writing short stories an introductory workshop february 11 2105
TRANSCRIPT
Writing Short Stories
An Introductory WorkshopFebruary 11 2105
Introductions
• Each participant– Name, department – What makes you want to write?
• John Rutter– Current PhD student EHU English - short stories– Like everyone else – a background in other things
Agenda
• Introductions & Objectives• Reading short stories – a few examples• Top Tips – how to get started• Writing exercise – emotions and objects• Feedback and comments• Competition Rules & what next
Objectives for today
• To introduce ourselves• To be introduced to short stories • To provide guidelines for writing a short story• To practice writing a story• To clarify rules for the competition
Reading Short Stories – Some Greats• Anton Chekhov – Misery
http://commapress.co.uk/resources/online-short-stories/misery-anton-chekhov
• James Joyce – Evelinehttp://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/959/
• Franz Kafka – The Metamorphosis http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=162,164,0,0,1,0
• Katherine Mansfield – The Flyhttp://commapress.co.uk/resources/online-short-stories/the-fly
• Ernest Hemingway – Hills Like White Elephantshttp://liternet.bg/publish24/e_hemingway/hills.htm
• Flannery O’Connor – A Good man is Hard to Findhttp://www.openculture.com/2012/05/rare_1959_audio_flannery_oconnor_reads_a_good_man_is_hard_to_find.html
• JD Salinger – A Perfect day for Bananafishhttp://www.nyx.net/~kbanker/chautauqua/jd.htm
• William Trevor – The Ballroom of Romance• Raymond Carver – Cathedral
Reading Short Stories – Contemporary
Recommended authors
• Rodge Glass (EHU)• Ailsa Cox (EHU)• Carys Bray (EHU)• Helen Simpson• Anneliese Mackintosh• Hilary Mantel• David Constantine• Zoe Lambert• John McGregor• John Burnside• Rachel Trezise• Kevin Barry• Miranda July• Michel Faber• Wells Tower• Denis Johnson• Ethan Coen• Alice Munro• Margaret Atwood
Publishers and anthologies
• Unthank - Unthology 1,2,3,4,5,6, (7)• Granta – various anthologies (UK)• McSweeney – new writers (USA)• Comma Press http://commapress.co.uk/
– Biopunk – science link – various other anthologies
• Salt – annual winners of Scott Prize• Freight – several new writers
Top Tips (not rules)1. NARRATIVE Have a beginning a middle and an end. First and last paragraphs are critical.
2. PLOT The plot arc can be simple in a short story. Start just before the key incident. Often one event only.
3. CHARACTER It is widely accepted that short stories are about the lost and lonely, “submerged populations.”
4. MOTIVE What motivates people? Sex or money. Stories are about what someone wants/needs/ lacks.
5. CONFLICT What stops the protagonist getting what they want? What could go wrong? Conflict = emotion.
6. POINT OF VIEW Be consistent. Who is holding the camera? Show how others react not just the viewpoint of the protagonist.
7. SO WHAT? Write something you would read. The contract with the writer is that the reader expects to be told something.
8. QUESTIONS WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY Like all journalism use these as prompts.
9. SHOW DON’T TELL Action is usually better than exposition. Avoid saying what people feel. What does anger, sadness, look like?
10. DIALOGUE Make it sound real. Short. Read it aloud. Dialogue must reveal character or plot. Avoid “As you know, Bob.”
11. DESCRIPTION Don’t overdo it. Use concrete and specific details. Unusual images can be very effective. Use all the senses.
12. THERE ARE NO RULES Characters in stories can do anything. They can fly, be invisible, time travel. One impossibility is best.
13. HOOKS (often start) Show some action first. Make the reader a promise. Ask a question.
14. TWISTS (often end) The Oh My God! Can be external or internal (modern.)
15. OWNERSHIP Write what you know. Better still write something only you could have written.
(Acknowledgment: Half of this list comes from a lecture by Professor George Green at Lancaster University)
Writing exercise
• Choose an object from those provided• Choose an emotion form those written down • Write two words on the page - Magnet - Grief• Start writing!• Don’t stop for 15 minutes / 1 page• Feedback– What did that feel like?– One or two read out a paragraph or outline
• Morning pages – an exercise to get you started
Writing exerciseLustAngerSadnessDisappointmentDespairGriefLonelinessAmbitionLoveGuiltDisgustRegret
Writing exercise – an exampleLustAngerSadnessDisappointmentDespairGriefLonelinessAmbitionLoveGuiltDisgustRegret
Rules & Entry Instructions
• One entry per author• Any theme or subject is allowed• Tip: There are no taboos / no go areas. Avoid clichés.• 1,000 words max (not 1,050) in English (practice editing)• Type using standard formatting
– Any standard font size 12, one space at the end of sentences– Double spaced, indent paragraphs except first– ‘Use this convention for speech,’ he said.
• Separate front page: story title, name, email, word count• Submit to [email protected] by 5pm Wed 18 March• Read the rules and follow them
What next?
• Read at least one or two short stories– Look out for epiphanies - realisations
• Think about what matters to me• Start writing!• Edit, Edit, Edit• Submit• Any questions [email protected]• Information is on the web page
A Final thought…