THE "DIFFERENT" STYLE OF WRITING

As a personal preference, short stories need to be twisted. The definition of twisted is to take a perfectly predictable story plot and subject it to something . . . different.

That's why I like sci-fi, horror, and fantasy: all of which are easy for throwing in twists. It can be done in fiction too (albeit with some more effort). And I don't mean plot twists, wherein all you do is throw in a bit of a surprise (like Luke Skywalker finding out that Darth Vader's his father).

I mean write the story so that it's frggin' DIFFERENT to its very core, and then reveal that fact at some point in the story (that's why Star Wars made so much damned money - it was just different throughout: from the Jedi to the Ewoks).

But for those of you not wanting to create your own full-fledged universes, fear not. A different story can start with a relatively mundane situation . . . and then just go off into the weird. Readers love that feeling of twisted surprise – if you do it right.

For example: I wrote a piece called “A Timely Assist”. A National Guardsman’s stuck in a patch of Iraqi desert with a leg wound. A bunch of insurgents are driving after him in a pair of jeeps. They want him as a hostage to behead. Knowing this, he sets up into a prone shooting position, reloads his last full clip and vows to survive this (somehow). He’s just about to open fire when . . . a British dude asks him if he happens to have a working radio. Startled, the guardsman turns around to find he’s got six armed British commandos standing around behind him . . . and they’re all ghosts! And things get really different from there.

When sitting somewhere, trying to figure out a concept for a different story, cram two things together that have no business being together (like British ghosts with guns). Mix ninjas and zombies (I did that once). Mix aliens and politicians (I did that once, too).

Or, frame a different story in the context of a “What if?” scenario that didn’t fit the regular story mold. For example: I did a story called “Gizmo Sleuth” some years back. It had a 1930’s pulp feel to it. And I asked: “What if there was a super hero; who was part-detective, part-mad genius?” I mean, he’s beating up Nazis, thwarting a rival mad genius, and flat-out saving the day on anti-psychotics!

Writing a love story? Murder? Crime Tale? Same thing, folks.

Fart an unusual story spin out of the creative recesses of your minds.

Then tell it differently.

And please make it twisted.

It’ll make the story better.

HOW TO WRITE THE TWISTED STUFF

A bunch of posts in and I haven't said diddly on the most basic question many a writer would have about short stories:  How do you write them?

There are plenty of techniques a writer can use to generate a short story.  But frankly, anyone can write a short story if he/she puts in enough time.  Odds are we all had to do a short story at least once in our lives (English class, most likely).  And if you do enough of them, with the aim of honing your chops, you'll be top-notch someday.  It's like cooking, dancing, or speaking your native tongue: you only learn by doing.

Some basic parameters for writing short stories:
1. Keep it within 1,000 - 3,000 words (a good middle range for a story). 
2. When you write that very first draft, don't worry about it being perfect.  Just knock it down and polish it up later.
3. It's easier to write in the past tense than the present tense.  Whichever tense you pick, stick with it.
4. Keep your plot different and unpredictable from other stuff.  Your reader shouldn't see your story's entire plot coming a mile away.
5. Balance your details.  Tell enough for the reader to understand/enjoy the story (scenery, descriptions, etc.).  But don't bog the tale down with tons of useless details either.
6. Good dialogue enhances a story, especially if it's something memorable (silly, odd, etc.).  Don't believe me?  Think of your favorite movies and you'll probably remember cool lines from it. 
7. Realism matters (even when doing sci-fi or fantasy).  When you're done with that first draft of story, look for - and weed out - anything that doesn't make sense.  If you're writing a western, where the cowboy whips out a six-shooter and fires fifteen times (without reloading), that's a reality gap.
8. Conflicts are key.  Without it, it's hard to keep a story from becoming just a bunch of (probably) boring events written in prose.  Whether the conflict's violent or a subtle test of wills, think your conflict through before you write it down.  Good conflicts aren't necesarily run-of-the-mill.  Shoot for a dilemma that's not so easy to solve/avoid.
9. Don't be afraid to show your characters' flaws.  If the hero' an alcoholic womanizer with a heavy fear of heights, so be it.  Such imperfections can be played beautifully.
10. Make up a bit of back story for the main characters.  Know (at the vey least) their past, what motivates them.  Armed with that info, you can direct their actions a lot more easily.  I wrote a story about a husband killing his wife and how he almost got away with it.  A fried of mine looked it over and asked "why'd he kill her"?  I didn't put it in or even think it over ("duh" on me).
11.  Make sure the ending has some kick to it.  A snappy line.  A dramatic exit.  Or, at the very least, make the ending a logical place to stop.

TOYS

One of the nicest things about being a kid was having toys.  The more toys, the more choices.  More choices, the less boring childhood was.  While my mom was kind enough to give me a decent arsenal of such toys growing up, I always wanted more of them.  Still, working with what I had allowed me to realize that I had one hell of an imagination (like playing football with my Star Wars action figures).

