Thread: Perfect mix of short stories and main book. How?!??!

As some on here know, I am in the process of writing a story about my time in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. So if you can check that out.

My issue is this. I wanna write short stories also. Not about my time, but made up stories. One that have twists and turns, etc. The question is, How do I mix up writing short stories and my main long book. Is it simple enough to just do. Just one day write a short one. Next day go back to original?

I believe that it depends on how you work best, really. In truth, I think that you probably just have to try it out and see if it works or if it is a disaster. It might end up being that it helps you improve your WIP because the change in mindset helps you write clearer once you return to what you were doing. Or, you might find it's distracting and you start writing fantasy into your non-fiction. I don't think anyone can really tell you how simple it'll be, because it's your process in the end. So, I'd say... try it, and tell us if it works! (Hope I helped... Hope I understand the question right. XD)

Nightstalker, just as some runners excel at distance running and others at sprints (medical scientists have determined some people have leg muscles better suited for distance running, while others' muscles seem to be designed for short, fast sprints), few runners are able to excel at both sprints and long distances. Writing is much the same. Some people have a natural proclivity toward longer works while others just naturally seem to shine in the shorts. Unlike running, however, more writers seem to be able to make a ready transition between the two forms.

Having said that, the caveat is as follows:
Just as fiction and non-fiction are distinctly different, the difference between writing a full-length book and a short story is more than just fewer words. The demands of each are uniquely different. They require a different approach to presenting the story. In a short story, the focus is different. With a novel, you have plenty of room to stretch your creative wings, fill up the pages with beautiful and engaging prose, giving the reader an in-depth view of your charactes and making the reader feel as though s/he knows your characters. In a short, you must be able to give the reader a much quicker read of the characters and situations, devoid of most fluff and filler. It's sort like a comparison between sending an e-mail in 2010 and sending a telegram in 1910.

"Made Juneau 8 AM <STOP> Cold <STOP> Leaving for Saskatoon in morning <STOP>"

They charged by the word back then and people didn't have a lot of money (okay, that part hasn't changed much). Not a lot of room for flowery phraseology. Nowadays, we have so many different sources of communication most telegram services are out of business and the ones that remain are only used to wire money.

So now you have your full length novel (Or is this autobiographical in nature? You didn't stipulate) which is your 21st Century e-mail. But you want to be able to send off a few shorts as well, which would be your ... okay, maybe not telegrams, maybe just txt msgs. In creating either a full-length e-mail or the txt msg your approach would be somewhat different. Maybe you have the talent to do either with equal aplomb. Perhaps you will discover that your gift actually lies in the short form. Or you may find that, while you love writing shorts, you just can't seem make them tight and rich enough. If you have that interest, though, you have to try, don't you? And, if the effort satisfies something in your soul that's good enough even if they never get pubbed. Publication would just be another level of wonderful.

Good luck.

Thanks guys for the ideas and help. I will have tr just try it. I wrote a short story last night, but it got picked apart when I posted it int he short story section, lol. Guess I had a good idea but its hard to put it on paper. I end up wanting to go into a full on story. Which makes me think Im better suited for long "epic" stories. But I will say that it was a good break from the main book.

As for the main book. Its strange. I add an autobiography to it, such as my stories, feelings, ideas, etc. BUT I have done research and talked to many of my friends (some still in Marine Corps) and I have gotten their ideas and feelings too. Im putting them all in. I want people to see not only my view, but many views and experiences while there. I have 2 picture sectiosn where I add many pictures of myself and other guys and other platoons. Maybe it is considered an autobiography then.

Originally Posted by Nightstalker3-2

Thanks guys for the ideas and help. I will have tr just try it. I wrote a short story last night, but it got picked apart when I posted it int he short story section, lol. Guess I had a good idea but its hard to put it on paper. I end up wanting to go into a full on story. Which makes me think Im better suited for long "epic" stories. But I will say that it was a good break from the main book.

As for the main book. Its strange. I add an autobiography to it, such as my stories, feelings, ideas, etc. BUT I have done research and talked to many of my friends (some still in Marine Corps) and I have gotten their ideas and feelings too. Im putting them all in. I want people to see not only my view, but many views and experiences while there. I have 2 picture sectiosn where I add many pictures of myself and other guys and other platoons. Maybe it is considered an autobiography then.

(It's called autobiographical fiction. A perfectly valid genre.)

Okay, first off, I really must apologize while I chuckle at your comment, "I end up wanting to go into a full(-)on story."
BOY! Can I relate. For the longest time, I simply could not write anything shorter than a Scandi edda. Then, just because I love to challenge myself, I forced myself to start doing novellas and shorts. I managed to word my way down to a 43 page novella and a 12 page short. (I did take a peek at your short story (and left a few words on it) before returning here to make these comments. At 1,000 words, it would fall into the short-short, or even flash fic category.) If I can dig up one of my old shorts, I will post it for comments and you can get a look at it (and, therefore, judge my qualifications to make observations on yours.)

Remember, just because one or two people 'pick it apart' does not necessarily mean it's bad. Maybe it just means it needs some work. It's a rare, rare, RARE breed who can write a novel (or even a short) and have it ready for submissions at first draft!

Your concepts might seem to be more expansive than the short story form would allow. But I don't think that is actually the case. The entire story takes place over a very short period of time -- (An hour or less, perhaps?) -- and it takes place in a limited space. It would seem your biggest problem with the short story form is, as you stated, you tend to think more expansively. One thing I will say about short story writing for a novelist ... if nothing else, it is a great exercise for the mind. Move you out of your comfort zone. (I'm guessing, if you were in a combat zone, you are well familiar with that experience! Oh! Wait! You're a Marine! Of course you're familiar with that experience!) So, short stories should be a good contribution to your novel writing, even if only to blow the spider webs out of your brain occasionally.

Anyway, don't feel that, because your first attempt at a short story wasn't an overwhelming success, you cannot write the short story form. It just means you need to work on it a little more. Even old Samuel's story may have legs if it gets the right treatment!

LOL thanks man. For real. Everything you said is right. Its weird lol. I will keep moving along. BTW I luaghed out loud that you remember Samuel's name. lol