Short Stories and Flash Fiction
It is daunting, even scary to start on writing a novel knowing you need to write at least 70,000 words for it to be classed as such. How does that make you feel? Overwhelmed, put off or ready to rock and roll?
My reasons for stating to write came with the believe that I would never manage more than a few pages anyway. You see I am dyslexic and had been told for years my teachers not to bother with writing as I wouldn’t be able to do it! This was so ingrained into me that when I had an idea for a novel I told myself I would not be able to finish it. Because of this I wasn’t scared off from starting because I never expected to finish it. Although I was when I started novel number two!
It seems crazy now that my first go at writing a short story was only after 18 years of writing novels. It never occurred to me to write short stories, flash fiction and articles, which could actually earn me some much-needed income as well. Funnily enough I found writing short stories harder than a novel as you have a word limit but it is very good practice. I am a believer in the old adage practice makes perfect. Sometimes you have to write to a theme which also stretches your writing muscles. Flash fiction is even harder as you only have 500 words to write something coherent and with a twist in the tail! But you can win substantial prize money although you have to pay a fee to enter these competitions which in itself can mount up quite quickly. It’s all swings and roundabouts with writing and can cost you not only time, but money too.
If you are thinking of writing a novel it may be a good idea to practice on some short stories first and even win some money for your efforts.
It is daunting, even scary to start on writing a novel knowing you need to write at least 70,000 words for it to be classed as such. How does that make you feel? Overwhelmed, put off or ready to rock and roll?
My reasons for stating to write came with the believe that I would never manage more than a few pages anyway. You see I am dyslexic and had been told for years my teachers not to bother with writing as I wouldn’t be able to do it! This was so ingrained into me that when I had an idea for a novel I told myself I would not be able to finish it. Because of this I wasn’t scared off from starting because I never expected to finish it. Although I was when I started novel number two!
It seems crazy now that my first go at writing a short story was only after 18 years of writing novels. It never occurred to me to write short stories, flash fiction and articles, which could actually earn me some much-needed income as well. Funnily enough I found writing short stories harder than a novel as you have a word limit but it is very good practice. I am a believer in the old adage practice makes perfect. Sometimes you have to write to a theme which also stretches your writing muscles. Flash fiction is even harder as you only have 500 words to write something coherent and with a twist in the tail! But you can win substantial prize money although you have to pay a fee to enter these competitions which in itself can mount up quite quickly. It’s all swings and roundabouts with writing and can cost you not only time, but money too.
If you are thinking of writing a novel it may be a good idea to practice on some short stories first and even win some money for your efforts.