Short Story Exercise #1, Join In! Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi all.

Let's start the creative mind flowing in the short story direction, shall we?
First, let's recap some thoughts on the short story.

1. What is the story about? What is it's underlying message? Does it have a clear theme. The theme is not the same thing as the plot. For example, the theme could be "All good deeds do not go un-noticed." The plot would then be something like, "Mr. Deeds helps a little old lady across the street. In exchange, he is given a (winning) lottery ticket..."

2. Cover a short time span. Make it a single event that proves pivotal in the life of the character(s) or setting, so that event will illustrate your theme. There are 5 parts to a plot line: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and the resolution.
1. Exposition = Introduction
2. Rising action = Suspense
3. Climax = Final battle
4. Falling action = Dramatic
5. Resolution = Aftermath

3. Don't have too many characters. This is crucial to the dimensions you establish. Adding more dimension may confuse the reader or dilute the theme. Create just enough characters to effectively illustrate your theme.

4. Make every word count. Make no room for unnecessary expansions. If each word does not do the story justice toward your theme, then delete them.

5. Focus. The best stories are the ones that follow a narrow subject line. What is the story's point? Does it mesh with your theme? Sticking to the straight and narrow should meld these together nicely.

6. Style. This element of the short story is often the most difficult to understand, the way the author writes. Is symbolism important? Are there any flash backs, or is the story's time element chronological? What is the point of view? (1st person, 3rd person all-knowing, 3rd person objective)
Was exaggeration used in the story and why? Was the ending foreshadowed and consistent?

Try to follow these key elements to short story writing:

• Introduction/exposition - The opening should introduce the main characters, start the action and fill in enough exposition (and setting - time & place) to indicate the general atmosphere of the story.
• Complication (Rising Action) - the conflicts between the characters, your protagonist (hero) and the antagonist. Remember, the antagonist does not have to be a person. The struggle they face is the basis of every story. It may be a conflict between people – a war or a person and nature (a skier in an avalanche), a lover’s misunderstanding (Romeo & Juliet) for example. The conflict may reflect itself in a struggle between two ideas or loyalties struggling within one person’s mind or spirit.
• Climax - The point in the story where the protagonist’s problems are solved, where the reader’s curiosity is satisfied and expectations fulfilled. The climax is the highest point of action in the story. The climax is reached when the conflict is settled.
• Conclusion - Has the plot and theme been accurately conveyed?

In our first exercise, choose a THEME that you'd like to write about based on one the following:

• A picture or painting you've just seen
• A article you've just read in a magazine or newspaper

When you think about THEME, write your statement down as a reply to this thread. In my example, I choose:All good deeds do not go un-noticed.

Next: Think of a subject matter to write about that will tie into your theme. Some ideas for you:
A special occassion
A holiday gathering
An adventure vacation
Life in an orphanage
How to entertain your children
Happiness on a shoestring (budget)
The secrets of X revealed
The confessions of ...
My date at the midnight pancake buffet
How I chose my child's name
My abduction on an alien spaceship
My day at a Pro sports game
My nature walk
The office picnic party

Come on now. Join in!  
Please reply with your planned theme and subject matter. The next part of the exercise is to write your opening paragraph and post that as well.

Good luck!
~Cleo  

[Cleo_Serapis]

Next - further define your protagonist and antagonist...and start to think of the conflict you will have in your story. Write another paragraph or more....

Good luck!
~Cleo

[Cleo_Serapis]

Theme:All good deeds do not go un-noticed.
Title: Dudley's Deed
Author: Lorraine M Kanter
Work No. 100A
Date: Jan 04, 2004

The 1401 made its way into the terminal promptly on schedule. Five minutes later, it was gone. “Oh crap! I missed the connection again!” Dan Dudley swore under his breath as the commuter train screeched and rode on toward the tunnel of no return. In his haste to catch the departing 1422 on Platform B, he hurdled an occupied bench where Mrs. Greeley just happened to be waiting… for him.

