Faye Fite's Blog, page 29

November 9, 2015

Skies of Dripping Gold: Synopsis and Release Date


A few weeks ago I mentioned that I have plans to self-publish a short story of mine on Amazon. I've been keeping the idea under wraps ever since I started mulling it over in July. But no more. Today I'm going to share.

I'm nice like that.

Sorry. Captain America movie quotes are my second language. Let's try this again. I'll pretend I'm a professional and you pretend like you don't know otherwise: 
Skies of Dripping Gold is a Christian dystopian short story. It falls into the YA age category, though, like most YA fiction, you don't have to be a young adult to enjoy the story and themes.  Christian dystopian is definitely not a category that we're used to seeing a lot of, which is why it was something that I wanted to try. It's not everyday that I get a chance to create something in a largely unexplored genre.

Written through the eyes of an atheistic young man of 19 years, the story-line is as follows:

In an angry, frightened world where the Poison claims many lives, a young man’s belief in Paradise has collapsed into a distant dream. Gabriel can no longer place his trust in the existence of such a place. Not when his sister’s pain continues to sap her strength. Not when prayers for her healing go unanswered.
As the Poison progresses, eating away at Lilly’s life, Gabriel sets off on a desperate climb to save her from death. Struggling to discover the truth behind a world where the skies drip gold, Gabriel tries to maintain his disbelief in a God while clutching after hope for his sister’s salvation. But, as he climbs the cliff that is said to lead to Paradise, he begins to see: if he can’t bring himself to believe in a place of peace and golden skies, then how can he possibly hope for his sister’s rescue? How can he possibly hope for his own? 
I plan to release Skies of Dripping Gold on December 5th. It is 16 pages long. However, since I will be publishing the story on Kindle, it will end up being more like 40 Kindle-sized pages. 
I'm also currently tinkering with the idea of publishing physical copies through CreateSpace, but we'll see how that goes. 
Needless to say, I am ridiculously excited about finally getting to share my fictional writing with you all. This story is one that I am very proud of, which is a very rare thing for me to say, given that I'm psychotic a perfectionist. 
I will be continuing to release updates and other exciting news as we approach December 5th. I have created a separate Pinterest account for my stories, so if you want a little more insight into Skies of Dripping Gold, you can check that out here
What do you think? Does the description catch your eye? If so, please feel free to comment, share, and spread the news. I'm beyond excited to see where this goes. 
Related articles: Skies of Dripping Gold: Cover RevealHelp Me Choose The Best Logline6 Reasons You Should Be Writing Short Stories....And 5 Tips to Help You Get Started
Don't worry: A writing related post will still be headed your way this Friday. Until then, take a look around. If you liked what you see, please don't forget to subscribe by email for a new post every week!
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Published on November 09, 2015 14:06

November 6, 2015

MBTI Blog Challenge: How to Write an INFJ


Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of writers assigning MBTI types to their characters. I can't help but think that this is a brilliant idea. The possibilities are endless. Finding out your character’s personality type can help you deepen their motives, pinpoint what makes them tick, and help you create deep, developed characters. How awesome is that?
But when I started researching Myers Briggs types for my characters, I hit a dead end. All of the information was horribly convoluted and not geared towards helping writers understand their characters.

