Some general rules as you
develop your story
* Consider the reader - do not
write for yourself, always write for the reader
* Be disciplined - you may
wish to pack lots of information in but does the reader need it?
* You may not have put enough
information in - you can imagine where a scene is set but have you given the
reader the information they need? You may have drawn a character but can your
readers see them?
* It is crucial if you write
about a place that the reader can see it.
Give them enough visual clues
* Create characters that we
can see and hear and make them real and believable. No cardboard cut-outs here!
* Be brutal - if you have
overwritten, chop out the fat
What makes a good short story?
1 . The best stories are the
ones that follow a fairly narrow subject line: too many plotlines and you end
up with a novel
2. An effective short story
often covers a very short time span. It may be one single episode that proves
pivotal in the life of the character
3. Don't have too many
characters. Each new character will bring a new dimension to the story, and too
many diverse dimensions dilute the theme. Have only enough characters to
effectively tell the story
4. Make every word count.
There is no room for unnecessary expansion in a short story. If each word is
not working towards putting across the story, delete it
John Dean
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