Techniques for Crafting More Engaging Short Narratives
In an exclusive guest post, Allison Maruska shares her insights on creating captivating short stories.
Maruska, a seasoned author, advises writers to trim the fat in their stories, ensuring every sentence moves the narrative forward. She encourages authors to scrutinize back stories, wordy phrases, and lengthy paragraphs, as they may slow down the pace of the story.
Taking risks is another key aspect, according to Maruska. She suggests that short stories provide an ideal platform to experiment with "scary" ideas, unique characters, settings, and premises. These elements can help a story stand out in a contest.
Avoiding cliches is another essential tip. Maruska advises writers to be aware of common cliches, read extensively, and steer clear of overused plot devices such as "it was all a dream", mirror descriptions of characters, plot movement that results from eavesdropping, superhuman characters, red-haired YA protagonists, and orphaned main characters.
Maruska also emphasizes the importance of focusing on action rather than reflection in short stories. She found that stories which focus on action tend to stand out more.
In addition, she suggests limiting descriptions in short stories, only including what is necessary for understanding the story. This approach helps maintain the pace and keeps readers engaged.
Maruska's advice extends to contests as well. She recently judged two writing contests: Dan Alatorre's Word Weaver contest and an author's short story contest. She underscores the importance of proofreading stories for grammatical errors before submitting them to contests.
Lastly, Maruska advises having fewer characters in short stories to avoid confusion. This approach helps maintain clarity and focus throughout the story.
Whether you're a budding writer or a seasoned author, Maruska's tips offer valuable insights into crafting compelling short stories.
