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Marlene's Short Story Outline

11/5/2014

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Marlene's Short Story Outline
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Writing is subjective, so of course there is no true formula for writing. I enjoy writing, but I also enjoy reading. At one point in my life I became enamored with reading short stories. I found great satisfaction in being able to read a story from beginning to end, in one sitting, which is as Edgar Allen Poe states, a half hour to two hours at the most. I like reading while I am waiting at the doctor’s office or waiting in line for something to happen. I like reading at night before going to bed and reading a short story is a way to relax my mind after a long day. I don’t like leaving things undone. That includes reading. So, the fact that the short story can be read in a short amount of time is the attraction to me.

The more I read, the more I noticed the pattern of certain writers. I started analyzing their books and applied the results to general writing components. The goal here was to determine how many words these writers used for the introduction, the buildup, the plot points, the climax, the end, and so on. I discovered something fascinating. All of the writers wrote with a fair amount of consistency with regards to the number of words contained in each writing component.

As I read through various books, I marked the pages where, for example, the introduction ended and the plot began to turn. I noted what type of change took place at each point in the story. Compiling my findings led me to generating an outline that I use to compose my own stories. It works for me and I share it here with the hope that it works for you, as well.

I am a short story writer, so for the purpose of this tip, I will show my tip for outlining a short story of 5,000 words.

Here we go!

First, Break Your Story Into Three Parts
You must have a beginning, middle and end. First, describe what happens at the end of your story. Then, describe the beginning of your story. Finally, describe what is happening in the middle of your story.

Let the middle of the story be the place in the tale where you begin to direct your readers to the basic point of your story. By the time you get to approximately 2,500 words (of a 5,000 word story), start leading your readers toward the most exciting moment in your story (known in the writing world as the climax).

Next, Outline Your Story
I created a graphic image as a visual aid to help you outline your story. Use the graphic image as a quick guide to direct you through your outline.


Graphic Image Explained
Now, let’s see what it takes to write a 5,000 word short story. Write a one or two sentence description of each component in the outline. Pay attention to the word count expectation, but don’t get hung up on being exactly right on the mark. Depending on your story, you may need to write more in one component than another. That’s alright. The outline is not a rule. You do not have to adhere to it strictly. Use the outline as a guide to help move your story along.

After writing a brief description for each component, begin to build your story. The beauty of having an outline and anticipated word count expectation is that you can write any part of the story in any order, and then place it all together, smoothing out the seams where they connect, creating an even flow from one component to the other.

As you move through the components, answer questions that are pertinent to your story.

Introduction
Introduce the primary character and the initial scene. Who or what is your story about? What does your character look like? Where does your story take place?

Use approximately 312 words for the introduction. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 312 words.

Build Secondary
Build a secondary element to your story. This can be a secondary location or character. It’s your story, so, you decide. Where does your main character go? Who does your main character meet? How or why do the characters know each other?

Use approximately 312 words to build the secondary element. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 624 words.

Initiate an Incident
Initiate an incident between the primary character and the secondary location or character. This incident does not have to be anything major, but it should at least be some sort of conflict or angst. What happens that irritates the primary character? What does the secondary character do to change the status quo of the primary character?

Use approximately 312 words to initiate an incident. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 936 words.

Build Intensity
This is the main part of your story. Build intensity as you ramp up toward the most dramatic part of your story. This is where you will spend the most time being creative. Make a lot of stuff happen. In building intensity, this is where you may add additional locations, incidents, and characters. Create peaks and valleys, each time, inching toward the highest point of your story. Who or what else comes into the primary character’s life and what is the foreseeable outcome of this meeting? What is this meeting leading toward?

Use approximately 3,235 words to build intensity. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 4,171 words.

Climax
This is the climax! This is the point of your story where it all explodes or comes together – whatever you decide. This is the most dramatic and highest point of your story. It must be the most exciting thing that happens in your story. It must be the most compelling, include the most drama, and have the most emotion in your story. It must be the worst that can happen or the best that can happen in your story.

