Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.
Write an attention grabbing
short story by using every
word. Select words wisely.
Every word moves the story
along, and contributes to
the story.
Paragraph one must grab
the attention of readers.
Pull them into the drama,
issue of your fiction.
I'll show you how paragraph
one grabs the reader's
attention. This happened
to me.
The mail-person knocked
at my door, and I opened
it.
It was a package delivery,
I thought.
I cracked the door, and
a powder was blown into
my face.
I quickly shut the door.
I began sneezing,
and my nose felt
clogged.
Yes, it was the United
States Post Office.
Also, my mail feels
like there is powder on it.
When I see mail at someone's
house, I feel it. It feels different
from mine, no powder on it.
As a matter of fact, UPS
and Fed-Ex delivered packages
have the same powdery feel.
Now, here's a possible
paragraph one scenario.
"Who is it?"
"Delivery."
"Leave it."
"I need a signature."
I slowly pulled the door open,
and a hand reached out...
What are your thoughts?
The drama, issue,
curves-out your plot.
How the drama, issue,
is resolved unfolds your
plot.
In other words, plot is
the problem in your story.
How the problem is solved
reveals your plot.
"How?" You asked.
Your main character and
his/her issue, drama, is
introduced. Show the
character's mood, age,
and play it out on a
specific setting.
Hint at something is
going to happen. Stir-in
other characters.
Allow the characters to
chat, gossip, about what
they think will happen. Of
course, their accounts are
worse. Perhaps, a character
is right? It depends on how
you want the story disclosed.
I suggest that you work
with the first person
viewpoint, I.
This means the story
is told by a specific
character.
Some say that's a
disadvantage.
"Why?" You
questioned.
The viewpoint character
isn't in every scene,
and readers find out
information through
that character.
Still, the first person
viewpoint is easy to
work with.
Remember, a short
story's pace is fast.
There's no room to
give long descriptions.
The word count on a
short story is from
500-900 words.
Naturally, it addresses
one issue.
Every report is brief,
to the point.
The idea is to excite the
reader's imagination,
emotions.
Use dialogue to mix-in
joy, sorrow, love, or hate.
Dialogue mimics speech.
It stirs-up conflict, sets a
specific mood, and
contributes to advancing
the story.
Let's look at an
example.
"How are you, today?"
The greeting is boring.
Instead write, "How ya?"
or
"What up?"
A character learns,
grows, from his/her
encounter. The end of
the story brings a lesson
learned about life, him/herself,
the world, and he/she is
changed.
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