So I decided to start a blog challenge to provide writers with the tools needed to write characters of different Myers Briggs types. Here’s how it works:
Write a blog post about your own personal Myers Briggs type. Include things that make your type special, things your type fears, what makes your type happy, angry, or passionate. Then tag another writer to do the same.
The idea is that, in a few weeks, we’ll have a web of articles about different personality types, all geared towards helping writers create deeper characters.
Let’s get started:
My type: INFJ
The INFJ is fairly rare, and, because of this, they confuse the heck out of a lot of people, mostly because nobody can quite understand us. We’re like Flynn Rider, galloping about, breaking rules, dreaming about owning a castle, and then bam! People just can’t get our noses right! So let me explain to you a few things about INFJ people/characters. I've put the important bits in bold, so skim at your convenience:  The INFJ: Core traitsINFJ’s are highly intuitive. Like, “I swear that person has a crystal ball hiding in her closet” intuitive. This leads to INFJ's generally knowing how an event, decision, or relationship will turn out long before anyone else. This can be slightly disturbing, particularly to the INFJ. So if somebody wants to write an INFJ who is alarmed to be heralded as a psychic, that would be awesome. You have my blessing.INFJ's are very cynical (probably because of the afore mentioned intuition), but they also dream bigger and harder than your average person. INFJ's are introverted by nature, but can sometimes come across as extroverted. They are loud around their few trusted friends or when they become passionate about a subject. Otherwise, they like to sit quietly and observe their surroundings. INFJ's would rather be burned alive than be around large groups of people. INFJ's are highly creative and like to be able to pursue this creativeness. They value imagination in others and have great respect for people who get out there and pursue their dreams, as it encourages them to do the same.  INFJ's have a sarcastic and/or morbid sense of humor. This is probably a byproduct of their overly cynical nature. INFJ's have a very good sense of humor, though it can often air on the sarcastic and morbid side. Because of this, INFJ's generally don't come across as funny upon first contact. They're feeling you out to see whether or not you'll be able to handle their twisted sense of humor. The answer is usually no, since most people are alarmed by morbid humor coming out of the mouths of such seemingly quiet, gentle people. INFJ's are both light and dark. They are dreamers chasing after rainbows and ponies one moment and the next they are dark, weird beings who see beauty in strange objects. The things they like vary from normal (such as cooking) to extremely weird (such as the lizard-creature depicted above). Don't try to understand it or you'll break your brain.The INFJ: What makes them happyPeace and quiet. Give them a good book, turn on Netflix and hand them the remote, or give them a beach to walk on. They'll be happy as a clam. New ideas. INFJ's love exploring new ideas and connecting them to old ones. They like hashing concepts out with people or maybe just sitting down and writing about them. Being able to make a difference. Simple as that. Being able to sit around and dream. INFJ's like sticking their heads in the clouds from time to time. Watching Disney movies makes them happy and they secretly like to believe in things like magic, mermaids, and unicorns. Because why not?  The INFJ: What upsets them Fakeness. Fake people, fake motives, fake chocolate chip cookies (you know...the raisin cookies that look like chocolate chip. Why would somebody do that?). Fakeness irritates INFJ's because they are so real themselves.Injustice. INFJ feel things very deeply. That's why this is constantly happening to them:  Feeling boxed in. Having to follow set guidelines, rules, and societal norms without being able to put their own twist on things will forever upset INFJ's. Not only will an INFJ refuse to use the crosswalk, but they'll probably jump across cracks in the asphalt because they're pretending it's lava. Just let them have their fun. Meaninglessness. "What exactly is the purpose," an INFJ will cry, "of going out to coffee with somebody if we're only going to talk about clothes and the weather?"  INFJ's like to have a purpose behind everything, generally a purpose pertaining to the betterment of society or the soul.The idea that they will never live up to their potential. This thought scares INFJ's to no end and they'll work hard to make sure that it never comes true.The INFJ: Strengths  Determination. If an INFJ has decided to do something, then they will walk through Mordor to do it. All the Ringwraiths in Middle-earth will be unable to stop them. Creativity and imagination. While INFJ's can be very determined and even-keel, they also spend a lot of their time with their heads in the clouds, flying high and imagining beautiful things. Thoughtfulness. Ever wonder why INFJ's lapse into long periods of silence? It's because they spend a lot of time thinking. Obviously, thinking is very helpful skill set. Open-mindedness. INFJ's can see things from pretty much every different point of view. This, combined with the fact that they like exploring new ideas, makes them very open-minded.Strong morals. INFJ's are firmly grounded in their beliefs and aren't easily led astray. This allows them to investigate new concepts without fear of losing their way. The INFJ: Weaknesses. Perfectionism. Everything an INFJ does needs to be perfect. They need perfect grades, perfect work-performance, even their hobbies need to be well-executed. They do these things for themselves, not other people, so, when they fail in an area, they will feel keen disappointment in themselves. Overly private. As mentioned before, INFJ's value peace and silence. However, if this is overdone, it can lead to an INFJ ostracizing everyone in his/her life. Sometimes this is even done on purpose in order to distance themselves from pain, which is clearly not OK. I've always thought this would make a very interesting personality trait when writing a villain. Stubbornness. 'Nuff said.Intolerant of other's weaknesses. Because INFJ's are so strong and driven, they can be annoyed by people who aren't. This leads to an INFJ turning into a stuck-up jerk. Again, awesome makings for a villain. The INFJ: Other useful bits of information for your characters. INFJ's will probably get in trouble for heretical, anarchist, or vigilante acts. Because everyone is doing it wrong and they're the only ones who can fix it. INFJ's make good writers, psychologists, teachers, and counselors. They would make good asylum inmates, as well. This is a result of their intense intuition and creativity. INFJ's will hand out brutal truths. But only to those they care about. To acquaintances and strangers they will generally give very diplomatic answers, though this wears off as they get older. I'd personally love to see a grumpy old INFJ wizard. How fun would that be?Secure INFJ's don't attempt to fit in. Insecure INFJ's try to fit in, but fail miserably. Secure INFJ's value their weirdness. Insecure INFJ's see it as a curse.And there it is. The very confusing personality of an INFJ. If you have questions, let me know. Also, remember that no personality type is perfect and you may end up having to mix and match in order to create a well-rounded character.

