Writing Short Stories Workshop March 6 th 2015

Agenda Introductions & Objectives Reading short stories – discussion Top Tips – a shorter list (from Chekhov) Feedback and comments on your stories Starting a writing group Competition Rules, a reminder Bonus item! MA opportunity

Objectives To discuss stories we have read since last time To revise some principles of good short stories To look at some of your own writing To discuss next steps: – The competition – Writing groups – An MA

Reading Short Stories – Some Greats Anton Chekhov – Misery James Joyce – Eveline Franz Kafka – The Metamorphosis Katherine Mansfield – The Fly Ernest Hemingway – Hills Like White Elephants Flannery O’Connor – A Good man is Hard to Find JD Salinger – A Perfect day for Bananafish William Trevor – The Ballroom of Romance Raymond Carver – Cathedral John Cheever - Reunion

Reading / discussion What characteristics do these great stories have? 1.How many characters are they about? 2.What can we say about those characters? 3.What kind of end do they have? Do they link to the start? 4.How much happens in terms of events and action? 5.What kind of language is used? 6.Are things revealed directly or indirectly? Remember – THERE ARE NO RULES (But there are characteristics that seem to occur often)

Chekov’s 6 Principles of a good story 1.Absence of lengthy verbiage of a socio-political nature 2.Total objectivity 3.Truthful descriptions of persons and objects 4.Extreme brevity 5.Audacity and originality: flee the stereotype 6.Compassion Anton Chekhov’s six principles for story writing, as articulated in a letter to his brother Alexander dated May 10, 1886: Quoted in Richard Pevear’s introduction to Anton Chekhov, Stories(translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, 2000)

Top Tips (not rules) 1.NARRATIVE Have a beginning a middle and an end. First and last paragraphs are critical. 2.PLOT The plot arc can be simple in a short story. Start just before the key incident. Often one event only. 3.CHARACTER It is widely accepted that short stories are about the lost and lonely, “submerged populations.” 4.MOTIVE What motivates people? Sex or money. Stories are about what someone wants/needs/ lacks. 5.CONFLICT What stops the protagonist getting what they want? What could go wrong? Conflict = emotion. 6.POINT OF VIEW Be consistent. Who is holding the camera? Show how others react not just the viewpoint of the protagonist. 7.SO WHAT? Write something you would read. The contract with the writer is that the reader expects to be told something. 8.QUESTIONS WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY Like all journalism use these as prompts. 9.SHOW DON’T TELL Action is usually better than exposition. Avoid saying what people feel. What does anger, sadness, look like? 10.DIALOGUE Make it sound real. Short. Read it aloud. Dialogue must reveal character or plot. Avoid “As you know, Bob.” 11.DESCRIPTION Don’t overdo it. Use concrete and specific details. Unusual images can be very effective. Use all the senses. 12.THERE ARE NO RULES Characters in stories can do anything. They can fly, be invisible, time travel. One impossibility is best. 13.HOOKS (often start) Show some action first. Make the reader a promise. Ask a question. 14.TWISTS (often end) The Oh My God! Can be external or internal (modern.) 15.OWNERSHIP Write what you know. Better still write something only you could have written. (Acknowledgment: Half of this list comes from a lecture by Professor George Green at Lancaster University)

Editing Checklist Writing style, quality, English Plot, purpose, story Character, point of view, voice Description Dialogue Beginning End Impact

Feedback on your stories (so far) Does anyone want to read a paragraph or two? What are our first impressions? Michelle – first Draft Jean – Next Liz - Untitled

Rules & Entry Instructions One entry per author Any theme or subject is allowed Tip: There are no taboos / no go areas. Avoid clichés. 1,000 words max (not 1,050) in English (practice editing) Type using standard formatting – Any standard font size 12, one space at the end of sentences – Double spaced, indent paragraphs except first, no page no.s – ‘Use this convention for speech,’ he said. Separate front page: story title, name, , word count Submit to by the Read the rules and follow them

What next? 1.Carry on reading – have a routine 2.Find time to write – Just write – Then edit edit edit 3.Enter the competition! 4.Consider setting up a writing group 5.Investigate further courses including the Edge Hill MA

Information about the Edge Hill MA So You’d Like to Be A Postgraduate Student in the Humanities…? MA Creative Writing: Friday, 6 March, 1-2pm (Hub 1) Find out more about · What postgraduate study is really like · · What the benefits of a postgraduate qualification are · · How to choose a course and apply · · The current MA provision in the Department of English and History at Edge Hill · With · Alyson Brown (MRes Language/ Literature/ History/ Humanities) · · Robert Sheppard (MA Creative Writing) · All welcome: this session is open to anybody with an interest in postgraduate study in the Humanities.

A final thought about writing

Writing Short Stories Workshop 2 -The Revenge Friday 6 March 12 noon Staff from all departments and disciples are welcome As part of the Developing Potential project we are running a short story competition with a prize for the writer of the best story. We held a short workshop on 11 February to get writers started and have arranged a follow-on session. If you missed the first session you can still join in but please confirm your attendance. The first workshop introduced a few of the great writers of short stories and participants wrote the beginning of a story. Writers were given some “Top Tips” on how to write short stories. This workshop will begin by discussing one or two of the recommended stories that participants will have read and will focus on editing. For that purpose please the name of any of the recommended stories that you have read and the first part of your own story to by Monday 2 nd March. Attach the story as a Word document (not in the body of the ). Attendees will be reminded of the rules and there will be some exciting news about an opportunity for writers who want to take their interest further.