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Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3950
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 08:32 am: |   |
If you have an idea for a story, how do you (as a writer) set about deciding whether it should be a shorter version (short story) or a full-blown novel?
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Gloria Marlow
Unity Member
Post Number:
2110
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 09:28 am: | |
I have never written a short story, but I wouldn't think it is a decision the writer makes. The story would either be a short story or a novel at its inception depending on what is required to tell it completely from beginning to end.
http://www.fictionfactor.com/articles/wordcount.html
I admire people who can make characters real and plots believable in short stories. It is a gift that I wasn't given.
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Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2774
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 10:14 am: | |
I've never been successful with short stories. I guess I'm too long-winded. LOL!
Nancy
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Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
2007
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 10:35 am: | |
I like writing short stories but also love long novels. To me it depends on how complex the story will be. Sometimes a short story can grow to a novella and from there to an 'epic' novel. Sometimes I have shortened a rather long story into a short story as that worked better. |
Frank Mazur
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
339
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 10:55 am: | |
I think the idea and whatever else might be bobbing around inside your head concerning it will generally dictate whether it should be developed short or long. Sort of an organic process. In some cases, certain short stories, because they were greatly admired, tried to give the reader more of the same in novel form. One particular story that comes to mind is "Flowers for Algernon," which later lengthened into "Charlie." My own opinion is the short story far surpassed the longer version.
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Joyce Scarbrough
Unity Member
Post Number:
1317
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 02:46 pm: | |
Are you sure it wasn't the other way around, Frank? I have a copy of the novel, and it's titled FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON. It's also one of my favorite books.
As for how I decide, I just write the story and see how long it is when I get done!
~Joyce Sterling Scarbrough
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Frank Mazur
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
340
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 03:25 pm: | |
Joyce, I first ran into the short story, "Flowers for Algernon" in 1967. It was included in the anthology I was using for my 8th grade classes. "Charlie" was the name of the movie that followed and included far more material than was in the ss. I recall, too, seeing a paperback titled "Charlie." Now I'm not absolutely certain which came first, regarding novel or movie. But I think the original form of it all was the short. I'll do some checking. BTW, if you come across the short, be sure to read it. It's wonderfully done.
FREE Short Stories by F.E. Mazur at femazur.com. Give them a try and drop me a line.
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Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2541
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 05:21 pm: | |
I have attended a couple of writer's conferences with Daniel Keyes, author of "Flowers for Algernon," and if memory serves me, it was a short story and was purchased by a Hollywood studio who then facilitated the lengthening of the story. Daniel was very proud of his short story and extremely unhappy with the way it was manipulated. I think that he was most upset by the fact that they moved the story to a different city. I believe that he was paid quite well for the story.
I've never had the chance to read the original but I read a paperback version.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com
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