Now, to tag other writers to write about their Myers Briggs types: Susannah Metzler from Tea with TumnusGemma Fitz from Chasing Daises Alina from Writer AlinaAzelyn Klein from Word StormKerry Jane from Metanoia Alyson Schroll from Alyson Schroll  If I tagged you, don't feel obligated to participate. If I didn't tag you, please feel free to jump in anyway! The rules are simple: Link back my blog and let me know when your post is up so that I can fangirl over it.Title your post "MBTI Blog Challenge: How to Write an [insert your personality type]." This should help other writers find this resource quickly and easily. Give your MBTI personality type and provide a list of their core traits, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and anything else you'd like to add. Tag other bloggers to do the same. Share your post with other writers to help them craft their characters. And that's that! What kinds of personality types would you like to see explained to you? I personally have a harder time writing extroverts, so I'd love to see some posts about that. What personality type are you? Leave your thoughts below!

Related articles:
Work-In-Progress Blog Challenge
15 Things I Love About Being A Writer
The Liebster Award - In Which I Answer Random Questions and Link Over to Other Epic Blogs

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Published on November 06, 2015 08:15

October 30, 2015

German Potato Salad Inspired by Andy Weir's The Martian


If I was stranded on Mars, impaled by an antenna and left behind by my crew, I think it’s safe to say that I’d be dead within a day…three, if we want to be optimistic. I wouldn’t know how to establish communication with NASA. I wouldn’t know the ingredients needed to create water. And the chances of me being able to grow potatoes are very slim. Succulents have been known to die in my care, and they’re one of the sturdiest plants on earth. I think that’s one of the reasons I loved reading The Martian by Andy Weir. The main character, Mark Watney, actually knew how to do all of that stuff. But he also somehow came across as a regular guy. The kind I’d want to have a beer with. If, you know, I was old enough to drink beer....
The Martian is the most hard-core science fiction novel I have ever read, and this made me very, very happy. I’m a huge fan of biology and chemistry and am always frustrated when sci-fi novels ignore their existence. And, though I’m not as adept at other kinds of science, I’m always excited to learn about them. So reading The Martian was like Candyland to me: It brought in biology, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, botany, astrophysics, and a ton of other sciences that I’m not even smart enough to be able to name. It also featured Mark Watney, who's basically a smarter, foul-mouthed, male version of me. Not sure whether that's creepy or awesome, but I'll go with awesome. 
In case you don’t know what this book is about, here’s a quick summary (I stole part of it from my longer, more in-depth analysis of The Martian, which can be found over at Constant Collectible):  
Mistakenly left behind by his crew, Mark Watney is the first person to be alone on Mars. The first to perform over one hundred EVA’s. The first to grow Martian potatoes. The first space pirate…which he’s pretty excited about.

And possibly the first person to die on Mars. He’s not too hyped up about that last one.

But Mark’s not about to let that happen. He’s determined to find a way to survive until Ares 4 comes to pick him up. Easier said than done, but Watney’s a botanist and an engineer, so he knows what he’s doing. Sort of. When all else fails, he can always use some duct tape. Duct tape fixes everything.

