need some help with short story

Hey, just get someone you trust to READ IT! (and tell you where the boring bits are)

For one thing, Funk, chuck out (ruthlessly) ALL unnecessary adjectives and adverbs. Bet that shortens it a bit. (not being funny here, but it's amazing how much 'purple prose' you find you can safely discard without damaging the story at all)

Cheers Andrea, will try that. I do tend to use a lot of purple prose, never thought about that. Have just spotted your 'tips on short stories' section on the front page as well. Some good sound advice there, gonna get back and sort it - thanks.

Dear Funky, (Love your name) I have written hundreds of short stories and published many of them, mostly in SF/F. I always craft a story based on a target audience, meaning that I know in advance how many words the zine is likely to accept. Some will not consider anything beyond 1000 words, others go to 10,000, so that should be your first premise, unless you are not looking to get published. Second, no matter how wonderful I think my work is, I edit the hell out of it and remove everything that does not contribute to the story. This can be anything from an adjective to a paragraph or even a whole sequence of dialogue, because the only thing that is relevant is the tale, not the embellishment. Third, after the first edit, I review it phrase by phrase to see if I can state things better or clearer and this often reduces the word count as well. There is more, of course, but these three things take some getting used to if they are not part of your technique.

Agree with all of the above.

I would like to offer help, but I have trouble with short stories myself!!!! I find that I can start them well, then towards the middle they tend to drift a bit and I lose the thread of my tale......I would be happy to read your work though Funky and give you some feedback.... Sorry not much help! Linsi

Cheers Linsi. Yeah writing short stories is difficult. I've got stacks of unfinished ones. I'am always starting stories and never finishing them. Yeah the middle bit of the story is in some ways the hardest bit. You know the beginning and you kind of have a picture of the end. But inbetween you have to make it all connect together and it aint easy, but a lot of fun when you get on a roll. When the words just seem to flow out like water from some mysterious place, and suddenly your no longer writing, it's like something takes over you and your just channelling some kind of supernatural energy. Sounds wierd, but that's how it feels sometimes. I've heard short story writing is one of the most difficult kinds of writing there is. But I'am determined to master it. I am reading all the great short story writers on the site at the moment. To see how they do it; to try and learn from them. I managed to cut my last story right down, after following Andreas advice, from over 7000 words to roughly 4000. Still over the 3000 target though, but I just couldn't bring myself to cut it anymore. The next story is gonna be 3000 words or less. Gonna try and keep all my stories from now on 3000 words or under. Not easy, but worth it if I can get it right. Thanks everyone for your help, found the things people said helpful.

Hey Linsi, feedback is what writers need. If you don't mind that would be helpful thanks. Let me know if you want any feedback on anything you've written as well; I don't mind giving people feedback on their work. I am still a learner like, but I will do my best for anyone if they ask. So any time you need that kind of help jus let me know. Writing doesn't have to be a solitary activity. I like the idea of writers helping each other - giving each other feedback. Nice one thanks.

Just ignore anything I've ever said cause it's all just ego rubbish. I hate it.

C'mon, Funk, don't go throwing a tantrum on us!

I will do whatever I like. You know I spent hours and hours writing a darn story and I kept changing it and shaping it and then finally I destroyed it. What was the point in that? I no longer care for such things. Would rather spend my time shaping wood and walking the hills.

yeah you right andrea, I was having a tantrum..hehe. Didn't think I had it in me. Face to face with the grim reality of the ego. Not a pleasant experience, but a necassary at that. Nothing like a baptism in fire. Though I hope that's the last baptism I ever have to go through. I guess sooner or later you got to face that side to yourself. Sadly I am a bit of a melo-dramatic at times especially when drunk. Maybe I will get an oscar for this one.

Ah well, it's a good lesson Funk. The tantrum thing was, as always, tongue-in cheek but, having said that, have to tell you it takes me about 2 weeks to write, edit and complete (to my satisfaction) a story, by which time I'm usually thoroughly sick of the bloody thing. No one, Funk, not even the Greats, could just knock 'em out in perfect form in a few hours! And I doubt that's the last baptism you'll have to go through, either, mate...

Try writing about what happens in Redditch, seagull lol Seriously. why not begin writing the story with the end all re3ady written it helps if you do this just after starting it. It gives you a set of loose reins to stay within. Shorter sentances often help. just an idea. (can't say I follow them my self, I tend to run out of steam so editing isn't normally a problem.)

I do that too, Jon. Well, I don't exactly WRITE the ending first, but I find I need to know HOW it'll end so that I can work towards it. Doesn't work for everyone though i.e. those lucky sods whose stories just flow to their natural conclusion. Having said that, a story might LOOK effortless but, in all probability, was the product of hours of work and much editing. Keep up the good work, Funk...you're doing fine.

My writing is mostly short stories of the science fiction/fantasy/horror genres. My inspiration comes from several sources: 1. I have a scientific background, so can weave some of my eaperience into fiction. 2. My memories of early childhood are very strong. Children see the world rather differently from adults. If the world were really as they see it, with all their fears and fantasies, it could be a horrible place. Supposing that things are the way they see them. gives scope for horror stories. 3. Most of us dream. Suppose the dream workd were to break into objective reality, what then? 4. We take it for granted that time divides events into "watertight" compartments. If it did not, but were to loop no itself, this gives scope for fantasy stories. I hope these remarks help someone to evercme writer's block.

i have many stories in my mind but i dont know how to write them or how to begin

it's a shame that short stories are supposedly set at 5000 words (and especially for competition level. Best thing not to worry too much about fancy description and linear narrative - look at roddy Doyle but then again, if you're writing SC-FI or Horror etc it might be difficult. Else you just have to edit and cut - edit and cut. Like everything else it works with practice.

Funky - a good tip (and I always forget this) is to get into the scene as late as you can and leave as early as you can. It's a screenwriting tip, but it works just as well for short fiction. What is going to happen in the next part of the story, when's the latest point you could come in, when is the soonest time you could leave ? And for tips on getting depth and character into short stories, just read anything and everything that Tom Saunders has written.

I start with a plot and an ending. Then, after I've developed the characters, I decide they wouldn't do this, or that and have to adjust the plot and ending to suit. That's why I've been struggling with my latest. I set a limit of 1500 words for this one - I've just reached 4000!