Connecting with Short Stories

Hollyhock Sunrise | Acrylic by Lee Rawn

I’ve been writing about memoirs lately, and encouraging folks to give it a try. If it seems too daunting, it might be helpful to treat your memoir as a series of short stories with a connecting thread. 

 Or, just write short stories. The charm of a short story is, of course, that it’s short, and you can pack a lot into a few pages. You’ll find that your story needs a quicker pace, and only includes sentences that carry the story forward.

Here are some useful tips to consider when crafting your story:

•  Hit the floor running. Give your story a fast start. To catch the reader’s attention, begin with the unexpected, something unusual, an action, dialogue, or conflict. 
• Limit the amount of scenes and characters.
• A short story generally covers one situation or problem, and usually has a short time frame.
• Provide just enough detail for understanding the situation. Too much is a distraction. 
• Begin your story as close to the conclusion as possible.

 I write short stories about funny family situations, and enjoy reading them at  our get-togethers. I especially love to hear my Dad’s laugh while I’m reading. He has a great laugh. Don’t worry if family members remember the event differently. Their versions will be funny too.