Whether you're writing poetry, short stories, or even full-fledged books, think of your lit pieces as toys.  You want to build a sort of reserve.  The more pieces in your arsenal, the more choices you have.  But doing this takes a block of time and considerable focus.  Having a compelling reason helps. 

Once upon a time, I pretty much tossed a year of my life away writing short stories.  I wasn't doing it for fame or wealth.  I did it to stay sane after a particularly-painful breakup. 

At the end of that year (2007), I looked over the fifty-plus short stories and realized that I was onto to something here.  Some of these pieces needed to be shared, just on title alone: "Ninja Leprechauns", "A Rabbi And A Demon", "Heavenly Draft", etc.  These "toys" are what I ended up using to put my collection together.  And should I ever run into that beautiful gal who shattered my heart . . . I owe her a Coke.

So, write yourself some toys.  Create more of them than you need.  If you write that kickassed novel, write the sequel right after it (just to prove that you can). 

Then spend some time creating and polishing, in bulk, your toys.  Because once you start with the nuts-and-bolts side of the writing business, you'll have less writing time (belive me).  I try to kick out a story a week, just to satisfy my "writing addiction", keep my edge, and to expand my pool of options for future collections. 

But you know what?  I also spit out new stuff because I want more "toys".  And unlike my Star Wars action figures, I don't mind sharing these.

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

When it comes to writing, details are everything.  A short story, for example, shouldn't be edited just once . . . or twice . . . or even ten times.  The funky thing about creating a short story from the depths of your mind is that it has you thinking it's a friggin' masterpiece.  I've felt a bit godly when I wrapped up a particularly-great story. 

But when you write something straight through, your creative side's dominating . . . not necessarily the part of you that edits.  And this is for the best, when it comes to your first draft.  Write that sweet piece and then set it aside and move on to the next story.  When you get a chance, look over that first "masterpiece" and you'll see its imperfections.  Don't pitch it.  Just make it better, whether it's a simple polish or a flatout rewrite.

Once you're done with the edit, save it and move on to another piece.  Pick it up later and (I'll betcha' good money) you'll find some more flaws and/or ways to make it better.  It's natural.  It's for the best.  And if you love your works, you'll spend countless hours making them better.  If you submit a crappy piece, it'll be treated like a crappy piece.

Get an editor to look over your pieces, someone with experience who charges by the page (vs. the hour).  If you can't afford one, find someone nitpicky to help you out.  And if you're friendless and penniless, self-edit away.  But realize that outside perspectives have - at least, in my experience - made a difference in the final product.

So write a bunch of stories and then edit them multiple times.  And when the improvements stop flowing, you've made your stories as good as they can be.  Then you try to publish them.

PARKOUR

WHERE I STAND

The odd thing about this blog is my timing.  I should've (perhaps) started this puppy in April of 2010, when I stumbled across a great editor (Ed) and started putting my first collection together. 

Ultimately dubbed "Unheroic", this collection of short stories had a common theme of folks saving the day who didn't fit the mold of the stereotypical good guy/gal/thing.  In one of my stories, called "An Ounce of Prevention", a demon saves the world.  And he's not seeking redemption or facing some crisis of conscience.  He kills quite a few people doing it.  But the circumstances of his actions were so damned unique that he was sent to save the day (for now) by the Devil himself.

For "Unheroic", I threw in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror.  And detailing these mad pieces, as I wrote 'em, would've added mad spice to this blog.  Instead, I start this blog off during the self-publishing stage (not quite as fun, I assure you). 

At this point, Ed's edited all 36 stories.  A talented graphic artist (Lincoln) is doing the cover art.  And combined, I'm paying them enough to send a family of four to the Bahamas for a couple of weeks.  :)

I guess my advice won't be just on how to write stuff.  I can share wisdom as I stumble toward whatever future this effort holds.  The funny little things I've picked up should be shared.  So I'll share 'em.  Maybe they'll help you in some way.

HEAVYWEIGHT WRITING CONTEST

It's about that time of the year again.  The Writer's Digest is having their annual contest.  It's a beast: with categories ranging from short stories to poetry to short plays. 

In Google, set up a search.
Type in "Writer's Digest Contest 2011".
Once in their site, look for the link to their Annual Writing Competition.

Details, rules, and entry fees are posted.  The prizes/fame/possible contacts are why you should consider entering. 

And if you have a phobia about submitting stuff, now's the chance to bury it.
If you think you're the sh*t, now's your chance to prove it.

Give it a peek.

THAT RINZLER GUY

While sifting through sites referencing short story collections, I stumbled across a blog by a veteran writer named Alan Rinzler.  He had an interesting article on the popularity of short story collections (among other things). 

To find it, go to Google prep a search.
Then type his name as one word: "AlanRinzler" and throw in "The Book Deal".

Check it out.  There might be some useful info in there for ya'.