How to Write a Short Story Only You Could Write
We don’t want to just write short stories. We want to write short stories that people want to read, stories that are deep and realistic, stories that draw us into a person’s life and allow us to experience something wholly new.
In other words, we want to create art.
How do you write a short story that comes from inside of you, something only you could write?
Narrow Experience and Your Short Story
I love what Danielle Lazarin said in my interview with her over at The Write Practice:
I took a workshop with Julie Orringer some years ago and she asked us to write from an area of our own expertise—to draw on a narrow experience, such as being a competitive piano player, or the daughter of a mother in a wheelchair, or spending summers in a particular town or house.
Isn’t that great? Narrow experience.
After she mentioned it, I couldn’t get the term out of my head for a week. It so perfectly described something I’ve long had a hunch about, basically, that people like to read specific stories, stories about unique and interesting people living their own unique and interesting lives.
Capturing narrow experience was something Hemingway was a master at. He would go to Spain or Cuba or the safaris of Africa to experience firsthand the subjects he was writing about. Did you know The Old Man and the Sea was written about a real man Hemingway knew? The man lived to be 104 and died in 2002. I believe if you read The Old Man in the Sea and then met Santiago in real life (his real name was Gregorio Fuentes), it would be like meeting an old friend. Hemingway so clearly captured the man and his life’s work that he wouldn’t be a stranger.
You Have Narrow Experience
You don’t have to be an expert at something to write this way. You don’t have to do thousands of hours of research. You don’t have to do anything, really, except live your life.
Everyone has narrow experience. Everyone has a story to tell about their lives. Everyone has a hobby or a setting or a person they know so intimately they can convey it so clearly that their if their readers saw that action or place or person in real life, it would be like seeing something familiar, a place they had already been, a long lost friend.
What’s your narrow experience?
Short Story Exercise
Think about the short story you’re working on right now. What is specific and narrow about the main character’s life? How can you make it more narrow? What can you add from your own background that will make the story deeper and more personal?
Great piece Joe, thanks. I am not currently writing a short story but would like to start one soon. However, last week I blogged about 5 days that have changed my life: 5 incidents that all had a profound affect on my life at that time, such as moving away from home (twice), a life-saving, life-altering operation, and what it has felt like to have care/support workers in my home for the last year. Individual stories of narrow experience, but also when taken together wove a narrative which people really wanted to read and which moved some of the deeply. It was an eye-opener for me too, about the depth of the value of writing from your own experience. All the best to everyone attempting the challenge. It may hurt, it may be hard, but it’s worth it!
Well said, Jackie. That sounds like a powerful set of stories. 🙂
I’m working on a YA short story that I’ve dusted off and applying some of the things I’m learning from your book. (Great book by the way!) The specific narrow aspect of my pre-teen protagonist’s life is that his single mom is never around so he has to fend for himself, and he loves his dog (who dies two-thirds into the story). The character is based loosely on someone I knew growing up, and the setting is also based on the my childhood block.
Awesome, Wanda. That’s a perfect example of narrow experience.
Horrible!
Thank you Joe. I am an old man with many personal experiences to call on from the war years. I had not thought about any of them as material for a personal short story. Now I can see the fertile ground, undug by `ordinary’ people leading normal lives.
Thank you for sharing this post, Joe. Once my exams are over on the 30th, I’m a going to write a memoir-essay about my mother’s operation last year which changed our lives drastically. Although it’s non-fiction, I hope it’ll help me get better at writing, regardless of the genre. I’m even planning of sending it to literary journals.
I will write all my bad feelings down.
I am working on a memoir about my school days as these are some of the most exciting times in my life.
The novel I published in 2009 was based on many personal experiences – as a teen mom, therapist (using sandplay as my primary tool) for children in foster care, and a specialist in prenatal and perinatal psychology. Weaving this together was both therapeutic for me and an inspiration to write more – maybe a sequel.
After a few years diversion into providing the central administration for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology, I’m writing again. Currently working on a travel memoir with my husband. I also want to write about my early life experience attending a one-room country school in the mid west. This is an experience I share with few others as, even sixty years ago, this was not common. When the travel book is done, my challenge will be what calls to me next.
This article is exactly what I needed to read to hopefully create a short piece on how I feel about my identity. To me, the hardest question to answer is, “where are you from?” – sounds so simple and mondain but to a person like me it triggers confusion and even embarrassment.
I see writing short stories is actually a very good idea. With the help of this article, I can actually write a short story and get it published. I think this is one of the best articles on writing a short story which you have shared with us. Thank you.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Thank you, your article surprised me, there is such an excellent point of view. Thank you for sharing, I learned a lot.
Thank you, your article surprised me, there is such an excellent point of view. Thank you for sharing, I learned a lot.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Nunca tinha ouvido falar de jilievobdt. O post de vocês me fez querer entender o que é. Meu hobby é mais simples, só jogar um FIFA. Mas quem sabe essa plataforma não me ajuda a ganhar mais?