Except for the fact that Watney’s only source of entertainment is the USB his captain left behind. If lack of food, oxygen, and water don’t kill him first, then maybe it will reach him through having to suffer though 70s TV shows….and disco music. Disco music, man. Doesn’t get much worse than that.
A sarcastic botanist/astronaut who is determined to get off of Mars because he won’t let a dead planet get the better of him, Mark’s voice keeps the novel alive. His brilliant cynicism and eternal fight with Mars, boredom, and NASA getting up in his business makes The Martian a hilarious read. And let’s not forget his annoyance with Disco music, love affair with duct tape, and epic nerd references.
You’ve probably heard rumors by now, so yes, this book has a ton of cussing. And no, I did not mind at all. The Martian is, in fact, the only novel to feature large amounts of foul language and still gain my approval. It somehow managed to meet my rules for using swearing in writing. And, honestly, if I was stranded on Mars, I’d probably be cussing a lot, too, so I'm willing to cut Watney some slack because of that. 
I'm also willing to cut him some slack because he happens to be an amazing character. He’s brilliant and just fun to read about, particularly his struggle to get those darn potatoes to grow. Of course my recipe inspired by this book is going to involve potatoes. How could it not? I decided to make German Potato Salad, for two reasons: 
1) It uses potatoes. Yeah. Mind blowing. 2) Vogel, one of Watney’s team-members, is German, so I’m just going to pretend that Vogel told Watney about his recipe, and then Watney tested it out on Mars. Which is impossible for several reasons that I will explain later on, but hey, it’s a fun thought: Ingredients - 4 medium russet potatoes1/2 to 3/4 cup of chopped onion (that's about 1 medium onion), depending on how much you like your onions1 tablespoon of gluten-free flour. Or gluten-ful flour, if you don't have diet restrictions. It makes no difference to the flavor. 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt, or to flavor.1/2 teaspoon of celery seed.  It's interesting to note that NASA actually only lets you take a liquid form of salt into space and absolutely no dry seasonings. This is because astronauts can't sprinkle salt (or other seasonings) in space, since it would simply float away, possibly clogging air vents, contaminating equipment, or getting stuck in an astronaut's eyes. The scenario is probably different in a pressurized Hab, but I wouldn't know since I don't work for NASA. Apparently they don't hire sarcastic girls who just really, really want to ride in a spaceship while carrying a towel and blasting Star Wars music. Anyway, all that to say, the chances of Watney having access to these seasonings are very slim, but let's just pretend.1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard powder1/4 teaspoon of pepper 2/3 cup of water 1/4 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar or a mixture of both (which is what I did).If you want to be super astronaut-y, you can triple the seasonings, though I don't recommend that unless you plan on eating this potato salad in space. Why? Well, space is a weightless environment, so all the fluids that usually drain out of a person's nose have a tendency to stay put, leaving astronauts stuffed up and unable to taste food very well. The most popular foods among astronauts tend to be highly seasoned so that they can actually taste the flavors through their stuffiness. Why do I know this? Because I'm a writer. I also know how much the average mallard duck weighs, as well as some random Turkish mythology. It's my job to know things like this. Don't question, just go with it. Directions -
1. Put potatoes in a saucepan, cover with water, add some salt, and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes or until just tender. 2. While waiting for the potatoes to cook, chop your onion and measure out your seasonings. My younger brother just happens to own an orange Lego astronaut, a fact that made this entire process about 42 times more fun. Whoever invented the "Don't play with your food" rule clearly led a very sad, uninteresting life: 3. When done cooking, cool potatoes, then peel with a fork. Or you can be like me, not wait for them to cool, and see if you can peel them with your fingers without getting 3rd degree burns. Live dangerously. Then cut peeled potatoes into bite-sized pieces:  . 4. In a saucepan, saute onions. Stir in flour, sugar, salt, celery seed, dry mustard, and pepper. Add the vinegar and water. Cook until bubbly and thick. Add in the potatoes and heat for 2 to 3 more minutes.5. Transfer to a serving dish. Eat warm or cold. German potato salad usually features bacon. I'm vegetarian, but if you want to be carnivorous, just cook up 4 to 5 rashers of bacon and add to the potatoes. I had a lot of fun making this dish. I think Vogel would be proud and I'm sure Watney would have found time to test this meal if he hadn't been so busy trying not to die.  If you haven't yet read The Martian, I'd like to share a few of my favorite Mark Watney quotes. Don't worry, I censored some of the language for you:  Have you read The Martian or seen the movie? What were some of your favorite parts? Leave a comment before you leave!
Related articles: Bacon and Chickpea Stew inspired by The Count of Monte CristoCherry Pop Inspired by Jack Schaefer's ShaneGluten and Dairy Free Seed-cake, Apple-tart, and Nut Round Recipes Inspired by The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
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Published on October 30, 2015 07:05

October 23, 2015

22 Great Indie Songs for Writers

I've always been fascinated with stories. That should be obvious, of course. I'm a writer. But I'm not just talking about written stories. I'm talking about movies, pictures, youtube videos.

