Writing Short Stories
Published on 28. July 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-0-415-30387-3 (ISBN)
Description
Ideal for those new to the genre or for anyone who wishes to improve their technique, Ailsa Cox's guide will help readers achieve their full potential as a short story writer. The book encourages you to be inventive, to break writing habits and to try something new, by showing the diversity of the short story genre, from cyberpunk to social observation. Each chapter of the book:
introduces key aspects of the craft of short story writing, including structure, dialogue, characterization, viewpoint, narrative voice and more
shows how a wide variety of published writers have approached the short story genre, in order to deepen the insights you gain from your own work
gets you writing, with a series of original, sometimes challenging but always rewarding exercises, which can be tackled alone or adapted for use in a group
includes activities at the end of each chapter.
Ailsa Cox draws on her experience as a writer to provide essential information on drafting and editing, as well as a rich Resources section, which lists print and online journals that accept the work of new writers. Whether you're writing as part of a course, in a workshop group or at home alone, this book will equip and inspire you to write better short stories, and make you a more skilled, enthusiastic and motivated writer of short stories.
introduces key aspects of the craft of short story writing, including structure, dialogue, characterization, viewpoint, narrative voice and more
shows how a wide variety of published writers have approached the short story genre, in order to deepen the insights you gain from your own work
gets you writing, with a series of original, sometimes challenging but always rewarding exercises, which can be tackled alone or adapted for use in a group
includes activities at the end of each chapter.
Ailsa Cox draws on her experience as a writer to provide essential information on drafting and editing, as well as a rich Resources section, which lists print and online journals that accept the work of new writers. Whether you're writing as part of a course, in a workshop group or at home alone, this book will equip and inspire you to write better short stories, and make you a more skilled, enthusiastic and motivated writer of short stories.
Reviews / Votes
"I am impressed by the coverage of this book. But it is also braver than most texts of this type in that it goes beyond purely literary fiction and teaches popular short fiction. It is an essential text which is the next exciting chapter of this wonderful programme from Routledge." David Morley, Director of Warwick Writing Programme, University of Warwick, UK"This is a strong subject textbook which is full of original and rigorous exercises. There is a useful, workbook element to the examples, and a thorough and innovative approach to the technical issues of plot, character, voice etc." Julia Bell, Lecturer in Creative Writing, Birkbeck, University of London, UK
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Adult education
Adult education
Dimensions
Height: 178 mm
Width: 129 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-415-30387-3 (9780415303873)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
03/2025
3rd Edition
Routledge
€38.30
Shipment within 10-20 days
Book
06/2016
2nd Edition
Routledge
€49.70
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Additional editions
Person
Ailsa Cox is Reader in Creative Writing and English at Edge Hill University, UK.
Content
Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Spinning a Yarn What makes a story Finding a voice Where to begin Building suspense and narrative drive First thoughts on structure: Crime fiction and the supernatural Linear narrative Plot resolution Telling Tales Creating Suspense: `The Fall of the House of Usher' Tall Tales Games and puzzles: `The Red-Headed League' Structure Writing in the Dark Activities 2. Capturing the Moment Imagery and symbolism Using the senses The epiphany Internal monologue Stream of Consciousness Non-linear narrative Open endings The Mind's Eye Using the Senses: `Bliss' Epiphany: `The Dead' Playing Around With Time Stream of consciousness: `Not not while the giro' Activities 3. Humour Sketches, anecdotes and parody Comic tension Character and dialogue Irony First person narratives Unreliable narrators Laughing Out Loud Irony Character Observation The Anecdote: `News' Parody and Satire: `The Hands of Dingo Deery' Activities 4. The Fantastic Fantasy, reality and the imagination Fables, fairy tales and magic realism Myths and symbols Intertextuality Viewpoint: focalization Multiple narration and the `story within a story.' Inventing other worlds Voluntary Dreams Altering Reality: `Metamorphosis' Myth: `The Company of Wolves' Parallel Worlds: `Tloen, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius' Activities 5. What If? Visions of the future: science fiction, speculation, cyberpunk Researching short stories Getting ideas `Journey' structures Openings The Unknown: `In The Abyss' Utopias and dystopias Cyberpunk: `Burning Chrome' Activities 6. Reality Social observation Reportage, life writing and autobiography Fictionalising reality Condensing time: ellipsis Linked stories and story cycles The Heat of the Moment The short story and journalism Social observation: `Country Living' Memories: `Family Furnishings' Activities 7. Love, Sex and Shaping a Story Erotic writing Writing with passion Revenge narratives Past and present tense Last thoughts on structure Controlling pace Final edits Sex, Love and Romance Desire: `Death Constant Beyond Love' Adultery: `Lady with Lapdog' Revenge: `Dr Frankenstein, I Presume' Activities Resources Bibliography