10 Second Tip:
Stories should make a POINT.
“The true critic will but demand that the (story’s) design intended be accomplished, to the fullest extent, by the means most advantageously applicable…" -- Edgar Allen PoeIn other words, not only should every character, object, and event in your tale have a reason to be there, the story
itself should have a Purpose -- and a Motive.
Think: What are you trying to SAY with your story? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love Conquers All
Greed makes one Greedier
Love = Insanity
Love doesn't always mean Happiness
Love isn't always Nice
You Reap what you Sow
Destiny is a Bitch
You can't escape Yourself
A Snake will always be a Snake
Sometimes, Love means Letting Go
Sometimes, Love means Giving In
Appetites will find a way to be Filled
Revenge only brings Misery
Most of all...
Only put in what you intend to USE.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Names, places, actions, and events--every single thing in your story should have a reason to be there, whether it's for emotional impact, symbolism, or to take the characters one step closer to the intended climax. Every element you include should have a Purpose.
To test the importance of an element, ask: ~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Why this place and not another?
* Why this name and not another?
* Why this action, this speech, and not others--or none at all?
The answers should be: ~~~~~~~~~~~~
* To make each scene Memorable in your Readers' minds.
* To illustrate the hidden side of your characters' drives and motives.
* To prepare the characters for their climactic scene.
Also:
* To frame and/or offset the point you're trying to make.
* To make your characters come to life on the page.
* To make the End logical.
No matter how short or long, a story should illustrate an idea, a theory, an emotion, or even an argument to the reader. This means
everything in your story should be there to do just that -- make your point, even if it's only to deliver the punch-line to a joke.
Enjoy!
Morgan Hawke~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purveyor of fine Smut. DarkErotica.Net ~ My WebsiteDarkErotica Blog ~ My Writers' blog"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
Albert Einstein