Creative Writing: The Short Story (some notes from my second Creative Writing class)

The Short Story:

A short story is generally between several hundred and several thousand words long and aims to achieve a single, concentrated effect. The short story achieves its concentrated effect because the length imposes certain restrictions.

* Keep the time frame short.
* Keep the prose tight. You don't have space for wordy exposition.
* Focus on only the most important incidents.
* Begin with action and as close as possible to the climax.
* Restrict the number of characters in your story. Three or four with names and who do something significant are enough for a short story
* But really, in a short story, you have only one character, the protagonist. Your other characters help to illuminate him.
* A short story is essentially about one thing done by one person. It's an account of a key incident (or short series of incidents) that defines the protagonist or changes him in some significant way.
* Often, a short story tells about a turning point in the life of the protagonist. He can choose to turn in the new direction or refuse to change. But the choice is irrevocable.
* The issue or choice the character is facing is of crucial importance to the character.
* For the character involved, the choice is not automatic or obvious. Short stories usually show characters who are torn or who endure a personal trial, a test of character.
* Not only is the change irrevocable once made, but it's also unavoidable. Circumstances, upbringing or personality propel the character toward the choice that must be made.
* Short stories are about the change – good changes, bad changes or the failure to change. The change made or offered may be subtle, but must be definitive. (An exception: the genre story – Hercule Poirot never changes.)

The in-class assignment was to choose one or two concrete starting points and to write a very short story. A few possible starting points that were suggested those of us in class:

A prisoner - actual or metaphorical
A bouquet - sent with no card or a bouquet of dead flowers or…
A canoe - on a misty lake, or tipped over or …
A hat - on the sidewalk or otherwise where it’s not expected
A clock - broken or stopped or keeping incorrect time…
A thunderstorm
“What the…”

Homework: Option 1: Finish, rewrite and/or polish the piece you wrote in class.

Option 2: Take a different starting point or two - an object, place or opening line, and use it as the starting point for a new piece.

Option 3: Continue working on whatever writing you have on the go, but bring in a couple pages next week to share withthe class.

I chose option 3. I am working on a story but it's in its infancy yet - will type it up as I can, but remember, it is incomplete.