7 Steps to Planning a Short Story

I've been reading a lot of short stories lately. I've also been working on writing several new short stories of my own. I recently realized I plan them all basically the same way. In case you are interested, or are stuck and hoping for some help, here is my short story process.

1) Pantsing - I never plan draft one. I always start with a general idea, goal, emotion, or scene in mind. I write this until I can't go any further.

2) Clarify Problem(s) - this is the central conflict of the story - it's purpose. Why should the reader be interested?

3) Clarify Character - why does the main character in particular need to face this issue? Why is it important to them? This is usually the protagonist, but not always.

4) Strengthen Obstacle - what has kept the character from achieving their goal? This could be more than one issue, but the struggle to overcome this is what helps you to develop character and caring from your reader.

5) Introduce Failure - have the main character fail at least once. No one like a perfect, easy, straight line to a goal. What do they need to learn to accomplish, or move on from, this dream?

6) Highlight Shortcomings - the solution, or key to obtaining the goal, lies squarely in the faults or overcoming of that characters issues. It should seem as if this story could only happen this way, for this particular protagonist.

7) Finale - show the hero achieving the reward, or learning to accept failure (unless you want the unsatisfying ending). Either way, this too should be a result of this particular characters decisions.

How does this process differ from yours? Any great short stories you want to recommend?

August Scribbler Box: the Good and the Bad

I just received my fifth box from Scribbler. You can learn about previous boxes, and why I subscribed by clicking the "Scribbler" link in the labels below.


As before, the first thing you see upon opening the box is a writing exercise postcard. Each month provides a new challenge for writers to practice.

The "Curated Writerly Gifts" this month included a box of mint and lavendar loose leaf tea from Royal Treatmint, a small blue hardback binder full of various size sticky notes and a cover with the words Write On, a book light, and a decorative card with text from THE GREAT GATSBY (which I'm currently teaching).

This months new release novel is THE FIRST GIRL CHILD by Amy Harmon - a New York Times Bestselling Author. I mentioned last months book did not come with an autograph plate as the previous books had. That's because it had already been stamped inside as this months is as well.

As usual, there is an inside look at the publishing process for this months author, an exclusive invitation to chat with Adrienne Procaccini, a senior editor for 47North, and the collectible 'Writing Passport' with the author discussing this months theme of STORYTELLING.

This box came with a few bonus items I paid extra to add. I bought some of the earlier passports from before I joined since I was interested in the interviews for that month. I also added a fabric clutch or cover to keep the passports inside.

So, after five months what do I like and dislike about this service:

LIKES:
1) Looking forward to my monthly gift box.
2) Learning about new authors, or books, I didn't know before this service.
3) The invitation to chat with a publishing professional.
4) Some of the extra goodies are cute, or useful.
5) Additional purchases from the store come with free shipping for members.
6) Anything I don't want to use or keep can go to family or students.
7) The two times I've contacted customer service, they've been very prompt and kind in their response.

DISLIKES:
1) I'm not interested in every book I've paid to receive.
2) I don't particularly care for many of the extras as I don't drink coffee/tea, or wear buttons/stickers.
3) I don't always get something out of the chats with the professionals.
4) When I bought additional material from the store, it didn't ship until the following months box so I had to wait more than a month to receive it.
5) I don't always feel I'm getting my money worth.

I'm breaking even on the why I should, or should not, keep this service past another month. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. 

To learn more about this monthly box service: https://www.goscribbler.com/

This months book description:

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a breathtaking fantasy of a cursed kingdom, warring clans, and unexpected salvation.

Bayr of Saylok, bastard son of a powerful and jealous chieftain, is haunted by the curse once leveled by his dying mother. Bartered, abandoned, and rarely loved, she plagued the land with her words: From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Saylok.

Raised among the Keepers at Temple Hill, Bayr is gifted with inhuman strength. But he’s also blessed with an all-too-human heart that beats with one purpose: to protect Alba, the first girl child born in nearly two decades and the salvation for a country at risk.

Now the fate of Saylok lies with Alba and Bayr, whose bond grows deeper with every whisper of coming chaos. Charged with battling the enemies of their people, both within and without, Bayr is fueled further by the love of a girl who has defied the scourge of Saylok.

What Bayr and Alba don’t know is that they each threaten the king, a greedy man who built his throne on lies, murder, and betrayal. There is only one way to defend their land from the corruption that has overtaken it. By breaking the curse, they could defeat the king…but they could also destroy themselves.

July Scribbler Box

I just received my fourth box from Scribbler. You can learn about previous boxes, and why I subscribed by clicking the "Scribbler" link in the labels below.

At first glance, this box seems to have less items than the previous three I received. As before, the first thing you see upon opening the box is a writing exercise postcard. Each month provides a new challenge for writers to practice.

The "Curated Writerly Gifts" this month included a koozie claiming It's a Writer Thing, a Dot Grid Notebook, a red and tan tote bag with the word "Write" appearing five subsequent times on it, and a button pin with the command "Save a Writer, Buy a Book."

This months new release novel is THE TWO LILA BENNETTS by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke - the bestselling authors of THE GOOD WIDOW. For some reason there was no autograph plate(s) with this book as there had been with the previous publications.

However, as usual, there was an inside look at the publishing process for this months authors, an exclusive invitation to chat with a publishing professional (Danielle Marshall, Ediorial Director of Lake Union Publishing), and the collectible 'Writing Passport' with the authors discussing this months theme of COLLABORATION.

While I'm enjoying this subscription service, I haven't yet decided if I'll continue it past the next two months. 

This months book description:

“One fateful decision. Two unexpected endings. A perfect summer read!” —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before

Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.

Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.

To learn more about this monthly box service: https://www.goscribbler.com/

Do you subscribe to any boxing services? Have you heard of SCRIBBLER? Are you tempted to join?