Six Word Stories
In a previous newsletter I mentioned Narrative Magazine’s Six Word Story competition. As you know, if you’ve read my Oddly Concerning book (which is perma-free), I love microfiction. I sent in my entry, but I introduced the form to a writing class I teach. Here’s what came out of that:
Two weeks of rain. Where’s Noah?
Apple bite. Half worm. Previously vegetarian.
Hungry wolves. Naked, afraid, alone. Lol.
For rent: Antebellum home. Hardly haunted.
My Most Recent Short Fiction
Last year in the Enormous Room, I posted four micro-fiction stories (so not counting this year’s Give Me My Pants, You Alien Rat Bastard and Why I Ride the Bus by George Papadopolous). I thought I’d link them here in case you missed one.
Here’s my newest: Mysterious Wounds
Grandmother often had mysterious bruises, scrapes, and scabs. "I haven't a clue how I got that, Babydoll," she'd say after I pointed out some booboo. She was tender like a banana; skin like tissue paper. She couldn't walk without rough wind buffeting or invisible thorns tearing her.
I too have mysterious wounds. They ache, swell, and bruise, at the shoulder, calf, or low on my back where the nurse one time gave me a shot. When the sore spot breaks, reborn, as white as grandmother's skin, is a mysterious eye, weeping like a wound.
Exciting News for the Universe
We don’t know what’s going on! It’s a mystery! To quote the article (There Is Something Seriously Wrong with Our Understanding of the Universe): “Cosmology had been hurled into uncharted territory,” again!
"With measurement errors negated, what remains is the real and exciting possibility we have misunderstood the universe." -Adam Riess
For sci-fi writers, nothing has changed. The limits of our understanding of the physical universe are not limits to writers. Creativity is essential to the scientific pursuits, and nowhere does science and creativity dance so beautifully than in sci-fi.
Studying Screenplays
Reading screenplays is an excellent way to strengthen the bones of your storytelling. They’re fast and easy to read and all the easier if you watch the movie first. Stripping the narrative down to the dialogue, actions, and most basic setting, you really get a feel for how to drive story. For writers new and experienced, dedicating a couple of hours each month to dig into a script will do wonders for the craft.
Here are a couple of classics that I’ve studied. For building tension and drama, I suggest The Day the Earth Stood Still. For dialogue, it’s hard to beat the fast paced and funny romance His Girl Friday. Plus both movies can be found on Youtube for free!
If you have any cool news or book recommendations, feel free to send them to me. Also, if you have 90 seconds to take a 4 Question Survey for the Enormous Room, I’d be grateful. And if you’ve taken it already, thanks so much. Now I just need to figure out how to find the results.
I tentatively plan to return to your inbox on the 24th of May. Until then (tentatively), be well.