How to write a short story

 Brainstorming and Idea Generation:

• Start with a Spark: A single image, a conversation overheard, a "what if" question, or a strong emotion can be the seed of your story.
• Focus on a Single Incident: Short stories typically center around one main event or conflict. Avoid trying to cram in too many plotlines.
• Explore Character: Consider a character with a specific desire, flaw, or problem. What are their motivations?
• Think Theme: What underlying message or idea do you want to convey? This will add depth to your story.

2. Planning and Structure:

• Keep it Concise: Short stories are, well, short! Aim for a tight, focused narrative.
• Choose a Point of View: First-person, third-person limited, or third-person omniscient? The POV will affect how the reader experiences the story.
• Outline (Optional): A simple outline can help you organize your thoughts and ensure a clear progression. It doesn't need to be extensive, just a few bullet points to guide you.
• Classic Structure:
  • Exposition: Introduce the setting, characters, and initial situation.
  • Rising Action: Develop the conflict and build tension.
  • Climax: The turning point of the story, the moment of highest tension.
  • Falling Action: The consequences of the climax.
  • Resolution: The conclusion, where the conflict is resolved (or not).

3. Writing the Story:

• Start Strong: Grab the reader's attention from the first sentence.
• Show, Don't Tell: Use vivid descriptions and sensory details to bring your story to life. Instead of saying "he was angry," show his clenched fists and flushed face.
• Develop Characters: Even in a short space, give your characters depth. Reveal their personalities through their actions, dialogue, and thoughts.
• Use Dialogue Effectively: Dialogue should move the story forward and reveal character.
• Build Tension: Create a sense of anticipation and suspense.
• Pay Attention to Pacing: Control the speed of the story to maintain reader engagement.
• Create a Satisfying Ending: The ending should feel earned and leave a lasting impression. It doesn't have to be a happy ending, but it should be a meaningful one.

4. Revision and Editing:

• Let it Rest: Put your story aside for a while before revising. This will give you fresh eyes.
• Read Aloud: This helps you catch awkward phrasing and grammatical errors.
• Focus on Clarity and Conciseness: Cut out unnecessary words and phrases.
• Check for Consistency: Ensure that your characters, setting, and plot remain consistent throughout the story.
• Proofread Carefully: Correct any spelling and grammar errors.
• Get Feedback: Share your story with trusted readers and ask for their honest opinions.

Key Tips for Short Stories:

• Focus on a single conflict.
• Develop compelling characters quickly.
• Use vivid language and sensory details.
• Create a strong sense of place.
• Build tension and suspense.
• Craft a satisfying ending.

MISFIT

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uamq_ZZW3Vk&t=841s

Points for Middlesex community college grass roots

 read, read, read

grass roots

started magazine when wife was sick

developed a community of poets   bagel bards

newspaper column

poetry series

cable tv

published books

NEPC

Friends of Longfellow

How to submit

find out something about magazine

start to small lit zines

as you get practiced better

go to open mics

campus lit magazine

start your own TV show

ideas for writing

 PLACES TO LOOK FOR IDEAS:

 Powerful personal experiences [“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader”]:

o Love relationships with parents, siblings, girlfriends/boyfriends

o Significant conflicts the people above of others you’ve encountered

[My essay, “In My Father’s Tears,” based on an argument with my Dad]

o Loss of a loved one

o Betrayal by a friend

o People who had/have a poweful influence on you

o Colorful people you’ve encountered

o Significant disappointments

 What if scenarios, personal or societal:

o What if that man/woman I was attracted to had returned my call?

[What if Paulette had really meant it when she suggested we get married?]

o What if I grown up with a very different family or in a very different place or in a very

different time in history?

o What if I had been at significant historical events: the Twin Towers on 9/11, the attack

on the capital on January 6, the invasion of Europe at Normandy in World War II, etc.?

o What if someone I was close to had died when I was young?

 The experiences of others you know, where you put yourself in their place and tell the story of

what happened, imagining what the experience was like

[My play about acquaintance whose kitchen burned up and had to live in a tiny apartment with

his wife and daughter for months] [Kinsella writing about Canadian Indians]

 The experiences of historical characters in dramatic situations

[My novella about Rilke and Rodin]

Not well my , ass

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3oLFDCy37s

Review of Bullshit

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhMdtarQUk

Conflicts in bull shit

 In "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City," Nick Flynn grapples with several internal and external conflicts:

Internal Conflicts:

• Identity and Self-Worth: Abandoned by his father at a young age, Flynn struggles with feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. He questions his own identity and worth, particularly in relation to his father's reappearance in his life.
• Addiction and Self-Destructive Behavior: Flynn battles with substance abuse, mirroring his father's struggles with alcoholism. This internal conflict highlights his struggle for control and his attempts to escape from his emotional pain.
• Fear of Becoming His Father: Flynn fears that he will follow in his father's footsteps, succumbing to addiction and homelessness. This fear drives his internal conflict as he tries to differentiate himself from his father while simultaneously understanding their shared struggles.

External Conflicts:

• Relationship with his Father: The central conflict of the memoir revolves around Flynn's complex relationship with his homeless father. He struggles with feelings of resentment, anger, and pity towards his father, while also seeking connection and understanding.
• Working in a Homeless Shelter: Flynn's job at a homeless shelter exposes him to the harsh realities of poverty, addiction, and mental illness. This external conflict challenges his perceptions of homelessness and forces him to confront his own privilege and vulnerabilities.
• Society's Perception of Homelessness: The memoir highlights the societal stigma and indifference towards homeless individuals. Flynn's interactions with the homeless population challenge these perceptions and shed light on the humanity and resilience of those living on the streets.

Through these internal and external conflicts, "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City" explores themes of family, identity, addiction, and the complexities of human relationships in the face of adversity.