Schaum's Quick Guide to Writing Great Short Stories
Margaret Lucke
McGraw-Hill
Nonfiction, Writing
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Description
Short stories can be a great way to explore ideas, experiment with styles, or play with a theme in a way that longer works don't allow. But the very format that allows for such freedom also imposes certain restrictions: the author has to deliver information and a story in limited space, without the luxury of meandering sidetracks or subplots. Every word must count. Learn how to craft your own short fiction with this guidebook.
Review
Much of the advice in this book applies to all fiction writing, be it flash fiction or multivolume series. It also, as promised, focuses on the unique problems and opportunities of short stories. Lucke offers examples (some more useful than others) and exercises (likewise) to emphasize the lessons. Appendices address what to do with a finished story, how to obtain useful feedback, and proper formatting for submissions. There is also a list of suggested reading for those wishing to study short fiction masterworks. I found it helpful on the whole.