What I Learned from "Murder Shorts - Short Stories"

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I attended "Murder Shorts - Short Stories" at Malice Domestic 2017. Here's what I learned from this fun bunch of short story authors: Leone Ciporin, Teresa Inge, KM Rockwood, Alan Orloff, and Maggie King.

  1. The group liked the short story format. They felt they could experiment more as writers in this compact format.
  2. Short stories are seeing a resurgence. Check out Spine Tingler Magazine, Flashbang.com, Mystery Weekly, and Woman's World. They all pay for mystery submissions.
  3. Visit Sandra Seaman's blog to see calls for publication for short stories.
  4. Readers care about the characters in short stories. The characters are often ordinary people in ordinary settings.
  5. Characters are important in short stories. Description and dialogue help create the picture for the reader.
  6. I loved Alan Orloff's advice for writers - BIFOK! (Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard). You just have to sit down and write.
  7. You have a small space in a short story; every word must count.
  8. Use both sides of your brain when you write. Your creative side writes and plots, while your analytical site proofreads and edits.
  9. Don't edit as you write. Just write. Revise later.
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15 Things I Learned about Writing Short Stories from Art Taylor

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I had the pleasure of hearing Art Taylor speak recently at our Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia meeting about crafting short stories. Here's what I learned.

  1. Edgar Allan Poe is not only the father of the American mystery, but the father of the American short story.
  2. For detective stories (whether it's a murder, caper, or puzzle), it all hinges on the clues.
  3. Every word counts.
  4. Character descriptions should be part of the single effect of the story.
  5. The plot drives the detective story.
  6. Think about what you can suggest without explicitly saying it.
  7. Every story needs conflict. There should always be an escalation of conflict in the story.
  8. Always up the ante. Shovel on more grief and conflict.
  9. Check out he Art and Craft of Fiction by Michael Kardos and riting Fiction by Janet Burroway.
  10. Narration is the stage direction and description is the scenery of the story.
  11. Exposition is telling. It is a way to provide information, but it should be done in small bits. What does the reader need to know?
  12. When you're revising your story, look at everything and ask, "Does this need to be here?"
  13. Use jump cuts. (Jump the action to the next scene.) You don't have to describe every detail of every day.
  14. Watch films and how the stories are plotted. This can help you with pacing your story.
  15. Look at your draft. Can you cut the first and last paragraph? You should strive to start your story closer to the action.