"Why do you insist on following the same path day in and day out, Mr. Dudley," the wiser whispered to the crouching man. "As sure as the train rolls on, so too must you break free from the bonds that bind you to... how does one say it, repetitive reaction?"  He did not respond to the speaker of nonsense, refusing to take part in her gibberish notions of today, and stepped through the closing door of the 1422 without looking back.

Copyright © 2004 Lorraine M Kanter
All rights reserved as an unpublished work.

[Cleo_Serapis]

A few excerpt tips as you continue to write your short story, from Susan Letham's, "Shaping up Short Stories" article in a separate tile here in Noble Narratives to guide you below.  :dance:


"...A successful short story needs a different approach. Your
short story should cover only one clearly defined event, a
limited time span, and involve a handful of characters at
most. Your words should be purposefully chosen and tightly
written. The story needs to progress at a steady pace from
beginning to end. As a short story writer, you need a clear
idea of what you want to say and a plan that will help you
say it. No more. No less."

"...Simplify your characters. Reduce them to one or two main
traits and magnify those traits to make them more prominent
and interesting."

"...Lack of clarity is the result of poor plotting and
planning. Go back and make a clear list of the steps and
scenes involved in the story. Check that each step or scene
appears in the right order.

- Is the scene progression logical?
- Does the character complete each task or meet each
 challenge in the right order?
- Is it clear who your main character is?
- Is it clear when and where the story takes place?
- Are you clear about the main character's goal?
- Do you know what the message of your story is?

Do a self-check. Finish the following sentences:

This story is about a  
but first has to overcome __."

[Cleo_Serapis]

Theme:All good deeds do not go un-noticed.
Title: Dudley's Deed
Author: Lorraine M Kanter
Work No. 100A
Date: Jan 10, 2004

The 1401 made its way into the terminal promptly on schedule. Five minutes later, it was gone. “Oh crap! I missed the connection again!” Dan Dudley swore under his breath as the commuter train screeched and rode on toward the tunnel of no return. In his haste to catch the departing 1422 on Platform B, he hurdled an occupied bench where Mrs. Greeley just happened to be waiting… for him.

"Why do you insist on following the same path day in and day out, Mr. Dudley," the wiser whispered to the crouching man. "As sure as the train rolls on, so too must you break free from the bonds that bind you to... how does one say it, repetitive reaction?"  He did not respond to the speaker of nonsense, refusing to take part in her gibberish notions of today, and stepped through the closing door of the 1422 without looking back.

The train was quite packed as usual and Dan hastened his way to a vacant seat near the retracting doors. A disgusted pregnant foreigner looked on with pleading eyes, to no avail. A sharp jolt in the train’s forward motion sent the woman spiraling into Dan’s lap, where closeness had no place. “Oh COME ON lady,” Dan shouted to the now shadowed light of car number thirteen as the power ceased and the train started to slow. “GET OFF! Is this your way of asking for my seat?” He sent her into tears, through indecipherable words of disbelief.

Luckily, the 1422 coasted to Mystic Street station a few seconds later. A crinkled noise was followed by an announcement to disembark and await further instructions. “I HATE this place! There’s nothing but weirdoes here who give me the creeps.” Dan exclaimed to the air around him. No sooner did he spot her sitting there, did she acknowledge his presence.

“Mr. Dudley! It’s so nice to see you here at the Mystic! I’d ask what you are doing here, but, heh heh heh, I already know!”

“What? Wait a minute! I saw you at the last station when I jumped on the train! How is this possible?” Dan asked Mrs. Greeley with a sudden green tint forming around his face.

“Repetitive reaction, Mr. Dudley, remember? You have been given another chance to change your life, in this moment. Why waste it by asking unintelligent questions,” Mrs. Greeley sat from her familiar bench and continued. “You see, in a moment, the power will come back on and you’ll have a decision to make. Board the train and continue on to your boring destination, OR stay here with me and chat awhile, just you and I. What do you say?”

Dan thought a moment. “What do I say? I say, ‘Lady, you’re a weirdo and I’m not going to waste my time talking to weirdoes.’ That’s what I say.” He never gave her a second to reply, turned and jogged up the stairs and out into the light of day on Mystic Street.