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
We are a group of volunteers starting a new initiative in our community, and your website has been an invaluable resource for us. Your efforts are outstanding, and our entire community is deeply grateful.
This post was exactly what I needed—thank you for writing it!
Your blog is a treasure trove of helpful, high-quality content—please keep it coming.
Thank you so much for your post. I’ve been searching all over for this! Thankfully, Bing was where I found it. My day has been brightened by you! Once again, thank you
Greetings! I’d like to express my gratitude for the excellent information you’ve provided. I’ll definitely be coming back to your site to explore more.
Thank you so much for your post! I had been searching everywhere for this, and I’m so glad Bing led me to your page. You’ve truly brightened my day, and I can’t thank you enough!
Greetings! I would like to express my gratitude for the excellent knowledge you have provided in this post. I’ll be returning soon to your website to read more.
Thank you so much for your post! I’ve been searching everywhere for something like this, and I’m so glad Bing led me here. You’ve genuinely brightened my day—thank you again!
I really appreciate your kindness; it’s not often that I come across such thoughtfulness. It feels like you knew exactly what I needed.
I deeply appreciate your kindness; it’s rare to come across such genuine thoughtfulness. It honestly felt like you knew exactly what I needed.
Greetings! I’d like to express my gratitude for the excellent information you’ve provided. I’ll definitely be returning to your site to explore more.
Your blog is a treasure trove of helpful content—please keep it coming!
Your blog is a treasure trove of helpful, high-quality content—please keep it coming.
Greetings! I just wanted to thank you for the excellent information you’ve provided. I’ll definitely be returning to explore more of your content.
I truly appreciate the positive perspective you’ve shared in this article. It’s so well-written that I read it from start to finish without skipping a line.
I actually found this webpage through a friend who recommended it, and I’m glad they did. I’m currently exploring the site and coming across some really insightful content.
Thank you for providing such excellent information. I’ll definitely be returning to your site to explore more.
A friend recommended this webpage to me, and I’m truly glad they did. I’m now going through your content and finding it incredibly insightful. Keep up the excellent work!
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
You raised some excellent points. After doing some research on the topic, I found that most people align with the insights shared on your blog.
It was a pleasure to read, and I shared it with a friend who was exploring the same topic. He was so grateful that he treated me to lunch as a token of thanks! So, I’d like to express my gratitude once again.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and even shared it with a friend who was researching the same topic. He found it so valuable that he treated me to lunch as a token of appreciation! Thank you once again for your efforts.
My team and I are volunteers launching a new initiative in our community, and your website has been an invaluable resource for us. Your dedication is inspiring, and our entire community deeply appreciates your efforts.
I enjoyed reading it so much that I shared it with a friend who was exploring the same topic. He found it so valuable that he treated me to lunch as a thank-you! So, I wanted to express my gratitude once again.
Your approach to content creation is exceptional, and this article has been incredibly helpful in addressing my challenges.
I am grateful for your post. I want to comment that the price of car insurance varies greatly from one scheme to another, due to the fact there are so many different issues which contribute to the overall cost. One example is, the brand name of the vehicle will have a large bearing on the fee. A reliable older family vehicle will have a more affordable premium than the usual flashy expensive car.
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
I really like your wp theme, exactly where did you down load it through?
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and internet and this is really frustrating. A good web site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.
Hello very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also?I am glad to find a lot of helpful information right here in the post, we want work out extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
I?d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I normally do! I enjoy studying a put up that may make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
One more thing. I believe that there are several travel insurance internet sites of reputable companies that allow you enter holiday details and acquire you the quotes. You can also purchase the actual international travel insurance policy online by using your own credit card. All that you should do is usually to enter your current travel particulars and you can view the plans side-by-side. You only need to find the system that suits your budget and needs and after that use your bank credit card to buy the idea. Travel insurance on the web is a good way to take a look for a reliable company regarding international holiday insurance. Thanks for discussing your ideas.
affordablecanvaspaintings.com.au is Australia Popular Online 100 percent Handmade Art Store. We deliver Budget Handmade Canvas Paintings, Abstract Art, Oil Paintings, Artwork Sale, Acrylic Wall Art Paintings, Custom Art, Oil Portraits, Pet Paintings, Building Paintings etc. 1000+ Designs To Choose From, Highly Experienced Artists team, Up-to 50 percent OFF SALE and FREE Delivery Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and all regional areas. We ship worldwide international locations. Order Online Your Handmade Art Today.
Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I would like to put in writing like this moreover ? taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article? however what can I say? I procrastinate alot and on no account seem to get one thing done.
I additionally believe that mesothelioma is a uncommon form of cancers that is often found in individuals previously familiar with asbestos. Cancerous cellular material form in the mesothelium, which is a protective lining which covers many of the body’s body organs. These cells generally form while in the lining in the lungs, belly, or the sac which encircles the heart. Thanks for expressing your ideas.