One of my favorite forms of stories happens to be music. Coupled with a good beat and a talented voice, song lyrics are one of the most powerful forms of storytelling that I can think of. I've always enjoyed country music, but recently I've found a different genre to gain writing inspiration from: Indie music, specifically Indie pop or rock.
There are several reasons for this, the main one being that indie music tends to lean towards more meaningful lyrics that are often symbolic and capable of bringing a very clear emotion or picture to mind. This is exactly the kind of kick I look for when sitting down to write. Indie music is actually the only type of lyrical music I can listen to when trying to create a story....All others are too distracting.

Anyway, I'm always looking for the perfect music to listen to. I usually listen to Pandora, but sometimes it doesn't play the exact music I'm looking for. So I thought I might as well make a playlist and share it with you. Here are some of my favorite indie songs to listen to while writing:
Superheroes by The Script. I really, really love this song. It's also pretty fitting for writers. Aren't we always turning pain into power? Don't give up.Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz. For those of you who are striving to be something real. Luck by American AuthorsDon't You Worry Child by Swedish House MafiaPreacher by OneRepublicLove Don't Die by The FrayThe Nights by Avicii. This is a personal favorite of mine.Renegades by X Ambassador. Don't be concerned if you're doing things differently. Be concerned when you start acting like everyone else. My younger brother and I love this one.This is What it Feels Like by Armin van BuurenCalling (Lose My Mind) by Sebastian Ingrosso & AlessoWarriors by Imagine Dragons. This one always kind of reminds me of my MC from The Stump of the Terebinth Tree, so it always makes me happy to listen to it. Heroes by AlessoSinner by Andy GrammerBreakeven by The Script I Bet My Life by Imagine DragonsHey Brother by AviciiHaunt by BastilleWake Me Up by Avicii. I have a slight obsession with these guys...and this song. Save the World by Swedish House Mafia Go Big or Go Home by American AuthorsI Lived by OneRepublic Fade Into Darkness by Avicii. Avicii, American Authors, OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, and Bastille are generally my go-to artists, but I wanted to add in some variety. Okay, maybe not as much as I should have. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? 
Overwhelmed by all the links? Don't panic. You can access the playlist on Youtube here
What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Leave the names of some of your favorite songs below!

Related articles:
11 Songs To Listen To While Writing Moving Scenes
My Top 10 Songs for Writing Action Scenes
9 Songs to Listen to While Writing Sweet or Romantic Scenes

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Published on October 23, 2015 08:28

October 16, 2015

6 Reasons You Should Be Writing Short Stories....And 5 Tips to Help You Get Started


I recently had a story idea come to me. A really, really good story idea. The kind that consumes a writer’s mind and begs to be written.

At first I thought it was just a plot bunny and ignored it, but it spiraled into a complete storyline with developed characters and an interesting world. I didn’t want to ditch my current book to write this story, but I was also plagued by the realization that this story was something extremely special. Something that needed to be written and shared. But I’m not good at multi-tasking, so writing two full-length novels at the same time just didn’t seem like a good idea. Besides, it wasn’t quite novel material.
But man was it a good idea. I knew that it needed to be written down and published, but not as a novel. As a short story.
So I sat down and wrote it out. 15 pages right from my soul, titled Skies of Dripping Gold and worthy of being my debut story. I haven’t been this excited about my own writing for a long time. I’m pretty sure this is one of the best pieces I have ever written.
I’ve been in the editing and querying stage for my first book for about a year, so actually getting to write something from scratch (that’s not related to a synopsis or marketing plan) was a breath of fresh air. After I finished writing this story, I thought something that regularly occurs to me, "What, are you stupid?" And then, "Why haven't you done this before? You should take breaks like this more often."

What about you? Do you ever take a break from your larger writing projects to type out a short story? Here’s why you should:
1. It allows you to follow some of your better plot bunnies. As a rule, following plot bunnies is an evil practice, since most of them don’t pan out. However, occasionally you’ll come across an amazing idea that you simply can’t shake. It’s something you feel in your heart that you’re supposed to write. Short stories allow you to follow this feeling without abandoning your main project. It also alleviates the occasional depression that may or may not hit you when you realize that most of your amazing ideas will stay locked up inside you forever. Basically, short stories keep you sane. As we all know, madness is like gravity; all you need is a little push. Short stories keep you from getting knocked completely over the cliffs of insanity.
2. It lets you experiment with different writing styles. If you write mostly dark fiction, short stories can let you test out your humorous writing style so that you can see if that’s something you’re interested in pursuing later on. Of, if you write all of your books in 1st person, you can experiment with 3rd (or even 2nd) person in short stories.