Use approximately 200 words to write the climax. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 4,371 words.

Ramp Down
Ramp down. Your readers have been on a magical ride. They are riled up and need to come down from the high you just delivered to them. Take them down easily. There is a solution to the turmoil you created for them, now ease them into the solution slowly.

Use approximately 380 words to ramp down. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 4,751 words.

Resolution
Write the resolution between the main character and the location and/or secondary or subsequent characters. The resolution is not meant to excite the readers. It is meant to bring the readers to a place of satisfaction – peace. It is the end of the story. This is what your readers have been waiting for.

Use approximately 249 words for the resolution. At the end of this component, the word count for your story should be approximately 5,000 words.

Adjusting the Outline to Fit Your Word Count Needs
I am a short story writer. Generally, my word count is less than 5,000 words. Sometimes, like my first published novel, “The Mountain of Love,” I wrote about 8,000 words. If the word count for the book you intend to write is more than 5,000 words, you can easily adjust this outline to coincide with the word count you prefer.

First, calculate the percentages.
If you are writing an 80,000 Total Word Book, first calculate the percentage of the total book for each component. For example:

312 Words for the Introduction ÷ 5,000 Total Word Book = .06

(312 words = 6% of 5,000 words).

Then, .06 X 80,000 Total Word Book = 4,800 Words for the Introduction

(4,800 words = 6% of 80,000 words).

Continue finding the percentages for each component and apply those percentages to your proposed word count.

Then, add up the number of words to configure the Word Count Goal.
After calculating the percentages, jot down the numbers and add them together, building the word count as you input the numbers into the component cell.

For example, in the above example using an 80,000 Total Word Book, do this:

Introduction is 0-4,800 Word Count Goal (remember from the previous calculations)

Then, add 4,800 to the calculation for the next component. In this case, the number calculated for the next component (Build Secondary) is 4,800. So add 4,800 to 4,800 to get a word count goal for Build Secondary.

Build Secondary is 4,800 + 4,800 = 9,600 Word Count Goal

Continue adding the words for each component until you have added a total of 80,000 words.

More About the Outline
Don’t stress yourself out if your book strays from the outline. Remember, there are no strict rules to how long each component should be. The outline shared in this blog is compiled from reading many books and analyzing those books to determine what percentage of the book do famous writers attribute to various components of their work. Some writers spend more time on the introduction and less time on the buildup. The outline I composed is basically an overall average.

You are the writer; therefore, you are the master of your creation. Use the outline or don’t use the outline. Modify the outline to suit your needs. Whatever you do, write.

Coming up
My next blog post will be a tip about the word count used to classify the various types of books. Until then, happy writing!

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Writing Tip: Write the End of Your Story First

11/1/2014

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I may not be a world famous writer; however, I am a writer who strives to do the best I can in whatever I do. I am also somewhat of a renegade. While I never break the law, sometimes I veer away from the rules. In fact, the way I see it, the law is the law and the law should always be followed. But, to me, rules are “guidelines” that outline the way things are generally done. I follow the guidelines as much as possible, but sometimes the guidelines just don’t work for me. For example, following the guidelines for writing a story would mean I would start at the beginning and write to the end. But, I’m a renegade and when I write a story, I don’t start at the beginning. I start at the end. In fact, that is my tip for today. It may or may not work for you, but it works for me.

Write the End of the Story First

I approach writing the same way I approach planning a vacation. When planning a vacation, first I need to know the destination. Knowing the destination allows me to book the flight that will take me where I want to go. Knowing the destination allows me to pack the appropriate attire for the location and plan events based on the destination. When I know where I’m going, I know what to do to get there.

So, when I write the end first, the rest of the story falls into place. I start by writing the final sentence. Then, I write the final paragraph. When I know how I want the story to end, the rest of the story falls naturally into place. The characters and events move the story toward the end target.

