Exercise one completed successfully. Now, it’s time to take another step. During this writing process, don’t forget to compare your previous exercise with the next one, and never compare your text with someone else’s. Week by week, story by story, you will become a better writer and your progress won't be affected by others.
What's the difference between a short story and a novel?
The short and the novel have many similarities. Both of them have, for example, protagonist, antagonist, and plot. But, they have many differences as well:
- The novel is longer. That means that the novel consists of more words (50,000 – 110, 000 words).
- The subject of the novel is more complex and complicated than the Short Story.
- In the novel, there are many secondary characters and many protagonists sometimes. In the short story, there is only one protagonist and a few secondary characters.
- The novel takes place in many places, whereas the short story takes place in only one place. For example, in a room.
- The novel covers a long period of time. The short story covers a shorter period of time (some hours or a day). For example, in the novel, the hero may initially be a young boy, and, in the end, become a grandfather.
- In the novel, most times, there is a completed story and a moral lesson. The short story, on the other hand, may end suddenly and without a moral lesson.
- The novel looks like a movie, but the short looks like a short film.
Exercise second
The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" is known to everyone.
But, how many of you that love writing have ever tried to make up a story just looking at a picture? That's what you will do with this exercise. The point is that you won't pick the picture you want to write about. I have already done it for you!
Your short story must be clear:
- Who’s the hero of the story?
- What’s his goal?
- What obstacles does he face? (Remember that there isn’t a hero that doesn’t sometimes face difficulties).
- When (and where) does the story take place?
Because the beginning is half of everything, your short story must be attractive from the very start. So, if possible, from the first sentence of your story, reveal to the reader the protagonist, the antagonist, the place, the time, and the obstacle.
In your next paragraphs, however, you must gradually reveal if (and how) your protagonist overcomes his obstacles and if (and how) he achieves his goal.
Stay tuned for my next article, which will have more writing advice and a new creative writing exercise.
Good luck to all of you!
