Lecture Lesson for the Week of July 1st, 2019

[Sunny Irene Roth]

Hi all,

I thought given the summer months, I would talk about how to write a short story. For those of you who are looking for another genre to write in, this is your ticket to learn more about how to write a short piece for a week or so and take a week off your main WIP. This will give you more variety in your writing, and you may just fall in love with writing short stories!

I know I did! When I started writing short stories, I thought I would never like it. But I tried it and now I am hooked, and I try to write one short story a month.

So, please take some time out this summer from your WIP to try out different kinds of writing. This month, I will discuss short stories. Next month, I will talk about how to write travel articles. This is especially wonderful for those of you who are travelling this summer. Make sure that you take a lot of notes wherever you end up. Also, writing travel articles pays very well. Some magazines will pay up to $1,000 per article!!! That's a nice side income to make!

Okay, but first things first. Let's focus on how to write the short story this month. As usual, print off each week's lesson, read it through a few times, do the assignment and post the answers under this thread.

Take care, all, and have a productive week!
Irene S. Roth

 

[Nikki Weston]

Thanks for this Irene! I have written shorts a number of times and always enjoyed it. One week before I had a family and had more time to myself, I challenged myself to write a short a day for 7 days, the results were rough but a lot of fun and more importantly, I felt super creative. I polished a number of these and subbed them. Great practise and good fun. I think that writing a short this summer will be something I need to do, so thank you. Will post answers in a day or two - Nikki

 

[Cynthia Capley]

Thank you, Irene. I read an article this morning where there was a mention of Ray Bradbury's tip to write one short story every week.

 

[Lille]

I like this. It gives me a break from my WIP and I won't be so bogged down with it, but I'll still be in the habit of writing every day. Writing one short story a week will keep me going and build up a little file of stories that I can always refer to when needed.
Thanks!

 

[Lille]

Here is a list of my short story ideas:

1. An argument between two beings from another planet.
2. A romance that starts in a cafe.
3. Going on a blind date.
4. The first time Morgan de Greif meets Eloise Von Shire.
5. My cat time travels.

 

[Mel Corbett]

Short story ideas:

1. Portal fantasy — A girl finds way into another dimension and trades places with her other self in the realm of magic. but not all is as it seems.
2. Scary stories for kids — the ghost in the house — but it can be a flipped story where the MC thinks there’s a ghost, but is actually the ghost herself? (A la the others?) or the ghost is actually good?
3. Superhero stories (a non superhero in my super hero universe) — Amazon-like company employs seers who know what you’re going to order and rep-emptively ship it to you. I receive a package for something I never would have bought. Something dangerous.
4. Portal sci-fantasy: Cillian goes through the dog door, only to wind up turned into a dog. Can he get turned back before Mama finds out?
5. Scary stories for kids: You find what appears to be a treasure map with x marks the spot.... But the treasure spot is right under your house?

 

[D.L. Gioe]

Better late than never?

1. The exchange student: a demon from hell takes part in an exchange program and has one month to convince someone to take her place
2. Will you do this after I'm gone: a father asks his daughter to be his executor, but wants none of her interference in his life/death planning
3. Have It All: One woman's attempt to do everything - have the career, the perfect marriage, the well-rounded kids, the fitness regime - and her breakdown in the end - but possibly set in another era.
4. Every Little Thing: posts by parents in today's social media haunt their kids when they become teens
5. Beyond the Lodge: a Cambridge college porter's perspective on the college, the students, and how she can tell who is going to make it and who will flood the dormitory before semester's end.

I read an excellent compilation of short stories years ago, but haven't picked up any in some time. Does anyone have great recommendations? Any author, any genre (except horror).