3. It just makes you a better writer. Short stories are hard. Like, "one does not simply walk into Mordor" hard. I think part of this is because, unlike novels, short stories are short. Stop looking at me like I'm Captain Obvious and let me finish. Because they are so short, all of you weaknesses are magnified. While this is extremely annoying, it helps you pinpoint exactly what you have problems with when it comes to writing style or idea development. It also forces you to find a way to fix these problems, which not only results in a good short story, but will also help you later on in future projects.
4. You get to write those amazing characters that didn’t quite fit into your books. You know those characters that just didn’t work in your book, but were so great that you felt sad to leave them out? Well, short stories let you bring those characters to life. I’ve always wanted to try writing a character with a mild intellectual disability. He didn’t fit in my books, but he fit into my Skies of Dripping Gold story and he’s amazing. I’m allowed to fangirl over my own characters, right? Or is that weird? But I guess I’m already weird, so one more instance shouldn’t make a huge difference. Anyway, I’m stoked that short stories gave me the opportunity to bring him into existence. Think about characters you haven't been able to fit into your books. Could you write a short story about him/her? It's an exciting thought, isn't it?
5. They can help you get your name out there. If you decide to publish your short story (or short stories), you get to give your audience a taste of what you’re capable of. There are several different routes: You can try and publish in a magazine, team up with other authors and create an anthology, team up with yourself and create an anthology, or just indie publish a single short story. I’m planning on indie publishing Skies of Dripping Gold sometime this year (more information coming on that soon). It's exciting because it gives me the opportunity to give people a sample of my fiction writing style, gain some new followers, and show traditional publishers that I really am serious about this whole writing thing. Pretty cool, right?
6. It lets you take a break from your usual writing routine. Let’s face it: writing a book is difficult and sometimes annoying. It takes a long time and a lot of editing. If you ever need to step back and take a break to gain a new perspective, then push your book to the side for a few weeks and write a short story. You’re still getting to use your creativity and it will allow you to come back to your major writing project with more energy and enthusiasm.
Now while writing short stories has a lot of upside, you can run into a lot of problems, too. Just because they have the word “short” in them does not mean they are quick and easy pieces of writing. Short story writing is a completely different beast compared to writing a novel (or even flash fiction), so here are some quick tips:
1. Less is more. Be concise. "Precision of language, please!"Only include the necessary elements. Remember that your readers are not stupid: You don’t have to spell everything out for them. 2. It needs a core message or mood. To make a short story good, there needs to be at least one core message, mood, or idea that you work up to. I think Edgar Allen Poe explained this concept well: “A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” 3. Recurring ideas are key. One common element I’ve noticed in all good short stories is that they each have a recurring thought, idea, theme, piece of dialogue, etc. It can be as simple as the way you describe the rain pattering on the roof. It can be a common phrase a character uses that means one thing in the beginning and morphs to mean something entirely different by the end. A common string strategically placed throughout the story can give it extra power. 4. Pathos is King. Want to draw a reader in quickly and effectively? I have one word for you: pathos. Play your readers emotions, make them identify with the situation or feel for your characters within the first few pages. If you can do that, then you're doing it right. 5. Read. Go and read some good short stories. I’m personally a fan of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (If you haven’t read this, then you are seriously missing out). However, there are hundreds of great ones out there, all of them different, but many with common ground that can help you pinpoint exactly what makes a good story. What are some of your favorite shorts?
Do you think short story writing is a good idea? What are some tips you have to share when it comes to writing shorts? I’d love to hear from you!
Also, on a more personal note, I am planning on self-publishing Skies of Dripping Gold(the short story that triggered the idea for this post) on Amazon within the next month or two. It will be my debut story. Pretty epic, right? I’ll be posting the release date, synopsis, and more cool information soon, but I’d love get some input from you guys: Have you ever indie published on Amazon? What tips do you have for me? Also, which title do you like better: Skies of Dripping Gold or Skies that Drip Gold? I can't decide. Pour forth your writerly wisdom in the comment section below! 

Related articles: 
6 Easy Ways to Gain Writing Inspiration
What To Do When Your Story Bogs Down
How to Know When to Stop Editing Your Novel


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Published on October 16, 2015 07:33