part of that?

Viktor trudged through the snow and clung to the rope that connected the house to the barn to check the animals. The wind whipped at his clothing and burned his exposed face. He was glad he had strung the rope between the buildings, since he couldn't see the barn or the house from his current position because of the storm.

I'd hate to be caught in a storm like that, but it makes for better reading than telling the reader the storm lasted 18 hours and dropped 22 inches of snow on the ground.


Editor's Picks

Let's Publish!  (13+)
For writers seriously interested in publishing short fiction and poetry.
#1557639 by emerin-liseli


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#559910 by Not Available.


 Help Me Get Published  (18+)
...and you, too!
#1631278 by Robert Waltz


What do you think of the weather in the following stories?
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#671561 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#862307 by Not Available.


 Part 1: A Difficult Road  (13+)
A snapshot of a short story. Our protagonist, a carriage driver, on one of his runs.
#1179091 by Threil


 Helga Blows  (E)
About a monster hurricane and a particular Floridian 'been there, done that' mentality.
#1365171 by HolligoLefty


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1626513 by Not Available.


Valentine's Day  (18+)
A lonely woman finds love in a most unexpected place.
#939010 by Robert Waltz


Walking On Thin Ice  (13+)
A vision becomes reality--or does it?
#1213063 by Lynn McKenzie

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B083RZ2C5F
Amazon's Price: $ 19.99
Not currently available.


Ask & Answer

This is my first Short Stories Newsletter, so I have no feedback to share.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07B63CTKX
Amazon's Price: $ 6.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3502-.html