Lisa Leutheuser — Ideas in Search of a Plot

My contribution to the "discouragement" topic:

I don't need a ton of ideas for novels — a novel takes so long to write that by the time I reach the end, I know I will have a few more novel-length ideas stewing on the back burners. Coming up with plots, sub-plots, and character conflicts is easy. Though I still have so much to learn about constructing a novel, I know I can write a novel. If I'm disciplined enough to keep plugging at it, I will eventually finish. But short stories are another matter entirely.

What is it about writing a short story that makes my fingers freeze over the keyboard? I get an idea, a cool idea, even a very cool idea. I know it's a cool idea not only because I think so, but because other people say so too. These other people include people who have had a lot of short stories published, which means they know enough about short stories to give a considered opinion that deserves listening to. Right? Right.

So I have an idea. Great. But then, I get a few pages written and it stalls. I haven't a clue of what I'm trying to write. The usual lame excuse I give is that I get intimidated by the science. I am not a science wiz, but really, that shouldn't matter. There are lots of science fiction authors who don't have strong science backgrounds and yet manage to write interesting science fiction stories. I finally realized what's missing from my idea is... a plot. And a main character. Well, sometimes I know who the main character is, but I don't really know the character. I can't quite seem to figure out how to get that wonderful chemical reaction between character and plot that produces tension, action, and resolution. ARGH! It's like having a cool car (and I have a cool car, but it doesn't seem to help my writing :-) ) and all the free gas you desire, but having no idea of where you want to go, so the car sits idle.

I've read books and essaies about writing short stories, and none have really helped. The solution will probably involve reading a lot more short stories than I currently do to learn construction through osmosis (since the "how to" books haven't worked for me) along with just forcing myself to finish them. Practice makes perfect, after all, but I just wish the practice wasn't so darned painful.

All advice on tackling "the short story" welcome.

Comments

[Catherine]

There are some books out there with titles like "20 Master Plots" and such. The number varies, but supposedly there are a limited number of plots and all stories fit into one of the categories. If I'm stuck for a plot, it helps me to leaf through a list like this and pick one that seems most appropriate to my idea. Then I force myself to write it. One of two things happens. I rebel and think of a better plot or I finish the story as planned. Both are okay.

[Steven]

Steve Stirling once said, "Writing a short story is like trying to cram a cat into a Coke bottle without hurting either one." It ain't easy.

One thing might be to try thinking of the story as a TV show. You've only got an hour (or even just half an hour) to tell the story. What happens? Okay. What happens next?

Or try writing about the character interacting with her environment. She's wandering through the hyrdroponics garden smelling the flowers and wondering about her grandmother and thinking how nice it would be if she could go up to the surface to see the sun and . . . Maybe a plot will surface. In other words, write about the character without worrying about the plot and see what happens.

[Sarah]

Another way to go is read more short stories. There's loads of anthologies out there these days, as well as the magazines. Reading will help you absorb the story structure and get your idea muscles reconfigured to handle the differences.

Another reason is sooner or later, you'll come across something you really can't stand. It's amazing how many stories I've done that were written after reading something and mentally saying "What! That's ridiculous! That's really stupid! The way it would _really_ happen is..." and I'm off again.

Steven is currently writing a very successful series based on this sort of frustration.

[Brittany]

Like the blog, appreciate the share!