By Vicki Batman (Guest Blogger)
I
didn’t begin my writing career by writing short stories. I started
with my romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily
Employed. However, when I began
critiquing with a friend, she sent me six very short stories to read.
I hadn’t read short stories in forever and reading six in a row
became a crash course in writing short. All kinds of things inspired
me and launched a work. A picture. A phrase. A look. For example in
“Man Theory,” someone said to me, “I have a theory about love.”
My brain went whoa!
I had to scribble the thought down. And after the conversation had
ended, I instantly opened a document and let the fingers fly.
“With
This Ring” came about when I attended a university event with
Handsome. For a minute, I was in the hot seat as I had forgotten my
little black dress. I had no choice but to buy one and made a faster
than fast trip to the shopping drag. I have never had much luck at
“have to find something to wear” at the last minute (and to this
day, I haven’t worn the garment again). I kept a journal and wrote
down what had happened. And then, the writing magic took over, my
head began spinning, and the story almost wrote itself.
I
should let Handsome make me go to more events because they were great
inspiration. We attended a political dinner, and one guest at our
table did not have the best manners. He gobbled his food, ate the
absent person’s next to him, and two desserts. I wondered what if a
young woman went to a dinner like this by herself and a good-looking
man had been seated next to her. What
if??? was a powerful tool for this
writer. I opened a doc and started the story, “Just Desserts.”
In
all three of these examples, there was a beginning, middle, black
moment, and end—just like the components making up a book. When one
writes 1,000 words, every single word
mattered. Characterization may be
briefer as well as setting. I analyzed which adjectives and adverbs
to keep. Could I combine phrases. I did not delve into different
points of view, many different characters, or had complicated
middles, or complicated plots. Two people met, had something to
overcome, and came together for a nice resolution, a Happy Ever
After, at the end.
Just
like a book.
Just
shorter.
Did
you read short stories in school? And were they a huge turn-off?
I remember reading one about flesh-eating ants---ick.
Was I turned off shorter works. Later in life, I had no idea short
stories were still around. A lot of magazines didn’t publish them
anymore. Only the romance genre had embraced them in anthologies and
boxed sets. When I discovered those, the stories were quite
pleasurable and found new authors.
Do
you read short stories or only books?
I
mentioned Man Theory above
and here’s a fun excerpt:
"I
have a theory about love.”
Ethan's
statement knocked me from the proverbial mountain top. Eyeing him, I
clapped my hand across my mouth to stifle a giggle.
From
Day One at our new jobs at Prime Designs, Ethan and I had forged a
friendship. I was the artsy heart-sy, emotional gal. Him--the
technical, by-the-book pal. We ate an occasional dinner, watched a
movie, whatever. Traded small gifts like coffee, a magazine, music.
However, Ethan had never made an overture toward me.
Translated:
Nothing intimate.
I'd
said to myself, "Rats."
For
work, we'd traveled to Colorado Springs to attend a workshop on web
design innovations. After check-in, I'd joined him at the bridge
crossing the lake to decide about lunch before the meetings
commenced.
My
six-one geek wearing rimless glasses, leaned against the railing and
stared into the sparkling blue waters of the high mountain lake. The
feathered fowl paddled by.
Have
his feelings changed? I asked in
disbelief, "R-really? A theory...about love?"
*
* * *
To
kick off my love for romantic comedy short stories, I am giving away
two e-copies. One of Whispers
of Winter,
which features my homage to fruitcake, “The Great Fruitcake
Bake-off.” And an e-copy of “Just
Desserts…and other stories.”
Sign up for my newsletter at: http://www.vickibatman.blogspot.com
.
Have
to have Just Desserts…and other
stories now?
Barnes
& Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-desserts-and-other-short-stories-vicki-batman/1128592107?ean=2940155242031/
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823338/
About
the Author
Vicki
Batman has sold many romantic comedy works to magazines, several
publishers, and most recently, two humorous romantic mysteries. Along
the way she has garnered awards and bestsellers.
An avid Jazzerciser.
Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book
devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most
days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking, "What
if??"
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
2 comments:
Hello, Vicki!
Welcome to Beyond Romance, and thanks for being my guest.
I write both novels and short stories (and a lot of stuff in between). I believe that it's much more difficult to create an effective short work than something longer. As you say, every word counts. You have only a sentence or two to hook your reader, and only a few pages to spin out your entire idea. It's a real challenge.
Hi, Lisabet, and thank you for hostessing me. IMHO, the key is not to get too complicated with many plot twists. I do recommend reading a lot of shorts in a row for the crash course. Hugs!
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