When I took composition classes in college, I often became
frustrated with all the reading I had to do, story after story
after story, many times thousands of pages per assignment. Yet
as we discussed the stories and what made them interesting or
what didn't, I was learning how to write. Even today, as I read
and review, I learn more about what makes a good story and what
doesn't.
I used the reading, discussion, and then writing idea when I
taught, too. I tried to highlight one or two concepts per story,
then had the students write something using those concepts and
any others we had already covered. First, though came reading
and reading and reading.
As I read the September, 2005, issue of The Writer, I
discovered an article by Erika Dreifus titled "Learning
short-story writing by example." She agrees with my university
professors and me: "We learn by reading closely and reading as
writers - attending to the ways others employ the elements of
fiction: setting, plot, character, theme, and so on."
So where can a person find short stories to study, ones that
will help learn correct story writing? Of course books of short
stories are found in all book stores. In fact Holly Jahangiri
and I have a collection of short stories for sale at Amazon.com
or Barnes and Nobles. Plus many bookstores connected to colleges
have anthologies for sale. If someone couldn't afford to buy an
anthology or collection, used bookstores or libraries carry them.
Web sites can be found that have stories and advice for writers.
The Internet is an interesting and impressive source. Some
magazines still publish short stories. Searching in cyber space
will locate many that do.
The best help found in reading, though, is to read
well-written short stories, and read, read, read.
****
Sources:
1. Dreifus, Erika, "Learning short-story writing by example,"
The Writer, September 2005. 2. Notes and lesson plans by
Vivian Zabel
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