Comments on: Author Dawn Jackson talks about Quickies

By: barbara elsborg

barbara elsborg — Sat, 16 May 2009 08:53:09 +0000

Very interesting. You always have lots to say on everything, Dawn!! You’re right – shorter is not easier. I have a short in mind now- I wonder if it will end up as a novel.

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Pages tagged "agent sparks" — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:50:55 +0000

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By: Lisa Lane

Lisa Lane — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:40:40 +0000

It is so true that a well crafted short story is not as simple as some would think. “Shorter” definitely does not mean “easier to write.” Short stories are very much their own art form.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:19:40 +0000

Thanks, Laurie.
Sometimes when I’m working through a block, shorts help me to get the gears in my head turning again. A great way to step away from a frustrating WIP and reactivate the muse.

By: Laurie Green

Laurie Green — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:55:59 +0000

Fun article, Dawn. I also struggle with writing shorts. It takes finesse to pack conflict, character development, plot and setting into a small package, but so worth the effort when done well like your stories.

It takes so long to write, edit and polish a novel, you’ve inspired me to try writing shorts as mini-vacations from my bigger projects.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:32:30 +0000

Thanks, Elle. Why’d it Have to be Shorts was a lot of fun to write. I liked taking the classic-luv struck struck student/professor story and seeing if I could give it a unique twist. I think the cave did that nicely. This story will be offered as a stand-alone soon.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:23:57 +0000

Thanks for having me, Savannah.

I think shorts and novels both have their challenges. With novels, you have a lot more that can go wrong and the plot can spring leaks that can take you forever to plug. But the nice thing about a novel is that you have plenty of room to add details and really weave a complicated story, but it also leaves plenty of room to mess it up. LOL Which I’ve done a time or two or three.

With shorts, it’s condensing it down and keeping the reader’s attention. You’ve got a lot of story to tell in very few words. You can’t have multiple plot threads and you have to keep it basic and really chose what it is you want to focus on. What I really like about ‘quickies’ is the instant gratification. They’re something I can read on my lunch hour and know how it’s going to end and I’ll not be wondering the rest of the afternoon what comes next.

Same with writing them. Faster. You see a finished result much quicker and there’s less re-write. *groans*
We won’t go there. LOL.
Dawn

By: C. Margery Kempe

C. Margery Kempe — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:36:24 +0000

I love to write shorts as well. Sometimes when you’re working on a long project, it feels good to FINISH something and feel that sense of satisfaction. But it’s difficult to get it all in there. I made my grad students this semester write Twitter stories — 140 characters. They all moaned about it not being possible, but they did it in the end (mostly) and managed to create tiny stories that paid off.

By: Savannah Chase

Savannah Chase — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:30:49 +0000

Shorts are great…I have done more shorts than full length….

By: Jacques Gerard

Jacques Gerard — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:05:51 +0000

I love writing short stories. I use them for practice ideas for love scenes. They help me to keep the intensity hot. Sometimes I write them in first person.