I’ve learned result-oriented things via your blog site. One other thing I’d like to say is that often newer computer system os’s are likely to allow more memory to be played with, but they furthermore demand more storage simply to perform. If someone’s computer can not handle extra memory and the newest software package requires that storage increase, it is usually the time to shop for a new Personal computer. Thanks
Thank you, I have recently been looking for info approximately this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve came upon till now. But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain about the source?
hello!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
I have come to understand that rates for online degree specialists tend to be an excellent value. Like a full 4-year college Degree in Communication in the University of Phoenix Online consists of Sixty credits at $515/credit or $30,900. Also American Intercontinental University Online provides a Bachelors of Business Administration with a overall course feature of 180 units and a tuition fee of $30,560. Online learning has made having your college degree far less difficult because you can certainly earn your current degree from the comfort of your abode and when you finish from office. Thanks for all other tips I have really learned through your web site.
Thanks for the tips you have contributed here. Something important I would like to say is that laptop memory requirements generally increase along with other innovations in the technologies. For instance, if new generations of cpus are made in the market, there’s usually a corresponding increase in the shape preferences of both the computer memory and also hard drive space. This is because the software operated by simply these cpus will inevitably increase in power to benefit from the new technological innovation.
Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
I?d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I normally do! I get pleasure from reading a post that may make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident did not happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
I have realized that of all sorts of insurance, health care insurance is the most questionable because of the conflict between the insurance plan company’s necessity to remain making money and the buyer’s need to have insurance policies. Insurance companies’ commission rates on wellness plans are incredibly low, so some firms struggle to gain profits. Thanks for the tips you talk about through this website.
One thing I want to reply to is that fat burning plan fast can be carried out by the correct diet and exercise. People’s size not simply affects appearance, but also the quality of life. Self-esteem, depressive disorders, health risks, along with physical skills are impacted in weight gain. It is possible to make everything right and at the same time having a gain. Should this happen, a problem may be the perpetrator. While a lot food but not enough exercise are usually the culprit, common health conditions and widely used prescriptions may greatly add to size. Thanks a bunch for your post in this article.
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring? I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Thanks for your article. Another issue is that being photographer entails not only issues in taking award-winning photographs but in addition hardships in getting the best camera suited to your requirements and most especially problems in maintaining the caliber of your camera. This can be very accurate and obvious for those photography fans that are directly into capturing the nature’s eye-catching scenes – the mountains, the particular forests, the particular wild or the seas. Going to these adventurous places unquestionably requires a camera that can meet the wild’s tough natural environment.
Hi there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
A lot of what you claim happens to be supprisingly legitimate and that makes me wonder the reason why I had not looked at this with this light previously. This piece truly did turn the light on for me as far as this topic goes. Nonetheless at this time there is actually 1 position I am not necessarily too cozy with so while I make an effort to reconcile that with the central theme of the position, let me see exactly what all the rest of your visitors have to say.Nicely done.
Thanks for this excellent article. One more thing to mention is that nearly all digital cameras can come equipped with some sort of zoom lens that enables more or less of your scene to get included by simply ‘zooming’ in and out. These types of changes in {focus|focusing|concentration|target|the a**** length are usually reflected inside the viewfinder and on huge display screen right on the back of the very camera.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Buy Alprazolam 0.5mg Online
Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring? I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
You made some first rate factors there. I regarded on the internet for the issue and located most individuals will associate with together with your website.
Thanks , I have recently been searching for info about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have discovered till now. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?
hello there and thank you for your info ? I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I?m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..
That is very fascinating, You are a very professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and stay up for in search of extra of your excellent post. Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
of course like your website however you have to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the truth then again I?ll surely come back again.
This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
Thanks for the ideas you are revealing on this web site. Another thing I would like to say is that getting hold of copies of your credit profile in order to check accuracy of each detail is the first measures you have to accomplish in credit score improvement. You are looking to clean up your credit file from detrimental details faults that screw up your credit score.
Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
Great blog post. A few things i would like to bring up is that computer system memory is required to be purchased if the computer still cannot cope with anything you do with it. One can set up two RAM memory boards of 1GB each, as an example, but not certainly one of 1GB and one of 2GB. One should check the company’s documentation for one’s PC to ensure what type of memory is required.
Heya i?m for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to offer one thing again and help others such as you aided me.
Hi there, I found your web site by way of Google even as looking for a similar subject, your web site came up, it appears good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
It?s actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for revealing your ideas with this blog. In addition, a fantasy regarding the financial institutions intentions any time talking about property foreclosure is that the loan company will not have my repayments. There is a certain quantity of time the bank requires payments every now and then. If you are way too deep in the hole, they’ll commonly desire that you pay the payment fully. However, i am not saying that they will not take any sort of installments at all. When you and the loan company can have the ability to work some thing out, this foreclosure process may cease. However, in the event you continue to miss out on payments within the new system, the property foreclosure process can just pick up where it was left off.
Order Alprazolam Online