AuthorStand

Shucks, I'm not getting many people to read my stories.  I'd like constructive criticism to help me improve my writing.

 Hi Derryl

I read 3 of your shorter stories this morning. I usually don't bother reading stories in the 3k or higher range. I will try to read one or two over the week.

I left comments on those I read. Good luck

Hi Derryl, :):):) I just read your little short story I'M ONLY A PUPPET I may have gotten the title wrong? I apologize. I have been working on a couple of rather time consuming projects lately that are taking most of my time. I apologize for not reading more of your work. All that I have read is very good! :) I see LOTS of Talent in your work. I will TRY to read more soon. :)My review should be up shortly. GREAT job!!!

 Derryl Berry

Such a short sentence. Asking quite a bit in just a short sentence.

Why don't you tell ME what you think is wrong with your writing? And tell ME what you've been doing to get people to read your book.

Pretend we're in a library. Get a visual on that. See all those books. People have to find you on a shelf. How are you managing that?

Thanks.

Heather, who is seeing too many requests for too much help from people like Linda Pickens Phalen who doesn't even have a car! Maybe you should be helping her, hm?

Like you I  have not gotten many, if any hits. I am new and not able to be on here a lot but try to pop in atleast 3 times a wk..Right now time does not permit it. I am having fun trying to find my way around. Looking forward to reading some good short stories. I love reading flash.

Thank you, Patricia.  I like some Flash Fiction, also.  To me, it is kind of like prose haiku.  But unlike haiku poetry that is supposed to be written in three lines of 5-7-5 syllables, Flash Fiction can range from 55 words to 1000, depending on the venue accepting the submissions.  Something that "fits" with one editor might be too long for another.  The fewer the words, the more difficult it is to tell an actual "story" with a defined character, a conflict, a plot, and a resolution.  I tried to accomplish that with my "Nevertheless", in which almost every sentence is a progressively later point in the character's life, from before he was born to his being on his death bed.  Judge for yourself if I succeeded.

Welcome to AuthorStand Patricia. The best way to get read is to be active in the forums so people get to know you. Hope you like it here, there are a lot of friendly, helpful people! I'll will read your stories soon.

Just a little note here to whom ever cares to read it. I truly enjoy helping my fellow writers on this site.:):):) And I will continue to do so as time allows.  I am not asking or do I expect any type of hand outs here. Thank you!! :)

Just a little note here to whom ever cares to read it. I truly enjoy helping my fellow writers on this site.:):):) And I will continue to do so as time allows.  I am not asking or do I expect any type of hand outs here. Thank you!! :)

Just a little note here to whom ever cares to read it. I truly enjoy helping my fellow writers on this site.:):):) And I will continue to do so as time allows.  I am not asking or do I expect any type of hand outs here. Thank you!! :)

@ Linda...you are awesome. You always seem to give without expecting anything in return. I will get to more of your stories soon.

@Derryl...just read "In the Park" and "Madam Z", left a review. Will read more...

Thank You, Greg!!! :):):) You make me Smile!!! :) You are pretty awesome yourself!! I really enjoy your writings too. Have a Wonderful evening!!! :)

Does anybody here write really, really, short short stories?  I've posted "Five 55s", which contains five pieces that I wrote to the limit of 55 words.

Hi Derryl! :):):) I write some short stories but they are a bit longer than these. But I did read them and they are GREAT!!! So FUNNY!!! I left a review!!! GOOD Job!!! :):) THANK you for the smiles and laughs!!!! :)

Linda, it is a bit more difficult to make a story in 55 words than one might think.  One is tempted to stretch it to 75 or 100 or 125 words.  But that is the discipline -- stick to a limit, whatever that is.  Write a lot more words, to get the idea down, and then start cutting and combining, using "You're" in place of "You are", etc.., etc.  My "Nevertheless" was a similiar exercise in making a "complete story", with almost every sentence relating to a time in the protagonist's life from before birth to the death bed.  I'm not sure I succeeded with that.

Somewhere I read that the briefest story was, "He was born.  He lived.  He died."  Not a very compelling read, huh?  Fill in the blanks.  In a way, that is what we have to do:  "It began with this, then this happened, then this was the result."  We must ask ourselves, "Why am I telling this story?  Why am I starting here?  How does this story end?  What happens to cause that end of the story?"

I know that my stream of consciousness, which my muse jump starts, does not give me those answers.  Therein, is the work of the writer.  For some reason, right now I am reminded of the poem by Emile Dickenson: "Tell all the truth, but tell it slant.  Success in circuit lies.  Too bright for our infirm delight The truth's superb surprise.  As lightning to the children eased With explanation kind, The truth must dazzle gradually, or every man be blind."

I wonder, who am I to think that I might have something equally inspirational to offer?

Well Derryl, You did an awesome job!!! It takes a "GOOD" writer to do what you did. :):):) Looking forward to reading more of your work soon. :):)

Linda, I just uploaded "Camping, The Disasterous Family Activity", which is pretty much a true story. 

I wrote it in about three hours this afternoon, after reading from a handout I got Monday night in my Creative Writing class.  The author of the article notes, "[Story tellers of long ago] made themselves popular by distracting their listeners from a dull or dangerous evening with heroic exploits and a skill at creating suspense: What happened next?  And after that?  And then what happened? ... readers still want to wonder what happened next, and unless you make them wonder, they will not turn the page."

I am going back to "stories" that I have written to see if I have made the reader wonder, "What happened next?"  In some, I think I have. In others, I think I have just created interesting sketches.  The reader might think, "Well, that's a neat way of saying it, but where are you going with this?"

 Hi Derryl, :):):) I can harldy wait to read it. I am having to limit my time on here due to my carpal tunnel. But I will make a point of reading your story ASAP!!! :):) Thank You!!! :)