Changing Real-Life Experiences into Powerful Short Stories

Most people can list three or four interesting, spell-binding and even life-changing experiences that could easily be turned into powerful short stories. But there is a big problem. As soon as they touch the keys of their computer, most people soon realize there are at least two super-difficult considerations that prevent real-life episodes being recalled verbatim. The first is that most incidents involve other people, who may well sue the writer for libel if they object to the way they are depicted. The second is that real life is rarely as neat, clearcut and uncluttered as the short story format demands. Unlike a novel, a short story is usually confined to a single plot that cannot wander all over the place, but is usually required to progress in a straight line from "A" to "C" via "B". Furthermore the number of characters is usually limited to the number strictly required for plot purposes.

Once they realize these restrictive facts, most potential writers abandon the whole idea. But there are actually four simple ways in which these problems can be overcome.
  1. Change the names. This is a basic requirement that most potential writers would be aware of. But why not go one step further and change the ages and professions of the characters as well? If the principal is a copy writer for an advertising agency, make him the sales manager of an oil refinery.
  2. Change the sex of the principal character, if possible.
  3. Change the locale. If the true-life incident happened in New York, change the location to any other big city, such as Minneapolis or even Montreal. A change of country is also a good plan, if it can be worked. The wider the variation, the better, as Mexico is a better substitute than Canada.
  4. Change the story itself to eliminate as many side issues and unnecessary complications as possible. If simplifying the story involves eliminating one or more of the most exciting incidents, don't be afraid to do it, provided your climax is still powerful enough to stand alone.

True, you may well end up with a story that is miles removed from your original encounter. But the essence of writing good fiction is refinement. Cut away all the dross, the digressions and the dead-end alleys and you may well have the genesis of a really gripping story. Of course, professional writers will take the creative process a few steps further by introducing characters and incidents (either imaginary or true-to-life) that bolster the main theme, but fledgling writers should keep their writing as sharply focused as possible. A story that grabs the reader's attention for 2,000 words will always receive higher marks than a submission of 5,000 words that fails to keep the reader's eyes fixed firmly on the page from start to finish.

HG Nadel is a full-time professional editor, published writer, recording artist, and a musician whose passion is to help others create a letter-perfect presentation in their writing. She gives meticulous attention to detail and is a very skilled communicator.

Nadel shares useful information regarding film script writing and related topics! To read them, please visit here: http://hgnadel.beepworld.de/

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