I have the same problem you do about writing things short. You’ve read one of my short stories…and that was just a trip home and to a field! >.> I’m in the process of trying to cut about 700 words out of it so it will be at the word count eligible for a contest I have my eye on out of the UK. We’ll see how that goes.
I don’t think writing short stories is too terribly difficult for me; instead my biggest issue is coming up with the initial plot that is short enough to qualify and tight enough to be a good-read. As long as I can get that going, things follow through without too much pulling of hair. No more than normal anyway. haha
I don’t have anything to add to this right now. Maybe after a bit more short story experience (and if all goes well I’ll be cranking out several by the end of the year).
For real short stories? I’m totally entering a contest that is 100 words or less for a short story. The ultimate challenge! Dun dun dun…. I’ll update you on that later.
aww, it’s really not that hard . . . at least to me! Some people do enjoy writing short stories more, though. I think it just all has to do with what you enjoy as a writer.
Leaving short stories on a cliffhanger makes it even more attractive to the readers. In the last 5 years, all the recipients for the short story award during the Sahithya Akademi(Indian literature awards) had stories that didn’t have a proper ending
I don’t mind reading a short story with a cliffhanger ending if clues have been given to how the story ends through-out the telling. If it just leaves off in the middle of the plot, though, that’s not good storytelling.
I can see how not having a single story with a proper ending would be frustrating, though. One thing with contests, though, is that you really are writing for the judges, not the readers. So if the judges like that style, that’s why everyone like that has been winning. I hope things improve in the future!
I have the same problem you do about writing things short. You’ve read one of my short stories…and that was just a trip home and to a field! >.> I’m in the process of trying to cut about 700 words out of it so it will be at the word count eligible for a contest I have my eye on out of the UK. We’ll see how that goes.
I don’t think writing short stories is too terribly difficult for me; instead my biggest issue is coming up with the initial plot that is short enough to qualify and tight enough to be a good-read. As long as I can get that going, things follow through without too much pulling of hair. No more than normal anyway. haha
I don’t have anything to add to this right now. Maybe after a bit more short story experience (and if all goes well I’ll be cranking out several by the end of the year).
For real short stories? I’m totally entering a contest that is 100 words or less for a short story. The ultimate challenge! Dun dun dun…. I’ll update you on that later.
hehe, we’ll both be cranking them out! Definitely keep us updated on the 100 words or less story, I want know how that goes!
Not that we don’t talk almost every day . . . hehe.
I have the opposite problem: writing long stories. (sigh)
aww, it’s really not that hard . . . at least to me! Some people do enjoy writing short stories more, though. I think it just all has to do with what you enjoy as a writer.
I hope you can come to the write-in, Nancy!
Leaving short stories on a cliffhanger makes it even more attractive to the readers. In the last 5 years, all the recipients for the short story award during the Sahithya Akademi(Indian literature awards) had stories that didn’t have a proper ending
I don’t mind reading a short story with a cliffhanger ending if clues have been given to how the story ends through-out the telling. If it just leaves off in the middle of the plot, though, that’s not good storytelling.
I can see how not having a single story with a proper ending would be frustrating, though. One thing with contests, though, is that you really are writing for the judges, not the readers. So if the judges like that style, that’s why everyone like that has been winning. I hope things improve in the future!