EXERCISE: Write a short story!

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting Wednesday, June 05, 2013 11:46 AM

If you go over here,

http://wetranscripts.livejournal.com/74699.html

you can read a transcript, or over here,

http://www.writingexcuses.com/2013/05/19/writing-excuses-8-20-the-short-story-with-mary-robinette-kowal/

and listen to a podcast, wherein Mary Robinette Kowal talks about writing short stories. Along the way, she recommends a simple formula:

1. Get a geewhiz idea and a character.
2. Give them a desire. What does the character want?
3. Systematically deny it to them. Use yes-but and no-and to pile it up (yes, they get one step closer, BUT they also now have more problems OR no, they didn't get what they wanted, AND it added even more difficulties.)
4. For a happy ending, let them have their desire. For a sad ending, deny it to them.

She also pointed to one of her short stories as a model. The Hugo nominated Evil Robot Monkey! Right over here...

http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/evil-robot-monkey/

Go, read, consider how this story fits her model, and then...

WRITE!