short story writer's program for success

FICTION WRITING LESSONS: December 2006

SHORT STORY WRITER'S PROGRAM FOR SUCCESS:

DEVELOP YOUR OWN CRITIQUE & SUPPORT GROUP
Negotiate with at least one and up to four other KNOWLEDGEABLE SHORT STORY WRITERS to set up a short story writer buddy or private work group -- a circle of peers. This short story writer's buddy or circle of peers should help and listen to one another during bouts of doubt, writer's depression, snags, blocks, to help brainstorm or research when needed, and also to cheer each other's breakthroughs, epiphanies, and euphoria. Think commiseration, help, and celebration.

DRAFT AT LEAST 2 SHORT STORIES A MONTH, REWRITE AT LEAST 2 SHORT STORIES A MONTH.
Write a minimum of one to two hours a day. Write when inspired from life or depressed by it. Ride the energy, and write as much as possible during those inspiration highs and depression lows. Develop the habit of writing when passionate. Amazing things happen. Oh, and do try to write everyday. NEVER STOP WRITING IF THE ENERGY OF THE STORY IS ROLLING, IF THE INSPIRATION IS HIGH. IF YOU STOP MID-STORY, NEVER STOP AT A SCENE BREAK OR AT THE RESOLUTION OF A CRISIS. ALWAYS STOP WRITING AT A HIGH TENSION POINT. This prevents stalling out and writer's block. NEVER RE-READ WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN OR REVISED. Just go on. Fixing is done each time after you've reached the end of the story. If you need to change what happened before, just make a note in the manuscript as to what change you feel is needed, then write on as if that change has been carried out. Your minimum goal is to produce at least one saleable short story a month.

KEEP TALLY & BACK UP YOUR WORK
Keep track your daily word count to a running tally, posting it daily. Always back-up your work to keep it safe. Google offers a free service where you can upload documents. BACK UP DAILY.

HITTING A SNAG
Don't fret. Move on to a different story. Often, for short story writers, a story is all inspiration. You might get stuck, but, placing the story aside and not reading it until long after you've stopped thinking about it will allow you the space needed to build fresh inspiration when reading it some weeks, months, or years later.

READING YOUR WORK

If you have just finished your first draft: Wait a day or two, then print it out and read it straight through, making short notes in the margin or on a separate note pad (include page and paragraph) about any content problems you see. Do not blue pencil grammar or punctuation at this time. Do not "fix" the story at this time. Do read it straight through. Do not go back and reread.
If you have just finished your second draft: Read it on screen out loud to yourself or to someone else. Fix the spelling, grammar and punctuation issues that you see and hear as you go.
If you have just finished "finalling" your manuscript: Do a proof read and last edit. This can be accomplished using a silent read and/or reading it aloud again.

EDITING / REWRITING YOUR DRAFT, SECOND DRAFT, OR FINAL VERSION OF THE STORY

NEVER WORK ON THE ORIGINAL FILE. ALWAYS WORK ON A COPY OF THE LAST BEST FILE OR ON A NEW INTERFACE. The draft is your "high energy/raw creativity" reference, not your working copy.
Again, you must work from start to finish without going back. You ONLY go back after you've reached The End. If you are dissatisfied, start another, a third, draft if necessary...which it usually isn't. It's your head and doubt getting in the way. If you are stuck or you have reworked the life right out of the story, STOP and put everything away. Draft a new story. When you do go back to that short story, start with a copy of the raw draft again.
There are several methods to use when finalling a story. You can use the printed copy and, setting it beside you, completely retype the work into a brand new interface, or you can add/edit a copy. How you do it depends on what works best for you. NEVER OVERWORK A SHORT STORY. YOU WILL SURELY KILL IT.

WHAT NEXT?
Work with a buddy or small circle of like-minded writers to read each other's author final manuscripts. Each person is looking for plot holes, logical errors, grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors in other members' manuscripts. Each member should give a running dialogue on what they liked and what stopped them in their reading of your work...and you in theirs. Plan on spending one day per member's story multiplied by the number of members in your circle. It should take you only one day to read and comment on an "author final" short story, two days at the outside, including nitting for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors your eye picks up. Your main job as a member of a short story writer's peer review circle or story buddy is to find places where the story stops you reading or drops you out. Note that spot and why it dropped you out, made you pause, or caused you to suspend belief so you can tell the author. Make note of stylistic and voice problems that negatively affected your read. PLEASE TELL THE AUTHOR WHAT WORKED -- WHAT EXCITED, DELIGHTED, TERRIFIED OR INTRIGUED YOU. EFFUSIVE PRAISE WHEN WARRANTED IS A SHORT STORY WRITER'S BEST REWARD...aside from selling the manuscript, of course.

AFTER THE PEER REVIEW
After your work has been read and commented on by your story buddy or peer circle, think about what they said. Pay attention to places they all independently pointed out as a problem for them. Pay particular attention to places most or all members agree as problematic. If you agree with them, change the manuscript. If you don't agree with them, don't.

SUBMIT
SELECT YOUR PREFERRED MARKETS FOR YOUR STORY, LISTING THEM FROM BEST TO LEAST BEST. WRITE YOUR QUERY & BLURB, OR YOUR COVER LETTER, THEN SUBMIT YOUR STORY, CORRECTLY FORMATTED FOR THE MARKET, STARTING FROM THE BEST MARKET AND WORKING DOWN. It is usually wise to get your peer circle or buddy's help with perfecting your query, blurb, and cover letter.

KEEP SUBMISSION RECORDS
Keep a running tally of who you submitted to and when, when they replied, whether they accepted or rejected your story. If they rejected your manuscript, did they they give any remarks or advice? When you secure a publisher, certainly post your success for all to celebrate. Have a party befitting the market sold to (Selling a story to The New Yorker qualifies you for a very big party.)

Lesson TOC (Table of Contents)...4

Benefits of Joining

Access to all lessons, plus access to both editors, zentao and womblin, to whom you may pose questions.

Join Now & Save

Right now, for a limited time, we off a special introductory membership fee of only $49.95 per year, regularly $60. Save 20% by signing up now, and get that introductory price “grandfathered in,” locked in for as long as you remain a subscriber.

FICTION WRITER'S RESOURCES

FWW editors critique you

The Editorial Department ($2/pg) & will fix your mss

ONLINE FICTION


HOME	EDITORS CRITIQUE YOU	FICTION WRITING	NOVEL WRITING	SHORT STORY WRITING