*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/6280
Short Stories: May 14, 2014 Issue [#6280]

Newsletter Header
Short Stories


 This week: Real Short Stories
  Edited by: Annette
                             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

Hello short story writers and readers. I am Annette , and I will be your guest editor for this newsletter.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07NPKP5BF
Product Type: Toys & Games
Amazon's Price: Price N/A


Letter from the editor

Real Short Stories


Would Edgar Allan Poe read your short story?


Those who read my April newsletter about short stories may remember that Edgar Allan Poe defined a short story as one that could be read in one sitting. In an age of everything digital, microblogging, and short attention spans, is it even possible to capture an audience long enough to make it past an anecdote?

As you compose your short story, instead of agonizing over word count, how about asking yourself if the great short story writers of old Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the others would enjoy your story. Don't worry about genre or plot too much. You will write about many things that those people wouldn't know anything about. Rather, ask yourself if your short story is captivating so that somebody would want to sit in a comfortable chair, maybe with a cup of tea, and enjoy your short story. Maybe even read it twice to make sure to catch all twists and turns.

Do you have a solid inciting incident? Is the cast of characters small and big enough to tell the story? Are you concentrating on one plot line only? Is the ending satisfying? Would somebody who took an hour or so to read your story put the book or electronic reading device down and ruminate about your story for a while or even days?

Now that I hung the bar so high, let me ask you a final question: did you have fun writing it? In the end, that one qualifier will be the one that you truly have to measure your story by. As you write your short story, make sure to entertain yourself first.



Editor's Picks

 Suburbs Turned Him Orange  (18+)
My very first real short story.
#1986320 by CCD

 
STATIC
Detective's Secret  (18+)
Detective comes back from the dead to find his killer and solve his last case.
#1537073 by Quick-Quill

The Death of Ti-Jack Fontenot  (13+)
The eccentric last wishes of a simple man.
#1982551 by R.B. Cole

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1789850 by Not Available.

 Unexpected Consequences  (13+)
Intergalactic slavers find more than they bargained for on an uncharted planet.
#1877015 by Simple Dykie

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1458008 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1818199 by Not Available.

 Natasha & Naomi: Hydration  (13+)
The 3rd entry. Naomi learns that it's important to keep a slime girl hydrated.
#1975684 by The Phantom

STATIC
Tears in the Gathering Mist  (13+)
A tale of discovery and misunderstanding
#1970647 by Escape Artist

 
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!



Ask & Answer


For my last Short Story newsletter "Defining the Short Story, I got the following replies:

CCD wrote: My first real short story and my first portfolio item. Thank you for your consideration. "Suburbs Turned Him Orange

*Smile* It's in the editorial recommendations above. I hope you get some good reviews.

Quick-Quill wrote: This is a variation of my novel. A short story about an actual murder. It is complete. Introduction, motive, many characters, climax and end. It's still considered a "Short Story." This was #2 in a series with the prompt, "A detective is killed, but he cannot pass on to the next life without solving his open cases." There were six in the series. All about the ghost detective. I thought it was a great prompt and they were all published in an e-zine. "Detective's Secret

Congratulations on the e-zine publication. I hope my plug above will get you some more readers and reviews.

amy-Has a great future ahead wrote: I'd like to contribute a story. How do I do this?

If you want to have one of your short stories featured, simply use the submission for that you used to send in this comment. You can put the link to your story (numbers only) into the little text box above the message box, or insert it into your message.

tYpO/T.Boilerman wrote: Giselle, thank you for including my story in your newsletter as an Editor's pick. It means more to me than you could know. WRITE ON!! "Charley's Story

It was my pleasure. It one of those stories that really must be out there. Glad to give it some exposure.


*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: B00KN0JEYA
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

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/6280