Writer teaches "The Anatomy of a Short Story"
Jackie Houchin
March 24, 2009
At the Sisters-in-Crime Short Story Workshop held on March 21 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Gayle Bartos-Pool taught a group of eager writers the key components to a successful short story.
She surprised the attendees by first announcing a "pop quiz," question. "What´s the difference between a short story and a novel?" Among the answers given were ... the word count, and the number of sub-plots and characters.
Gayle gave two examples to illustrate the genre differences.
Short stories could be compared to the exquisite subtle or tangy tastes of a fancy hors d´oeuvre, while the variety and volume of a 7-course meal might represent the complexity of a novel.
Writing a short story could be like taking a day trip. The things you´d see would be far fewer than those you´d experience on a two-week European tour. Both writing formats have a destination, but in short stories the stops and side trips (settings and subplots), as well as the passengers (characters) are limited.
Using the human skeleton as an analogy (and a comprehensive workbook, full of illustrations, diagrams and twelve worksheet questions) Gayle worked from skull to tibia, teaching and giving examples on Idea, Plot, Direction/Goal, Characters, Atmosphere/Setting, Point of View, and Pacing.
She encouraged us to begin with a Logline – a sentence or phrase that explains the plot – so we will know where our story is going. For inspiration she told us to read those TV Guide blurbs that tell about upcoming programs. "Having a clear idea of what your story is about will help keep you on track."
She advised us to give hints about the conflict-to-come at the beginning, and then make sure the ending ties in and completes what we´ve started. In the first three pages, our readers should learn who the main character is, where the action takes place and what kind of story it is (mystery, romance, etc.).
In a short story at least one of our characters needs to change – for the good, or the bad. She urged us to include a crucial turning point or twist that will change everything.
Good dialogue performs a function, whether to describe the character, adjust the pace, or advance the plot. It should never ramble. Gayle told us to write as if we were sending a telegram and had to pay for every word.
During the half-hour lunch break, Gayle met with each person who had pre-submitted their first three pages for critique. She offered direction, advice and encouragement. She also extended the offer to anyone in the class who had not sent in pages earlier.
Throughout the four hour workshop Gayle used examples from her own writing and from the books and stories of other published authors to illustrate each point she made. Her visuals and many props – including a nearly live-sized skeleton replica, an electric model car, a toy teeter-totter, a suitcase and contents, and a stuffed skunk – brought chuckles as well as enlightenment to the class.
A Q&A time followed the afternoon session and then Gayle concluded the workshop with a humorous list of "Stuff to Remember."
As attendees packed up their notebooks, pens, lunch bags and empty water bottles, a buzz of excitement ran through the group. "Fabulous!" "Challenging!" "I wasn´t going to write a short story, but now I am!"
The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters-in-Crime has held three Short Story Workshops in the last several months to encourage its members to write and submit to the current anthology, "Murder in La-La Land." Members may submit up to two stories featuring a crime or crimes that occur in or around Los Angeles, in any time period. Deadline is March 31, 2009.
For guidelines, or information about the chapter or about the upcoming California Crime Writers Conference (co-sponsored with Mystery Writers of America), see www.sistersincrimela.com
If your group is interested in "The Anatomy of a Short Story" workshop, contact Sisters in Crime-LA President Diana James at dianaojames@sbcglobal.net or Gayle Bartos Pool at gbpool@earthlink.net
Sisters-in-Crime is a national organization established to promote female crime writers. Today, there are also many male members (Misters in Crime). Visit www.sistersincrime.com
She surprised the attendees by first announcing a "pop quiz," question. "What´s the difference between a short story and a novel?" Among the answers given were ... the word count, and the number of sub-plots and characters.
Gayle gave two examples to illustrate the genre differences.
Short stories could be compared to the exquisite subtle or tangy tastes of a fancy hors d´oeuvre, while the variety and volume of a 7-course meal might represent the complexity of a novel.
Writing a short story could be like taking a day trip. The things you´d see would be far fewer than those you´d experience on a two-week European tour. Both writing formats have a destination, but in short stories the stops and side trips (settings and subplots), as well as the passengers (characters) are limited.
Using the human skeleton as an analogy (and a comprehensive workbook, full of illustrations, diagrams and twelve worksheet questions) Gayle worked from skull to tibia, teaching and giving examples on Idea, Plot, Direction/Goal, Characters, Atmosphere/Setting, Point of View, and Pacing.
She encouraged us to begin with a Logline – a sentence or phrase that explains the plot – so we will know where our story is going. For inspiration she told us to read those TV Guide blurbs that tell about upcoming programs. "Having a clear idea of what your story is about will help keep you on track."
She advised us to give hints about the conflict-to-come at the beginning, and then make sure the ending ties in and completes what we´ve started. In the first three pages, our readers should learn who the main character is, where the action takes place and what kind of story it is (mystery, romance, etc.).
In a short story at least one of our characters needs to change – for the good, or the bad. She urged us to include a crucial turning point or twist that will change everything.
Good dialogue performs a function, whether to describe the character, adjust the pace, or advance the plot. It should never ramble. Gayle told us to write as if we were sending a telegram and had to pay for every word.
During the half-hour lunch break, Gayle met with each person who had pre-submitted their first three pages for critique. She offered direction, advice and encouragement. She also extended the offer to anyone in the class who had not sent in pages earlier.
Throughout the four hour workshop Gayle used examples from her own writing and from the books and stories of other published authors to illustrate each point she made. Her visuals and many props – including a nearly live-sized skeleton replica, an electric model car, a toy teeter-totter, a suitcase and contents, and a stuffed skunk – brought chuckles as well as enlightenment to the class.
A Q&A time followed the afternoon session and then Gayle concluded the workshop with a humorous list of "Stuff to Remember."
As attendees packed up their notebooks, pens, lunch bags and empty water bottles, a buzz of excitement ran through the group. "Fabulous!" "Challenging!" "I wasn´t going to write a short story, but now I am!"
The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters-in-Crime has held three Short Story Workshops in the last several months to encourage its members to write and submit to the current anthology, "Murder in La-La Land." Members may submit up to two stories featuring a crime or crimes that occur in or around Los Angeles, in any time period. Deadline is March 31, 2009.
For guidelines, or information about the chapter or about the upcoming California Crime Writers Conference (co-sponsored with Mystery Writers of America), see www.sistersincrimela.com
If your group is interested in "The Anatomy of a Short Story" workshop, contact Sisters in Crime-LA President Diana James at dianaojames@sbcglobal.net or Gayle Bartos Pool at gbpool@earthlink.net
Sisters-in-Crime is a national organization established to promote female crime writers. Today, there are also many male members (Misters in Crime). Visit www.sistersincrime.com
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