For example, if I want to write a story that ends with a man eating ice cream at an ice cream parlor, my final sentence might be something like:

There he was, sitting at the little table in the little booth at the back of Uncle Ned’s Ice Cream Parlor.

Now, it becomes easy for me to write the rest of the story because the end of the story commands certain activities to take place in order to make the end come true.

Then Write the Beginning of the Story

After writing the end of the story, I write the beginning sentence and then the beginning paragraph. This sets the starting point. Just like planning a trip, I start from a particular location. Knowing the starting point will help determine how much time it will take to get to the final destination and what I need to do to get there.

In my ice cream parlor story, I might start the beginning paragraph something like:

It is 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon. Today, Tom’s weekend chore is in the back yard garden. Kneeling over the strawberry bed, Tom pulls up the weeds that invade the patch which runs along the entire length of the back yard fence. Gardening is hard work, but it has to be done. As the sun beams down on the back of Tom’s shoulders, Tom develops a hankering for something sweet, creamy, and cold. Ice cream! Tom knows just where to go to get the best ice cream on the planet.

Then Write the Rest of the Story

Now that I know how the story begins and ends, I can easily write the rest of the story. From the beginning, everything that happens in the story must take the reader to the end of the story exactly as written. For example, in the ice cream parlor story, it is logical to assume Tom would shower and change clothes before heading out to the ice cream parlor. I can decide whether he is married or calls a friend to join him. I can decide whether Tom has to get in his car and drive to the ice cream parlor or whether he takes a lovely stroll to the parlor. There is so much that can happen and I get to decide.

Get Great Results When You Begin With the End

Start with the end of the story to give you some direction. Then write the beginning of the story to give you a starting point. Then, whatever happens in the middle of the story is up to you. As long as the end result is what you have already determined, the rest of the story can be developed to your heart’s desire.

Next Tip: How to Outline a Short Story

The next tip I wish to share in this blog is how to outline a short story. You may follow this blog by subscribing to the RSS Feed.

Please feel free to leave a comment in the comment box. Until next time, happy writing!


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Why Write Short Stories?

10/28/2014

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If It’s Good Enough for Edgar Allen Poe, Then It’s Good Enough for Me!

Edgar Allen Poe is a respected writer and reviewer. He is considered the originator of the short story (short prose narrative) genre. In his essay, “The Philosophy of Composition” (1846), Poe explains that short stories, a fictional work of prose, should be read in one sitting.
“It appears evident, then, that there is a distinct limit, as regards length, to all works of literary art-                 the limit of a single sitting…” – Edgar Allen Poe
Short Story Length

In Poe’s “Review of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Twice Told Tales” (1842), Poe claimed the following about the proper length of a short story:

"We allude to the short prose narrative, requiring from a half-hour to one or two hours in its perusal.”             -- Edgar Allen Poe

Short Stories Keep Me Occupied While Waiting

My attraction to reading short stories stem from being able to read a story from beginning to end while sitting and waiting – at the doctor’s office, at the dentist’s office, at the airport waiting for a flight or during the flight. I enjoy being able to pick up a book, read it from cover to cover, and then put it down -- being done with it before the nurse calls my name or before the airport attendant calls for boarding. As I am attracted to reading short stories, I am equally attracted to writing short stories.

Short stories are, well… short.

A short story usually has a single event with one or two characters. Every sentence matters. A good writer moves the reader toward the end of the story succinctly, without a lot of fluff.

While there are no hard and fast rules for determining the length of short stories, generally short stories are anywhere from 3000 words to about 10,000 words. Some scholars suggest that a short story can be as long as 20,000 words. Any longer than 20,000 words, the story edges into the Novella (a short novel) category.

Average Reading Level

Reading experts have determined that the average person has an eighth grade reading level, and according to a Staples study, the average person reads about 250 words per minute.

Based on the average reading level, a short story can be read in a period as short as twelve minutes to an hour and twenty minutes.

Are You an Average Reader?

