Author Tip: Is Short Story Writing Something You Should Do?

Posted on by Georgina Cromarty

Great article 🙂

Mundus Media Ink

images (4)Why Short Stories

By Michelle Rene Goodhew

You may not have considered short story writing before, but here are some reasons why you should. This article will also tell you how to go about crafting a short story.

Short stories are for everyone. They are fun and easy to read as well as easy to write. Short stories can be read in one or two sittings, they grip the reader’s attention and don’t let go until the end. They are popular. Remember all of those story ideas that just weren’t developed enough for that novel? These are perfect little critter’s to get you started writing short stories.

Maybe you are a new author just starting out trying to finish up that first great book. Or maybe you’re an experienced author working on a sequel or at best trying to dream one up. As a writer you need to keep busy…

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“And if you think that’s funny…” Writing dialog that does more than tell a story.

Posted on by Georgina Cromarty

Great writing advice 🙂

S.L. Shelton

WakingWolfeKindleHe dropped, exhausted, into the chair next to my writing desk, his low rider holster digging rudely at the fringe of the cushion. “I heard what you said about me.”

“Get over it,” I muttered without missing a keystroke.

He leaned forward and sneered at me. I felt his glare boring into the side of my head. “You made me sound like damned amateur,” he said, separating out each syllable. “I wouldn’t even trust me based on that.”

I stopped typing and breathed in a cleansing breath before turning to him, smiling. “Get over it,” I whispered and then winked.

When I turned to resume typing, he stood abruptly. Though I continued to type, I wondered if he was about to cross the room and give me a beating. A mild wave of relief flooded my chest as he stomped away.

“Payback’s a bitch,” he said under his breath…

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Writing Cliches! – How to avoid them

Posted on by Georgina Cromarty

We all know that cliches should be avoided like the plague, but that can be easier said than done. They can be a thorn in the writers side, and hard to spot when you can’t see the wood for the trees.

Groan…

Yes writing in cliches and / or writing a story that plays out like a cliche will make your readers groan.

Where do cliches hide

  • in common phrases or words – there may have been a few above 😉 . . . How about twisting one up? Saying the same thing from a fresh perspective? Some great examples here Rewrite (and Rev up) Cliches
  • in the story plot – the computer geek who becomes a ass-kicking ninja . . . what about an ass-kicking ninja who becomes a computer geek?
  • in the stereotypes we apply to characters – drug lords wear designer suits and speak with an Italian accent . . . how about a school teacher who is dying of cancer? Hmm worked in ‘Breaking Bad’.

So, cliches are not all bad, and can actually be used to innovate and invigorate your plot, characters and even your prose.

Have you tried playing about with writing cliches? How did you break the cliche mould?

Writing rituals

Posted on by Georgina Cromarty

We all have them, the little rituals we do every time we write.

I have a fixation with sparkling water. I get my water bottle, my glass, and as long as it is morning my cappuccino as well, and head up to my writing room. I always tidy my desk up before I start. There is something about having a tidy space that makes me feel work ready.

If the cats are in the house (more likely if it is a chilly winter day) they follow me up and find a comfy spot behind my laptop and snooze while I write.

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I check Facebook, twitter, my blog stats. If anyone has left any comments on my blog I will respond. Then I close all them.

I open scrivener—my writing tool of choice.

Then I am ready to go.

I used to be terrible for editing as I go, but I have become more disciplined of late. I still have a little read of the last written chapter, but restrict myself to only basic fixes and then I move on.

I reward myself for a productive bursts by snacks, and little breaks.

Mostly, if I am actually writing, I just go with the flow and try not to interrupt myself. If I am struggling to focus, more breaks inevitably creep in.

What are your writing rituals? What is your favourite place to write?

Strange Rituals of Famous Writers

The Daily Rituals of Famous Writers

 

 

Where you stumble, there your treasure is

Posted on by Georgina Cromarty

Mythology is full of stumbles that turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps one of the greatest examples is from the Arabian Nights. A man is ploughing a field, but the plough becomes caught. When he investigates he discovers a ring, but it is not just a ring, and he instead finds a cave full of jewels.

Our treasure is not necessarily about a chest of gold, though. Our treasure may be the thing that gives us greatest pleasure, makes us feel at peace, and alive.

The stumble might be considered a point of failure. We are going about our day, doing what we always do, when something stops us, blocks us, causes us to halt or pause, to slip or fail. There, in that moment, is where we can find our treasure.

Perhaps the stumble is not the obstacle we first presume, but is in fact, the thing we most need.

It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life.

Perhaps a failure leads us to take another road or approach that reaps an entirely unexpected reward.

The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to be the source of what you are looking for.

And perhaps those stumbles, are our greatest opportunities for us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, and ultimately, to grow.

More articles…

Inquiry Institute 

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