I just read in an online article ( http://www.thisbusinessofdanceandmusic.com/Article-Shortfictionmarket.htm ) two contrary opinions. One was that writing short stories was a good way for a writer to refine their craft, that if they ultimately wanted to write novels, they should write at least one hundred shorts before they began a novel. The other opinion was that even after writing many short stories a writer will find that they still have much to learn when it comes to writing a novel, and the opinion was that "...novelists should start with novels and leave short stories to those who particularly love short stories."
I would be very interested in hearing what others have to say about this. You see, I'm at a point where I'm trying to decide if I want to write just for myself, or work towards making a career out of what I do. It's common knowledge that there isn't a market for short stories, and it was my thinking that writing short stories would be good practice, and would give me the tools I needed to either finish that novel I started way back when, or attempt another one.
Either I stick to the plan, - maybe even count down those one hundred stories, or scrap the idea of writing shorts except for my own enjoyment, and start thinking about putting my efforts into writing a novel. ... And then again, there's always children's fiction, ... that's nice and short. ... Oh maybe I'm not ready for this. Maybe I should just stick with writing whatever the muse brings to my attention and write it in whatever format best suits the story...
LOL, I would still like to hear people's opinion on this, just incase I ever reach that point where I'm ready to make a decision either way.
I found writing short stories helped me improve my writing when I came to writing my novel. When you write short stories every word must count. You must think about saying a little but telling everything within a small word count. Some new writers think that you can write a novel and not worry about the word count but this isn't true.
ReplyDeleteIn novels you may have a bigger playing field to work on, but you must make sure every words says what you want it to say and keep your readers interested.
I would say work on both because any writing is better than none and at the end of the day you will have learnt something new.
Best wishes always,
Annie
I've written loads of short stories and about two thirds of a novel and I would have to say that the two experiences are totally different. I think there are skills that you can develop in one that will help you in the other, but being good at one doesn't mean you'll necessarily be good at the other. I think one of my main problems is that I'm a dabbler and I try to write too many different things at once. If only I could make a decision and stick to it!
ReplyDeleteI think we all feel that being able to loose ourselves in a good book, whether full of short stories or a novel, is unspeakably marvellous.
ReplyDeleteHere in Great Britain we have a problem with white boys being illiterate and generally uninterested in reading. Consequently I decided to try and do something that might benefit other people and as a result have started producing short, in the first person, stories aimed at boys 9 - 12.
'The Boy with the Monkey' is set during the Second World War when the Japanese over ran the Malay peninsular capturing all before them. The European men they sent to POW camps, but unsure what to do with the women, they marched them from place to place. One unfortunate group walked for two and half years. 80% died, but so did their guards, and sometimes groups ended up in the bizarre situation of being prisioners without jailors.
10 year old Lawrence is in such a group, and it falls to him to learn how to fish to keep the group alive. Having lost his mother and baby brother he has difficulties forming relationships, but he does fancy having one of the wild monkeys as a pet.
Currently only available as an e-book, a paperback version is planned for the spring.
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/TheBoyWithTheMonkey.html
Perhaps thinking outside the box would be the way forward for you. I certainly send you my good wishes. Janet
Hurrah, blogger is letting me post again:-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think writing shorts and writing novels are mutually exclusive. In fact, as Annie W says, all writing is practice. Short stories force you to think about images and phrasing which surely carries over to novel writing.
At the moment I'm writing a novel (ha!) trying to write a novel. When I get too bogged down in it, I write flashes or try to work on a short story. I'm also piddling about with a children's book. All very different and I know I should probably focus on one, but my attention span isn't that good:-)
I don't think you have to make any hard and fast decisions and until the day an editor (I should be so lucky) is breathing down my neck with a deadline, I'll probably carry on like this.
Also, writing short pieces is satisfying. After hours grappling with an unwieldy novel, it's quite uplifting to write something complete
Also also ... there might not be a market for short story books but there's a good market in magazines, ezines etc. They may not pay big bucks but it gives a bit of self validation, which most of us need:-)
So just keep on, keeping on m'dear and write where the muse takes you.
Thank you for your opinion Annie; I agree with you about how everything you write in a novel should count, just like in a short story. So many times I've read novels where there's been a bit in the middle or three quarters of the way through that just seems like filler or something. I've tended to think the reason for that was one of two things, either that a transition spot just didn't work as well as the well thought out body and ending, or that the author was writing something to bring up the word count and had never intended that bit in the story in the first place.
ReplyDeleteHelen, I don't think you should have to make a decision, just stick with it. (grin) ... I like to dabble too. I just can't imagine me ever sticking to just one genre, and one of things I think that would drive me completely bonkers is spending so much time writing just one story. Just one flavour, for all that time... Nope, variety spurs my imagination, so I'm thinking your advice is good, and you shouldn't give yourself a hard time because you take it. :)
Janet; nice to meet you! :) Your story 'The Boy with the Monkey' sounds like a very involving story! ... You've given me something else to consider Thank you. :)
Lane you give good advice; Like I said above, I don't think I could handle writing just one story, a novel, continuously without having a break from it by writing something else. You make a good point about attention span. (Grin) ... no seriously; I figure I'd either go completely mad because I would become so involved with the story, or I'd see myself going mad and scrap the whole thing. ... Nah, scratch that last bit; I've never had that much control. LOL ... I can imagine how when writing something so long and involving as a novel you'd get a boost from seeing something of yours complete. ... And it's never about the money, is it? Although, that would be a HUGE validation. (GRIN)
Even though your opinions vary, you've all given such good advice that I've gained something from each of you, for now, I know what I'm going to do. Thank you.