Short Stories?!

[XT-421]

This is an LoL moment for me... all of you who know me know me to write long winded stories, with at least 15-25 chapters of solid, well thought out plot, balanced, (generally,) with plenty of fluff after, in between, ect.

Well, I figured this out during my creative writing course in school, (didn't learn TOO much, save this,) and now, writing 1,000 word scholarships (insert gasp here,) I find myself at a dilemma...


How the heck do you write a short story?


For example, I am doing a scholarship where I must write a Twilight Fanfiction (using 8 special words, yadda yadda yadda,) but the twist is, IT MUST BE LESS THAN 1,000 words.

You think that might not be such a problem, well lemme tell you this, my main story, SoL.7, that was over 100,000 words, (109,651 in my general edition,) and that was hardly enough to get it all down the way I wanted to. With certain details cut out and unnecessary plot details and retellings reworded or omitted, the end length would drop down to about 80,000 words, which still, is 80 times longer than this maximum.


Here, I ask myself the question: Can't I just use a simpler storyline?

I do not know how to do this. All of my stories, the supposed genius behind them comes from a few key things:

1. My ability to see into the future and stay relatively focused and goal oriented,
2. My usage of plot twists, key attention to details and extremely complex plots that solve themselves at the end of the story,
3. My usage of suspense, letting readers in on information to solve the plot that the characters must complete through their actions, creating a particular empathy for them.


Without these, my stories aren't so sweet.

So, is there anyone here (before July 25, when this is due,) who can tell me how to write a simple, short, yet legitimate story that I could write in under 1,000 words?

I would be very appreciative.

~Joe

[LAMSonicX De Ripper]

Hmm good question... How to write a simple, short, yet legitimate story... yadda... yadda... yadda...

Well, writing it. It's no big deal really. You have an idea in your mind, and you put it in words. Just... uh... Of course, one important thing that the plot has to be short and/or quick.

I mean, 1000 words? Just that? It has to be short. And simple, just like... a scene. Like... for example, <Paul> <meets> <Jean>, the <girl> <he> likes, in the <park> and the two <play> during <a brief time> in the <park>, then they <rest> on a <bench> and they <kiss>.

Like that. It's not I came with a peak of imagination but still...

[Hissara]

I never thought short stories would be hard for you. It's quite the opposite for I. I can write really short stories, but never long.

Hard to explain, but the Ripper bloke explained it the best.

[XT-421]

Well that's just it, the simplicity is a problem... It lacks interest for me.

You need a problem, a conflict to make a story any good.

To make a conflict, (for me,) I need lots of time.


For example, breif summary of The Curse of Immortality, (just of giggles,)

Saria's immortal, Link's mortal, Saria becomes mortal, but is tricked by the mortal world and is captured, Link goes to save her.

Now, that sounds short, but the thing eneded up being over 300 pages...




Presently, I am kind of working on this delimma, producing a few shortfics for my Halo story.

~Joe

[LAMSonicX De Ripper]

Jaja, that's good. The problem of that "example" is that you made it to be large. Of course that such thing requires the start, the transformation, the tricking, the travel, the battle and several other things and scenes of love and other things. It could be very good if we're trying for large (in other means, normals) stories, but you need shorts. (No offense really.)

Try to read some Oneshots. Even if these are larger than 1000 words it acn give you some ideas.

[§Tsunami§]

I have an example I used for a competition, which it won and got published. I'll post it here to help you. Unlike my other short stories (1000-2000) Words, this I wrote in a mere 387. The question one asks is what is the plot? There are two climatic words in this scene that should help reveal it. It is Suddenly, interrupted.

“A Scene without Dialogue”

There was a gentle howl in the wet air, the wind blowing quietly, making the small trees sway slightly with it. The sun shined warmly upon the ground, and to the east smalls puffs of clouds calmly drifted away. Daises and great yellow dandelions were in bloom, and hummingbirds flew low to snack. The pleasant hums and the shrill whistling of birds created beautiful, intricate harmony with each other. The mountains to the north loomed greatly, the sun painting their landscape a majestic green. Its golden rays gleamed upon a girl and boy, facing each other, eyes downcast.

Tears began to slide down her face. She gazed at him nervously, as her eyes began to drift to the ground. When she spoke her voice was feeble and sorrowful, with a hint of regret. She tapped her foot on the ground anxiously. Her hand brushed her long, black hair.

A bird flew low to the ground, its massive wings spread wide as it began to glide low, and suddenly, just inches from the earth; swoop up gracefully to the air. Neither the boy nor the girl turned to notice.

The boy slowly raised a hand to his forehead. There was an expression of frustration, of misunderstanding. His voice was weak and shaky when he began to speak.

Suddenly, she interrupted, and it was over once the last word came out of her mouth. Nothing else was spoken. The girl had turned her body away from the boy, slowly walking away, unable to look back. A bee buzzed nearby, but the boy did not turn from the girl until she was forever out of sight.

Finally the boy’s eyes slowly turned away from the girl to gaze upon nature’s display. His eyes feasted on the scene of the white daises, the mown grass, the tall dandelions, the giant mountains. His ears took in the sounds of the chattering of
insects and the songs of the birds, their music unique and serene.

Yet the earth did not ease the melancholy in his heart. Slowly, the boy began to let out the tears that he had suppressed for so long. They poured out like raindrops, hitting the ground with a gentle touch. His heart beat dolorously, and it never stopped beating that way on that ugly day.

You don't need 1000 words. Focus on the emotion, on the conflict, and leave out details like what shirt she is wearing, etc. Al li used was emotion, action, conflict, and scenery. That's it.

I'm sure you'll do fine, though.

[LAMSonicX De Ripper]

Wow, that was great! You really need to pay attention to him!

[XT-421]

That is it though, no dialogue. That is the absolute key to shortening my stories.

Once Dialogue is gone, the story condenses rapidly.

I wrote my Twilight micro-fanfiction, it was only about 500 words, and it did not contain any real dialogues. I can't really reveal it because it might null and void my entry, but... it was basically an entry of a diary of one of the characters.

It is really sad, actually, I fear I may have to relearn most of my writing abilities...

~Joe

[LAMSonicX De Ripper]

Oh, well, glad to hear you made it. Be sure to show us after you... uh... entry it. After that contest.

Relearn your old writing abilities? Are you kidding? You just need to practice them again. I noted you uploaded a Halo fanfiction. So... no problemo right?

Well, bye and luck! Guesundhait too!

[§Tsunami§]

No, it is not relearn. It is never relearn, it is only learn more. Your writing style and signature are unique and cannot be relearned or thrown away. Keep it, and improve on it by reading and studying the masters. Only then can you join their ranks.

~Tsunami