Xaysai
Inkling
So I've been tinkering with a lot of sub 1k word stories lately because i find them fun and easy to write and I think they are a great place to find my pace, voice and style.
However, I get to the end of them and ask myself the question: "What's the point of the story?"
For instance, I could write a great 1k short story about a fight between two people, but at the end, one wins and one dies, and that's the end of the story. There is no point, no "aha!" factor, nothing clever.
Personally, I find it boring because I want something PROFOUND to happen that I don't expect.
But then when I try to give these stories a point, it always sounds cheesy, preachy, forced or manufactured.
The short stories I enjoy reading: 1) have a twist, 2) are funny, or 3) are so beautifully written that I enjoy just reading the words.
Does a 1k short story NEED a payoff at the end? Am I trying too hard? Am I not trying hard enough?
However, I get to the end of them and ask myself the question: "What's the point of the story?"
For instance, I could write a great 1k short story about a fight between two people, but at the end, one wins and one dies, and that's the end of the story. There is no point, no "aha!" factor, nothing clever.
Personally, I find it boring because I want something PROFOUND to happen that I don't expect.
But then when I try to give these stories a point, it always sounds cheesy, preachy, forced or manufactured.
The short stories I enjoy reading: 1) have a twist, 2) are funny, or 3) are so beautifully written that I enjoy just reading the words.
Does a 1k short story NEED a payoff at the end? Am I trying too hard? Am I not trying hard enough?