Find out now with the Staples eReader Evaluator.
Try it! I did it! It's quick, easy, and informative.

ereader test
Source: Staples eReader Department

Famous Short Story Writers

I enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing. Writers who inspire me the most are the writers who are well-known for their short stories. I admire such writers as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ernest Hemingway, E.T.A. Hoffmann, O. Henry, and Edgar Allan Poe. The majority of these writers devoted their writing time exclusively to the short story genre.

Keeping it Short

One day, I aspire to write a novel. But, for now, I shall write what my heart desires – short stories. My first attempt at writing and publishing short stories was a success (in my mind, anyway). If you get a chance, please read my first short story book titled, “The Mountain of Love” and tell me what you think about it. According to the Staples Reading Survey, if you are an average reader, you should be able to read the book in approximately 32 minutes.

Sources of Information:

Wikisource – Hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, Wikisource is an online digital library which consists of free content. I used this source to obtain a copy of Edgar Allen Poe's Review of The Philosophy of Composition (1846).
Eldritch Press – Eldritch Press is a resource for accessing free online books. I used this source to obtain a copy of Edgar Allen Poe's Review of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales (1842).

Staples -- Staples is a US office supply chain store with a fun tool to help e-Readers see how fast they can read a novel from cover to cover. I used this source to obtain the Staples eReader app.
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My First Blog Post as a Published Short Story Author

10/20/2014

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Writing Desk
For the longest time, I have wanted to claim the title of, "Published Author." While I have written a lot through my years, the publications I have written have either been co-authored, as in the Kindercize book I wrote way back in 1988 or have been written for other people. I have written press releases and sales copy for many industries. I have written and still do write blogs for real estate agents. But, these type of publications are duly written for someone else, thus my name is nowhere to be found on just about every publication that I write. I have written screenplays which do have my name on them, nevertheless, I longed to be known as a writer of books. 

Retirement from the workforce allowed me to spend time reading and writing. Needing something to read from time to time, I picked up a few short stories one day and found that I enjoyed the nature of short stories a lot. I started writing short stories and found them to be a bit of a challenge, but once I got the hang of it, writing became quite enjoyable. The experience directed me to select short stories as my genre of preference. When my first short story book, "The Mountain of Love" became available on Amazon, I was thrilled to no end. If you get a chance to read it, please tell me what you think. You can also get a copy of the book at Kindle. In fact, it is much less expensive through Kindle at only $1.99 right now.

It is through the magic of digital technology that I am now a published author. I thought about trying to get my books published by regular book publishers, but then the idea of independent publishing, or indie publishing as it is sometimes called, caught my attention. With step-by-step instructions I found the independent publishing process quite enjoyable.

Of course, if a publisher from one of the big publishing houses were to offer to publish one or all of my books, I would consider the offer. But, that hasn't happened yet, so I will sit happily enjoying the book sales as they come in.

Now that the books have been published, the next step in this independent publishing journey is to polish up on my marketing skills so that I can open up a few sales channels and then get to work on writing another book.

If you know someone who enjoys reading short stories with a dynamic love twist at the end, please direct them to Amazon or Kindle to purchase my book. Thank you bunches for spreading the word.


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    Marlene C. Bertrand declared "Independent Writer" status in 2013. This blog shares her journey as a writer. Visit Marlene's  My Books page for recently published books.

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    Recommended Recources

    When I need answers to my writing questions, I refer to resources that have served me well as a technical writer in the past and as a freelance writer now. The following books sit on my bookshelf ready for use at my demand. When working with clients, you will need to adhere to the client’s style guide for how they want their documents to be formatted. As a freelance writer, you have the liberty of setting up your own style guide. The following resources offer excellent information on grammar and punctuation styles that are most common to writing for United States publishing standards.

    Any one or all of the following books are valuable books to have on your bookshelf at all times:

    Strunk and White's Elements of Style

    The Chicago Manual of Style

    Associated Press Stylebook


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