What are the publishers and competition judges looking for?
A well-written structured story with a plot they haven't heard at least a hundred times before. So, first of all, HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
Begin with an arresting first paragraph or lead, enough to grab the reader: make him or her curious to know what happens next.
Did you present the story line quickly enough to catch the reader's interest or did you use up a third of the story with a long biographical preamble of the characters or with dialogue between two of them (often left confusingly unnamed)? You may know exactly who is speaking, but the reader may be left bewildered. Never underestimate the power of dialogue in conveying character, but it must contribute to the main focus of the story.
The story may be rejected if it is too slight in content or if the plot is too clichéd. No amount of careful padding and elaborate dialogue can substitute for a story line that is wafer-thin.
The story may be rejected if it is 'top heavy' i.e. too much is spent on the build-up, so that the climax or denouement (as in the twist ending) is relegated to one sentence, leaving the reader bothered and bemused but sadly not bewitched.
Don't signal the twist ending too soon!
If you're telling a fast-moving story, say crime, then keep your paragraphs and sentences short. It's a trick that sets the pace and adds to the atmosphere you are conveying to the reader.
For more: Fiction On the Web
Shalla's Tip on Writing Short Stories
Read, Read, Read, know what's being published...
Study stories that are published in good literary journals. That's a great way to learn craft.
For more: ADVANCE WITH SHALLA
*******************************************************
SHALLA on TV?
Yes, Shalla is on YouTube too!
SHALLA Hosts Spellbound
What Is Spellbound?
SHALLA Wins In Mad Hatters Review
***************************************
Look What Shalla Found!
Hi Writers, Shalla here, I haven't fully checked this out but it looks interesting...
Writing.Com is the online community for writers and readers of all interests and skill levels. Whether you're an enthusiastic, creative writer looking for the perfect place to store and display your story writing online or a casual reader searching for a good story, Writing.Com is the website for you!
With 458,222 members and 1,079,572 literary items created since inception,this community is bursting with activities, inspiration and creativity.
Free memberships are available to everyone. Each membership includes an online writing portfolio, numerous story writing tools, email services and the chance to meet and bond with fresh creative minds, just like you! No other website services the Story Writing world better than we do.
For more: Writing.com
******************************************************
Hi writers, to get into the proper writing mode, I often immerse myself with Optical Illusions.
This helps my writing tremenduously, especially when I'm editing.
Because I write "literary" short stories and novels, depth is important. With my novel (especially the one I'm editing now), what you see at first is not all there is, there is always a lot more beneath the surface...
Back to Optical Illusions
Other Illusions:Blind SpotsBlink Effect
Bordering
Chromatic Adaptation
Chromatic Adaptation
Color Blindness
Crispening
Dither Dots
Dithering
Fill Patterns
Opponent
Optical
Simultaneous Contrast
Simultaneous Contrast
Value Contrast
Click on a thumbnail to view the full-sized image or tour the gallery.
More Puzzles
• Ambigrams
• Watizzits?
• Daily Crossword Puzzle
• Jigsaw Puzzles
• Cryptic Crosswords
• Pyramid Puzzles
• Strategy Game
• Memory Game
• Tic-Tac-Toe
• Strategy Games
• Memory Games
• Cryptic Xwords
• Tic-Tac-Toe
Posts