*   *   *   *   *

The 1401 made its way into the terminal promptly on schedule. Five minutes later, it was gone. “Oh crap! I missed the connection again!” Dan Dudley swore under his breath as the commuter train screeched and rode on toward the tunnel of no return. In his haste to catch the departing 1422 on Platform B, he hurdled an occupied bench where Mrs. Greeley just happened to be waiting… for him.

"Why do you insist on following the same path day in and day out, Mr. Dudley," the wiser whispered to the crouching man. "As sure as the train rolls on, so too must you break free from the bonds that bind you to…how does one say it, repetitive reaction?"  He did not respond to the speaker of nonsense, refusing to take part in her gibberish notions of today, and stepped through the closing door of the 1422 without looking back.

The train was quite packed as usual and Dan hastened his way to a vacant seat near the retracting doors. A disgusted pregnant foreigner looked on with pleading eyes. A sharp jolt in the train’s forward motion sent the woman spiraling into Dan’s lap, where closeness had a newfound place. “Oh COME ON lady,” Dan shouted to the now shadowed light of car number thirteen as the power ceased and the train started to slow. “PLEASE, my apologies, take my seat and REST!” Joyous tears responded, through indecipherable words of disbelief.

Luckily, the 1422 coasted to Mystic Street station a few seconds later. A crinkled noise was followed by an announcement to disembark and await further instructions. “THIS is the place! There’s nothing here that can give me the creeps.” Dan exclaimed to the air around him. No sooner did he spot her sitting there, did she acknowledge his presence.

“Mr. Dudley! It’s so nice to see you here at the Mystic! I’d ask what you are doing here, but, heh heh heh, I already know!”

“What? Wait a minute! I saw you at the last station when I jumped on the train! How is this possible?” Dan asked Mrs. Greeley with a sudden green tint forming around his face.

“Repetitive reaction, Mr. Dudley, remember? You have been given another chance to change your life, in this moment. Why waste it by asking unintelligent questions,” Mrs. Greeley sat from her familiar bench and continued. “You see, in a moment, the power will come back on and you’ll have a decision to make. Board the train-“

“This is all so familiar to me. I KNOW what you’re going to say! ‘…and continue on to your boring place of business, OR stay here with me and chat awhile, just you and I. What do you say?’ Right, Mrs. Greeley? I’m right, aren’t I?” A flash ran through his mind, ‘repetitive reaction’.

“Perhaps so, Mr. Dudley. Perhaps so.”

“I think I’ll sit here with you and chat a while. Would that be to your liking?” Dan smiled as he sat down next to the Mystic.

“Yes, Mr. Dudley, I would very much like to stay and chat with you a while.”

In the turmoil of the station’s recent train wreck of the 1422, medical personal and HASMAT teams were hard at work slashing through the wreckage, trying to reach car thirteen as smoke billowed up and out through cracks in the tunnel’s damaged surfaces. “There are no survivors,” the captain of the team said to the recorder of the disaster. “What a shame. Today, we shall remember those who perished here at the Mystic Street Station. May their souls rest in peace.”

Mrs. Greeley and Mr. Dudley were oblivious to the goings-on in the station until the moment of resurrection in car thirteen. “Wait! I think we have a live one over here,” The EMT shouted to his partner. “Get the board, she’s pregnant too!”

“You see Mr. Dudley, all we sought was a moment of salvation. You did not let us down. By giving up your seat, you saved not one, but two lives.” Mrs. Greeley glanced over as the newborn delivered a loud ‘Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!’. Look, there he is!”

“Congratulations, you have a new baby boy,” The EMT said as he wrapped the baby in swaddling clothing and handed him to his recovering mother. “Do you have a name for him, Miss?” He asked the coherent mother.

The foreigner surprised all by speaking in perfect English. “I shall name him, Daniel Dudley Greeley after two close friends I’ve just come to know.”

Dan never looked back and never jogged up the stairs and out into the light of day on Mystic Street again.

Copyright © 2004 Lorraine M Kanter
All rights reserved as an unpublished work.