Apart from being
lots of fun, talking about writing for me at least is also a great way to consciously consider the process I am trying to follow. It’s very easy to simply sit down and write without thinking too much
about the rules that I know work for me. So for anyone who's interested, here are a few
of my favourites:
Your creative
brain is a muscle that needs regular exercise. Analyse the books you read and think
about how your favourite authors bring their stories to life. Take their work
apart and try to identify any elements you might want to replicate in your own
writing.
Start with a
connection
Find a theme or topic that you actually care about or are interested in – your writing will be far better
if you do.
Flip your head and
ask 'what if..?'
Brainstorm for plot ideas and always write them down together on one piece of paper.
Seeing them together in concrete, black and white is very different from collecting a bunch of thoughts in
your head.
Crazy beats cliched
Take risks and don’t be afraid to try something that may at first appear too ‘out
there’.
Borrow
If you’re stuck for
ideas then think about themes that resonate for you. Write your own simple log-lines for your favourite books and films. Are
these plots you could adapt too? This is not the same as plagiarizing!
Start with a plan
I know not all writers do this but I can’t work without one. A rough understanding
of where the plot is going and how it might be resolved, informs my writing as I
go. That doesn't mean things won’t change but I find it helps to avoid hitting that wall.
Remember the genre
One or two main characters dealing with a single
conflict, usually over a short period of time. Avoid complex back stories and
sub plots-those are for novels.
Experiment with
your voice
Find what works for you - choose a point of view, tense and mix of
action, thought and speech to carry the plot forward. If it doesn't feel right then change
things around.
Don’t lobotomize your characters.
If you don’t believe in them then your reader won’t either. Get inside their heads and highlight their
flaws and unique traits. No one is perfect and if they were they’d be boring. See the world
through their eyes and keep checking your writing to see if it still rings true.
Hook em
Have a great hook
to grab your reader. No right or wrong way to do this as long as it’s
compelling, relevant to where your story is going and raises questions the reader will want to find answers for.
Less is more
This
is true for all writing but short stories are called that for a reason. No one
wins prizes for word counts. If the text isn't telling the reader something important
about the plot or your characters then why is it there?
The short story arc
is a roller-coaster not a mole hill.
Scene setting and character building
is all done within the plot. Introduce the problem up front and move rapidly to
the climax using a series of complications. If you find yourself writing a flat
patch then it isn't going to work .
Short stories don’t
have epilogues.
A good ending is a succinct one. Move the character past the
conflict then finish with a neat line or two to wrap it up. Open ended
resolutions can be great but are also very risky. Only use them if it’s clear the reader is left with two possible alternatives. This is not the same as
running out of steam and leaving your climax hanging – that’s called a cop-out.
Did I say read a
lot? Do that one again.
